DINGMAN, Peter Wesley

DINGMAN, VADER, FOLSOM, CLEVELAND, FOLLY, REED, SIGHU, PARKER, LEONARD

Posted By: Lynette Edsall (email)
Date: 7/9/2006 at 15:45:51

September 22, 1892 The Cherokean Democrat

Death of P.W. Dingman

P.W. Dingman, a well-known and highly respected citizen of Aurelia, died Friday last, after an illness of about ten days duration, from bowel complaint. The funeral services took place on Sunday at 10 o’clock, and were largely attended. His rather sudden death was a great shock to the community and his many friends all over this section. In the history of Cherokee county we find this biography:

Peter Wesley Dingman was born 1833 in Middleburry, Wyoning county, New York. His parents were Henry and Catherine Vader Dingman, descendants of early Dutch settlers on the Mohawk. In 18?? They emigrated from New York to Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, where they father died the following year. His widow is still living at the age of 90 years. At the age of sixteen years the subject of this notice entered the office of the Attica Atlas as an apprentice. The editor of the Atlas was Silas Folsom, a brother of Mrs. Grover Cleveland’s grandfather. His heath failing after one year of type-setting, he returned to the farm and attended school for a time. He then entered a bakery at Rushford to learn the trade and remained there nearly two years. After working at his trade at Jamestown one summer, he retuned to Batavia, and entered the employ of a firm with whom he remained three years. In the fall of 1856 he was sent to Chicago by his employers as foreman in a steam bakery. He occupied this position for two years, and the following two years were spent in Janesville, Wisconsin, as foreman in a bakery. January 1, 1859, Mr. Dingman was married in Winnebago county, Wisconsin, to Miss Allen Folly. His father having died the year before, he went to Fond du Lac county and purchased the home farm, adding forty acres to it. After to years he sold this place, and the next two years farmed in another portion of the county. He then removed to Osh-Kosh, Wisconsin, and for a year and half was engaged in the wholesale and retail bakery and confectionary business. During this time he was twice burned, and having no insurance he was $1,000 behind. In the spring of 1866 he came to Sac City, Iowa and took a homestead near that place. He next accepted a position as cook to a party of surveyors locating the Northwestern railroad, which was pleasant and profitable employment. The following season he was cook on the steamer Lincoln, plying on the Fox river. He next conducted a bakery and restaurant, and in 1871 resumed faming, which he continued until 18796, when he removed to Buena Vista county, Iowa, and bought a farm upon which he lived for eight years. Since his residence in Aurelia he has been engaged in handling real estate, loans and insurance. Having a natural gift of language, he is widely known as a forcible and genial auctioneer. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and of Maple Lodge No. 495, I.O.O.F. His family consists of Julia A., wife of A.A. Reed; Estella Maria, wife of Nelson Sighu; Cora Elsie, wife of T.B. Parker, Clara May, wife of H.K. Leonard; Arthur and Leon.