DANNATT, Charles J.

DANNATT, BERKENSHAW, BOWERS

Posted By: Volunteer Transcribers
Date: 1/20/2003 at 12:10:16

CHARLES J. DANNATT 
During his early years the subject of this sketch was actively identified with the agricultural interests of the county, where he has spent his entire life, but is now living retire in Clinton. He was born in Camanche township, on the 3d of July, 1856, and is a son of John Dannatt, whose birth occurred in Lincolnshire, England, in 1812. In his native land the father married Miss Mary J. Berkenshaw, and in 1852 they sailed for America. Subsequently our subject’s paternal grandparents, Robert and Elizabeth (Bowers) Dannatt, also came to the new world, where the former lived retired until he passed away at the age of seventy-seven years, while his wife died in the fall of 1856. having an uncle already living in Clinton county, Iowa, John Dannatt located here on coming to this country, and took up a half section of wild land in Center township, a portion of which is still owned by our subject. In 1855 the father bought one hundred and sixty acres on section fourteen, in Camanche township, on which a very few improvements had been made by Mr. Rochford. Upon that place Mr. Dannatt erected a good brick house, which was destroyed by fire in 1871, but was soon rebuilt and is still standing. In connection with general farming he engaged in stock raising, keeping from seventy-five to one hundred head of a fine grade of cattle upon his farm, and in his business affairs met with wonderful success, being one of the most substantial as well as one of the most highly esteemed citizens of his community. He died on the 6th of April, 1873, at the age of sixty-one years, and his wife passed away in 1886, at the age of seventy. Of the nine children born to them, three died in infancy, the other being Emily Hannath, Charlotte Maria, Edwin John, Robert, William, Marian, Charles J. And Thomas. All the children are deceased with the exception of Emily, Charlotte, Marian and our subject. The father was one of a large family, of whom Benjamin, Thomas and Betsy reached maturity, and were the only members of the family to come to America, while the others remained in England.

Charles J. Dannatt passed the days of his boyhood and youth upon the home farm and early acquired an excellent knowledge of agricultural pursuits, while at the same time he gained a good practical education in the school of the neighborhood. On the death of his father he succeeded to the farm, and in its successful management showed that he was a man of good business and executive ability, who thoroughly understood the occupation which he followed. At the age of thirty-three he rented his farms and removed to Camanche and in the spring of 1895 removed to Clinton, where he has since made his home, his sister, Charlotte Maria, living with him. He now owns considerable property in that city beside his valuable farm land. At the time of the terrible cyclone in 1860, which swept away the town of Camanche and killed so many people, our subject’s grandfather, Robert, was in the kitchen part of his house and was somewhat bruised, while the main building, which was of brick, was entirely destroyed, together with his barns and other outbuildings. He is public-spirited and enterprising and takes an active interest in the progress of his country, but has never been prevailed upon to accept office, but he supports the Republican party. In religious faith he is a Baptist.
Source: The 1901 Biographical Record of Clinton Co., Iowa, Illustrated published: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1901.