Damon, Riley W.

DAMON, HICKS, DAVIS

Posted By: Volunteer Subscribers
Date: 4/15/2003 at 21:53:31

Source: "The 1901 Biographical Record of Clinton Co., Iowa, Illustrated" published: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1901.

RILEY W. DAMON.

Riley W. Damon, who is engaged in the practice of law and in the real estate business in Calamus, was born in Bridgeport, Madison county, New York, on the 11th of December, 1844, a son of Edmund H. and Sarah (Hicks) Damon, the latter a cousin of Elias Hicks, who was the founder of the religious sect known as the Hicksite Quakers. The father of our subject conducted a hotel at Bridgeport, New York, for many years and was a prominent man in the community. He was a stanch advocate of the abolition cause, was a warm personal friend of Gerrit Smith, and his home was a station on the famous underground railroad, whereby many a slave from the south was assisted on his way to freedom in Canada. Both he and his wife are now deceased, their last days being passed in Calamus, where the father died at the age of eighty-two years, and the mother at the age of seventy-two. They were the parents of ten children, eight of whom are yet living, their homes being in various sections of the country.

In the place of his nativity Riley W. Damon remained until sixteen years of age, when, in 1861, he came to Iowa, locating in Davenport. On the 12th of September, of the same year, he manifested his loyalty to the Union by enlisting in Company B, Eighth Iowa Infantry, and after being discharged from that regiment he re-enlisted in Company A, Eighteenth Iowa Infantry, with which he remained until the close of the war, being discharged at Little Rock, Arkansas. He participated in the battle of Shiloh, the siege of Corinth, the second battle at that place, and in many minor engagements, and when the country no longer needed his services he returned to Iowa.

Mr. Damon located on his father’s farm three miles south of Calamus, and there remained for a year, after which he spent a year in the study of medicine. On the expiration of that period he went to Missouri, where he engaged in shipping fruit for several years, subsequently spending one year in the milling business in Crawford county, Iowa. He next returned to Calamus and read law under the direction of the firm of N. A. Merrill. In 1879 he was admitted to the bar and has since engaged in practice, meeting with creditable success in his efforts at the bar. He is careful and thorough in the preparation of cases and is very devoted to his clients’ interests. He is also engaged in handling real estate, and has manipulated some important realty transfers.

Mr. Damon was united in marriage to Miss Emma A. Davis, of Galena, Illinois, a daughter of Job Early and Wealthy A. Davis, both of whom are now deceased. The father engaged in the practice of medicine throughout his business career and spent the last years of his life in Maquoketa. He was a man of considerable prominence and was esteemed by many friends. His birth occurred in Canada, while his wife was a native of one of the southern states. Mr. and Mrs. Damon now have one daughter, Glenn C., sixteen years of age, now a student in Dixon College, at Dixon, Illinois. Socially Mr. Damon is connected with Howard Post, G. A. R., of DeWitt, and with the Modern Woodmen of America. In politics he is a stalwart Republican and is deeply interested in the growth and success of his party. He has served as assessor of his town for twenty-two years and for twelve years has served as mayor of Calamus, filling the position at the present time. No higher proof of his capability and fidelity could be given than the fact that he has been so long continued in the office through the vote of the people, who have thus manifested their confidence in his loyalty and efficiency. Upright and honorable, broad-minded and liberal-hearted, and possessing a character of superior qualifications, he enjoys the merited respect and high esteem of his numerous friends.