DANIELS, Esquire B.

DANIELS

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 5/31/2021 at 12:24:33

Esquire B. Daniels
born Sep 5, 1835

Esquire B. Daniels, a retired farmer residing in Cushing, Iowa, was born in Randolph County, West Virginia, September 5, 1835. His father, Jacob Daniels, a native of Virginia, and a soldier in the Mexican war, was a son of William Daniels, also a native of the Old Dominion and a descendant of one of the first Virginia families. Our subject’s mother, whose maiden name was Nancy Parsons, was born in New Jersey. Her father, Andrew Parsons, was a Revolutionary soldier, and after his death her mother received a pension for several years. Jacob Daniels and his wife had a family of eight children, four sons and four daughters. He has reached the advanced age of ninety-eight years, and is still living in Randolph County, Virginia. He is a Methodist, and has been a planter all his life. His wife died in 1865.
The subject of our sketch grew up on his father’s plantation and received his education in the rude log schoolhouse near his home. At the age of twenty-two he came west to Clinton County, Iowa, where he was located at the time the war broke out. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company F, Twenty-sixth Iowa Infantry, and served for three years, during which time he was in many of the most important engagements of the southwest. He was at Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post (where he received a wound in the hand), Young’s Point, Grand Gulf, Jackson (Mississippi), Black River, Vicksburg, in General Sherman’s march to the sea, up through the Carolinas, and at the grand review in Washington. For meritorious conduct while in the service he was promoted to First Lieutenant. After his discharge he returned to Clinton County, where he was engaged in farming until 1880. That year he came to Ida County, settled in Battle Township, on wild land, and made his home on it until March, 1892. He improved this property, a tract of 400 acres, and made it one of the best farms in the township. He built a nice story and a half residence, planted a grove and orchard of six acres, built a barn and made other substantial improvements, and on this property was successfully engaged in farming and stock-raising for eleven years. On coming to Cushing he bought property and built a two-story residence, 16 x 28 feet, with an L, 16 x 22 feet, and bay windows. It is nicely fitted and furnished throughout in a manner that at once indicates the culture and refinement of the family.
Mr. Daniels was married at the age of twenty-two, in Randolph County, West Virginia, to Sarah Trainer, daughter of Thomas Trainer, a Virginian. They have ten children, as follows: Mary, wife of S. H. McCarl, of Cushing; Minnie, wife of N. Insko, Cushing; Daisy Smith, Cushing, was before her marriage successfully engaged in teaching; Charles, a merchant and Postmaster, Cushing; Frank, who resides on the old farm; Harvey, who is employed as a clerk; Israel, Eddie, Nannie, and Willie. Mr. Daniels is vice-president and one of the directors of the Cushing Savings Bank. He is a prominent worker in the ranks of the Republican Party, and has acceptably filled the office of Township Trustee and as a member of the School Board. He is a member of the G. A. R., William Baker Post, Correctionville. He and his family are active church and Sunday-school workers, being members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is a Steward and Trustee. Indeed, Mr. Daniels has ever been a foremost man in advancing any good moral enterprise arising in his community.
Source: Biographical History of Crawford, Ida, and Sac Counties, Iowa, 1893, p.568