Dales, William

DALES, GAULEY, WORTHING, WATT, BOND, LEONARD, SCOW, NEWLAND, ZOE

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 8/21/2009 at 12:48:35

Dales, William

One of the owners of extensive farming interests in Mound Prairie Township is the gentleman whose name initiates this sketch, one of Jasper County's highly respected citizens. His valuable property has been acquired through his own efforts, his persistency of purpose and his determination, and the prosperity, which is the legitimate reward of all earnest effort, is today his.

William Dales was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, July 21, 1854. He is the son of Andrew and Mary (Gauley) Dales, both born near Belfast, Ireland, the father in 1826 and the mother in 1827. Andrew Dales immigrated to America when he was twenty-one years old, having been married just before he started. He came to Guernsey County, Ohio, later becoming the owner of eighty acres. In 1886 he moved to Shelby County, Iowa, and there bought eighty acres and there he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives. Politically, he was a Republican and after the Civil War he became a member of the United Presbyterian Church. His family consisted of nine children, five sons and four daughters, of whom the subject of this sketch was the oldest.

William Dales grew up on the home farm and assisted with the general work about the place when a boy and he received his education in the district schools in Ohio. Two years after his marriage he came to Jasper County, Iowa, and bought eighty acres in Mound Prairie Township. Selling that eighty, he bought one hundred and sixty acres, on which he erected all the buildings and made all other necessary improvements, setting out many trees, including walnut and willow groves. He has been very successful as a general farmer and stock raiser. He keeps large numbers of shorthorn cattle.

Politically, Mr. Dales is a Republican and he has been Township Trustee and school director. He is a member of the United Presbyterian Church.

Mr. Dales was married December 31, 1875, to Jennie E. Worthing, who was born in Ohio, the daughter of Thomas Worthing, a farmer who joined the Union Army and was taken prisoner, confined at Andersonville and starved to death in prison.

To Mr. and Mrs. Dales the following children have been born: Mrs. Mary M. Watt, Mrs. Agnes Maud Bond, Mrs. Minnie Pearl Leonard, Mrs. Belva Lockwood Scow, Mrs. Ethel Newland, Bessie Zoe and William Vincent. Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa B. F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912 Page 687.