MENDENHALL, Daniel - 1890 Bio (1819-1873)

MENDENHALL, PIERCE, GEORGE, MORRIS, MOUNT, HALL

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 8/18/2007 at 11:40:57

Portrait and Biographical Album of Jefferson and Van Buren Counties, Iowa, Printed 1890 by Lake City Publishing Co., Chicago
Pages 222-223

Daniel MENDENHALL, an honored pioneer of Fairfield, Jefferson County, now deceased, was born in Guilford County, N. C., December 12, 1819, and died at his home in this city, on the 9th of November, 1873, respected by all who knew him. During his youth he removed from his native State to Indiana, where on the 23d of August, 1841, he was united in marriage with Miss Sussannah PIERCE, a native of that State, and a daughter of John and Anna PIERCE, of Wayne County.

The succeeding year Mr. MENDENHALL came with his young love to Iowa with the hope of bettering his financial condition and providing a comfortable home for himself and family. He chose Fairfield as the scene of his operations and in a little log house which marked the site upon which the Presbyterian Church now stands, he began life on the western prairies. He was a gunsmith by trade and for a number of years did an extensive business in that line, as his services were much in demand in the early days when guns were needed to procure the wild game which would furnish a meal, or for defense against wild animals, such as wolves, etc., which were still seen in the neighborhood. His guns gained for him a wide reputation which extended even as far west as California. During the period that he worked at his trade, Mr. MENDENHALL also speculated in wild lands and in that way accumulated some capital. On abandoning his chosen occupation, he engaged in the commission business on the line of what was then called the Burlington & Mississippi Railroad, now the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy. He established commission houses at Fairfield, Ottumwa, and other stations and also along the line of the Des Moines Valley Railroad, now a part of the Rock Island & Pacific Railroad. Later he was connected with the First National Bank as its Vice-President.

The family of Mr. and Mrs. MENDENHALL consisted of eight children, three sons and five daughters as follows: Esther A., born November 22, 1842, is the wife of C. F. GEORGE of Fairfield; Sarah J. now Mrs. C. C. MORRIS of Fairfield, was born January 17, 1845; Lewis, born February 20, 1849, is a minister of the Free Methodist Church and resides in Fairfield; William, born January 8, 1852, died at the age of four years; Mary E., born August 15, 1855, is the deceased wife of J. C. MOUNT; Annie, born May 15, 1859, is the wife of Rev. F. E. HALL of Keokuk, Iowa; Laura, born August 31, 1862, died at the age of seventeen years, and one son died in early infancy.

Mr. MENDENHALL was a life-long Democrat and held some minor offices of public trust. In early life he was converted and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, with which he retained membership until a short time prior to his death, when he united with the Free Methodist Church. Industry and energy were among his marked characteristics and in consequence he was quite successful in his business career. He believed that work was the golden key which unlocked the door to the fortress of success and therefore was never idle. Upright and honorable in all his dealings, he took no undue advantages but paid to all their just dues and expected like treatment in return. However his course was so open and above board that he won the confidence and esteem of all. He never had any litigation but always managed to avoid law suits and business complications. He gave largely of his means to churches, colleges and public enterprises and being a practical yet progressive man, his opinions in such matters carried great weight with them.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.