Daniel Francis

EDINGTON, FRANCIS

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 10/1/2004 at 11:01:46

Daniel Francis, Penn twp., farmer, Sec. 21; P.O. Earlham; born in Dark county, Ohio, December 5, 1826; married March 10, 1850, to Emily Edington, a native of that county; to them have been born four children, two sons and two daughters, all deceased; three dying in one week with that fatal disease, diphtheria, they emigrated to Iowa, locating in Penn township, Madison county, May 22, 1855, being the first settlers in the township; the first election was held in the old log house now owned by the subject of this sketch; he being elected justice of the peace, and was continued in office two years; served a county supervisor five years, and has assessed the township fifteen times; Mr. Francis and wife had but little of this world's goods, but of the patient enduring grace of the Father, their stock was ample; hard times set in two years after they settled here; the winters were extremely cold; wood scarce and to be hauled a long way, so that to keep the wolf (both literally and iguratively) away from the door required all the energy, economy and preference of which they were master; neighbors came in very slowly until the locating of the railroad in 1867, then the country settled very rapidly; the township was organized; the first school-house erected in 1858, is still standing near Pilot Grove, district, number two; the first school was taught by Mrs. Williams; the township has now nine schools, costing about three thousand dollars annually; here again is vividly called to mind the vast progress of our age, converting in the space of a quarter of a century, "Eldorado" of the west; "all honor to the industrial hero." Mr. Francis has a large and well cultivated farm of some 500 acres, a magnificent home, and good out buildings surrounding it; by his uprightness of conduct, his strict integrity, and the nobility of his character, he has won the esteem of all who know him; as many tokens of their regard fully tstify. During this, the summer of 1879, he was unanimously nominated by the Republican convention, at Winterset, as their candidate for the Legislature.

Taken from the book, "The History of Madison County, Iowa, 1879" page 637