Dye, Sylvester

DYE

Posted By: Volunteer (email)
Date: 10/11/2006 at 01:08:50

Sylvester Dye

(From the 1883 History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, by J. H. Keatley, p.157, Macedonia Twp.)
Sylvester Dye, merchant, Macedonia, was born in Lee County, Iowa, in May, 1843. His father, Henry Dye, was born in Miami County, Ohio, in 1814. From there, he emigrated to the State of Indiana; thence to Lee County, Iowa, in 1839, where he now lives. He is a member of the Pioneer Association of Lee County, Iowa, being one of the oldest members of the association. He has been a farmer all his life; has been Justice of the Peace. Subject's mother, Jane (Mickelwait) Dye, was born in York, England, about 1823; she came to America with her parents in 1829. Her father was a farmer; settled at Jacksonville, Ill., remained there about nine years, and subsequently moved to Lee County, Iowa, where he died in 1856. Mr. Dye has four brothers and one sister. He was educated at Denmark Academy, in Lee County, Iowa. From attending this institution, Mr. Dye went to the army, enlisting in Company E, of the Nineteenth Iowa Volunteers, serving in the capacity of a private for three years. After returning from the army, he came to Mills County, Iowa, in the fall of 1865; there he rented a farm four about six years, then bought in Macedonia Township, Pottawattamie County, where he farmed until 1880, when he with his brother formed a partnership in a general store, the firm going by the name of W. Dye & Co., Mr. Dye still owns and conducts his farm of 210 acres, situated three and a half miles southwest of Macedonia. The firm of W. Dye & Co. was burned out March 6, 1882, but they have their new brick building now almost completed. Thus we have traced the movements of one of Iowa's most thrifty, self-made business men. During the time spent in the army, Mr. Dye was taken prisoner in the state of Louisiana in the fall of 1863, and confined at Tyler, Tex., for ten months; he was at the siege of Vicksburg and various other engagements. He is a member of the Odd Fellows' Lodge of Macedonia. He married Miss Mary J. Linville, of Glenwood, Mills County, Iowa, January 16, 1868; she was born in Nodaway County, Mo., in 1851. Her father, George Linville, was born in Tennessee in 1815, and came to Iowa in 1856; he still lives in Mills County, Iowa. Her mother, Sarah Burris, was born in Tennessee, and is the mother of eight children. Mr. and Mrs. Dye have three children - Claud, Ella L. and Willoughby. Mr. Dye was a successful candidate for the office of County Supervisor in the fall of 1879. He served his constituency very satisfactorily during a term of three years, being elected by the Democratic party, with W. Fay as opponent.