Sargent, Daniel K.

SARGENT, SHEPARD, CURRIER, COOK

Posted By: Gary Norris (email)
Date: 1/7/2013 at 07:54:13

The History of Poweshiek County, Iowa
Des Moines: Union Hist. Co., 1880.

SARGENT, DANIEL K.—Deep River Twp—pg 744-45. Section 3, P.O. Deep River. His great-grandfather, Peter S. Sargent, was of English extraction, and lived in Hopkinton, New Hampshire, where Daniel’s grandfather, Arnaasa Sargent, was born, on March 6, 1770, and married in 1796, Miss Susana Shepherd, who was born in Newton, Massachusetts, in June, 1772. Their son, Jonathan, was born in New London, New Hampshire, June 27, 1802, and married February 22, 1830, Miriam J. Currier, who was born in New Hampshire, December 19, 1800, and died in March, 1852, leaving three children, one girl and two boys. Their second child, Daniel, the subject of this sketch, was born in Hanover, Grafton county, New Hampshire, July 14, 1832. Daniel’s father was a blacksmith and he was raised to the same trade. He educated himself while working at the forge, and taught school one term. During his boyhood his cousin, J.E. Sargent, then a young lawyer, but in after years the Supreme Judge of New Hampshire, and for two years Chief Justice of the same State, came into the village in the prosecution of his profession and excited an ambition in young Daniel for legal fame. Upon making application for advice to a legal friend of some distinction, Geo. S. Tole, he was frightened out of his intentions, and the current of his life was changed. From his native place he came directly to this county, April 18, 1857, and immediately built the first blacksmith shop in Deep River township, where he continued to ply his trade until August of 1862, when he enlisted in company B, Fortieth Iowa volunteers. He served as private for two years and nine months, when he was promoted to the second lieutenancy of company D, One Hundred and Thirteenth colored troops, in which office he served until the following October, when, having contracted malarial fever, he resigned his commission. He participated in the battle of Mechanicsville and the Siege of Vicksburg, after which he was taken to the hospital at Helena, Arkansas, from which he passed successfully through four others, winding up at Keokuk. He sufficiently recovered to return to the front in May, 1864, from which time he kept his health and served as a faithful soldier until the date of his discharge, October 5, 1865. He receives a pension. His aged father, who has lived with him since 1861, kept up his son’s business during his absence, and at the same time served as the village postmaster. His slumbering ambition for legal practice being revived, he now commenced the study of law, and after being commissioned as notary public in 1866, was finally admitted to the bar in April, 1872. He is now serving his seventh term as justice of the peace, and has, in fact, held about every office in the gift of the township. Mr. Sargent married, April 10, 1855, Miss Clara Cook, of Lyme, New Hampshire. Their children are: Willie N. (born April 18, 1856), Mary A. (born December 25, 1857, and died September 1, 1858), Josie E. (born August 16, 1859) and Sylvender A. (born February 22, 1862). All except Will N. born in Deep River township. Besides his own children Mr. Sargent has adopted a child, who, by the articles of adoption, takes the name of Minnie A. Sargent, and was born the 12th of August, 1871. He traded his town property in the spring of 1871 for a farm of 175 acres.