Scanlan, Dennis J. 1864-1959 & Jennie Castle family

SCANLAN, SCANLIN, CASTLE, WELSON

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 12/29/2021 at 08:46:14

Scanlan, Dennis J. 1864-1959 and Jennie Castle Family

This story was taken from the ‘Rock Valley Records & Recollections’ book written about 1976 in honor of the two hundredth birthday of our nation. It was a revision of the history written by Lottie Thomas in 1955. Story found on pages 151 and 152 .It was transcribed for this BIOS by Beth De Leeuw of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society and some research notes were added.

Dennis J. Scanlan was born March 19, 1864 at Wilmington, Illinois, and came to northwest Iowa in the year 1884. He worked on farms and broke the prairie sod in and around Rock Valley until 1886, then taking over the real estate business which had been conducted by his brother, Thomas Scanlan, who then headed a banking business in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Mr. Scanlan was active in the real estate business until two years before his death in 1959. He was the first Democratic chairman of Sioux County, served as a director in the State Bank of Rock Valley, and was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, serving on the building committee for the church which was built in 1912. He served as a member of the town council for a number of years and held the office of president and other offices in the Rock Valley Fair Association. A highlight of his long active career came in 1956 when he was named “Rock Valley Man of the Year.”

Many Rock Valley residents recall Mr. Scanlan’s love for horses, which he at one time raised and ran in races. He ran one of his thorough-breds on the “Grand Circuit.”

Mr. Scanlan was married on November 22, 1892 to Jennie Castle who died in 1938. They had four sons. Three of the sons, Harley, Clarence, and Francis, before their retirement, were all actively engaged as chiropractors. At one time Harley served as vice-president of the National Chiropractic Association. The fourth son, Emmet, who married Catherine Dixon, was associated with his father in the real estate and insurance business, and is still active in the business at the present time.

Dennis Scanlan is buried in the St. Mary’s Catholic cemetery of Rock Valley.

Above submitted to book by (E.R. Scanlan)

RESEARCH NOTES; added by Wilma J. Vande Berg
1870 census of Wilmington, Will, Illinois James Scanlin born about 1823 Ireland, wife Hanora Scanlin born abt 1830 Ireland, children were Richard 16, Thomas 15, Patrick 11, Margaret 12 Mary 8, Anna 6, Dennis 5, James 3.

In the Rock Valley St. Mary’s Church book page 151 and 152 there is more family information on the sons Francis Scanlan who married Mathilda Siemonsma and Emmet Scanlan who married Catherine Dixon.

Obits added by Beth De Leeuw
OBITUARY OF DENNIS SCANLAN
Rock Valley Bee(1-15-1959)
One of this countries richest and most colorful eras came nearer to a close here Saturday on the death of Dennis James Scanlan, pioneer Rock Valley resident, its oldest businessman and perhaps its eldest person. He was nearly 95 and had been in ill health for several months before his death.
Mr. Scanlan was a part of that growth of this country that meant homesteading, breaking prairie, race horses, celluloid collars, button shoes and above all rugged individualism. In his honor, the business firms of Rock Valley remained closed during the services that were held in St. Mary's church Monday morning at 9:00 a.m. Burial was in the Valley View cemetery under the direction of the Vander Ploeg funeral home. Father Kirschbaum of Rock Rapids said the Requiem High Mass.
Mr. Scanlan took an active part in the life of Rock Valley in his early and middle years having spent many terms on the town council. At one time he was president of the Rock Valley Fair association and held other offices on that board prior to his presidency.
Mr. Scanlan came to Rock Valley when he was 20 years old, in 1884 from Wilmington. IL, his birth place. He was born March 19, 1864. As a young man he worked on farms and "broke" prairie for a couple of years before going into the real estate business in 1886. He took over an office of his brother, Thomas who moved to Sioux Falls to head a banking firm. He continued an active part of that office until his death. Bulk of the duties, however were taken over by his son, Emmett, in recent years. The young Rock Valley businessman was Sioux county's first Democratic county chairman and was also a director in the State Bank of Rock Valley when that firm was still active. He was also on the building committee of St. Mary's church that was completed in 1912 and remains one of the town’s most striking structures. A climax to his long active career came in 1956 when he was named "Rock Valley" Man of the Year. Mr. Scanlan in the early days was an avid horse lover and raised and ran horses taking one of his thorough-breds on the "Grand Circuit."
His parents were Bridget and James Scanlan. He had four brothers Thomas, Richard, Patrick and James all of whom preceded him in death as did his sisters Mary, Margaret and Anne.
Miss Jennie Castle of Doon and Mr. Scanlan were married Nob. 22, 1892 in the old Catholic church in Rock Valley. Both the best man D.N. Hoffman of Le Mars and the bridesmaid, the then Miss Anne Poppee are still living. Five children were born to the couple. One died in infancy and the other four are Dr. Harley Scanlan of Sheldon. Dr. Francis Scanlan of Algona, Dr. Clarence Scanlan of Lake City and Emmett of Rock Valley. Mrs. Scanlan preceded her husband in death nearly 21 years having died April 26, 1938. Four grandchildren also survive Mrs. Richard (Betty) Halpin of Muscatine, James Scanlan with the navy in Japan, Mrs. James (June Ann) Rasley of Des. Moines and Mrs. Philip (Virginia)Everest of Kingsville, Texas. Seven great grandchildren and two nieces are among the survivors.

RESEARCH NOTE : 1880 census of Lincoln Tsp Sioux County, Jennie Castle was found as the step daughter of Walter Cross 40 and Percis A. Cross 42 (her mother) There were five Castle children living in that household, John 20, Jennie 18, Daniel l 16, Ada 12 and George 11.
Persis A. Castle Mrs. Otis N. 1836-1907 was the mother of Jennie,see her obit.
Ancestry family report has her father as Otis N. Castel born Jun 1837 Lee, Oneida, NY died 14 Jun 1904 Centennial, Lyon County IA. He married Persis A. Welson born Jul 1836 NY,
The family lived in Yellow Medicine Redwood MN from at least 1861-1869

OBITUARY OF JENNIE CASTEL SCANLAN
Source: Rock Valley Bee (5-6-1938)
Born: My 15, 1864
Died: April 26, 1938
Mrs. D. J. Scanlan, whose sudden death was briefly mentioned in last weeks Bee, passed away at her home in Rock Valley early Tuesday morning. She had been in her usual health the preceding day and early part of the night, and her death is a great shock to her family and friends.
Jennie Ella Castle Scanlan was born May 15, 1864, at Fairbault, Minnesota and had attained the age of seventy-three years, eleven months and eleven days. She was united in marriage with Dennis James Scanlan November 22, 1892. Mr. and Mrs. Scanlan have lived in Rock Valley for many years, being among the pioneer residents of this place.
Mrs. Scanlan was highly respected and admired by all who knew her and her many friends here and elsewhere sincerely regret her departure, and they extend their most heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved husband and children.
Funeral services were held in St. Mary’s Church in Rock Valley Thursday morning, the services being in charge of Reverend Hyland. The services were largely attended, the large church auditorium being filled to capacity. During the services, business places in Rock Valley were closed. The remains were taken to St. Mary’s Cemetery, southeast of Rock Valley for burial.
Mrs. Scanlan leaves her husband, Dennis J. Scanlan, four sons: Dr. H.D. Scanlan, and wife of Sheldon; Dr. F.C. Scanlan and family of Algona, Iowa; Dr. C.J. Scanlan and wife of Clarion, Iowa; and E.R. Scanlan and wife of Rock Valley; all of whom were here for the funeral services. She also leaves four grandchildren: Betty, June Ann, Virginia and James of Algona; one sister Mrs. Ada Smith, Huntington Park, California; and two brothers, George Castle, Canton, South Dakota and Dan Castle of Huntington Park, California.

This picture of Dennis Scanlan was found in the Rock Valley St. Mary’s Church Book. Page 151.

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