Dale, John Wesley 1861-1925 & Lois Talbot Family

DALE, TALBOT, HILLIS, GRUWELL

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 5/1/2023 at 19:54:23

Dale, John Wesley 1861-1925 & Lois Talbot Family

This story was taken from pages 375-376 of the Ireton Centennial Book (1882-1982). The story was transcribed for this BIOS by Beth De Leeuw of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society. Some research notes were added by Wilma J. Vande Berg. Information was stated as it was found in the record cited.

John Dale, with his wife Lois (Talbot), two daughters Edna born in 1885 and Ruth born in 1890, and son Ray born in 1888, arrived in Ireton in 1892, from Miller, S.D. where they had homesteaded six years before, and remained here the rest of their lives.

He was born Aug. 1861 in Cascade, Ia. Lois was born Jan. 1868 in Iowa City, Ia. They were married at Dow City, Ia. In 1883.

In Ireton their first home was on Main Street, next door to the town’s hotel, just up the street from the depot. Their daughter, Belle, was born Mar. 1893. Then they purchased their home one block from Main Street at the foot of “the school house hill.” Here Helen was born Apr. 1895 and Grace was born Sept. 1898. Ray, as the story goes, was so disappointed at having another sister, from some source obtained a bona fide Sheriff’s placard reading “Small pox” and put it on the front door. It was soon taken down because everyone knew it had been a baby that was expected, not a “Pox.”

Mr. Dale worked at many things, primarily he was a salesman. He sold for the John Deere farm machinery Co. and many years was a salesman for the International Harvester Co., covering Iowa, Nebr., and Missouri. He brought home from Missouri many plants for his yard, and always brought gifts for his wife and children. Those were the days of trains, horse and buggy, no automobiles, so he was gone for a month or more at a time. He ran the town’s livery the year the new railroad between Sioux City and Hawarden was built. It ran through a little cross-road they named McNally.

Later years he opened an Insurance and Real Estate office in Ireton. He was successful and, as always, helped many people. He helped many families from Holland to find farms to buy. More than once storms wiped out crops and farmers had found out he had paid their premiums for them.

During the flu epidemic of World War I, he would have himself quarantined with a family where the man of the house was ill, and he took over the chores and did everything needed. Dr. F.F. Null, John and daughter, Grace, made quite a team. Grace had had hospital training in Denver, Co. and she also nursed around the clock.

He was active in promotion of worthy enterprises for advancement of the home town and took a keen interest in the progress it made. He served as Mayor and, during his administration, many worth while things had been accomplished.

John was a staunch member of the Odd Fellows Lodge, of which he was secretary. He was also secretary of the Pleasant Hill Cemetery Ass’n.

His parents, James Samuel and Mary Jane both came to live with John’s family at an elderly age, but not at the same time. James died in 1899 and Mary Jane died in 1909 and are buried in Pleasant Hill Cemetery. John passed away at Ireton in 1925 and Lois died at her daughter, Grace’s home in 1943, and are also buried in Ireton. Their son, Ray, died in 1958, Helen (Mrs. Harry Boggs) died in 1966, Edna (Mrs. John Woertink), died in 1973, Ruth (Mrs. Loren Brown) lives in Ypsilanti, Mi., Belle (Mrs. Jack McNally) lives at Montpelior, Oh. and Grace (Mrs. Vernon Ahmann) lives at Hawarden.

RESEARCH NOTES: Added by Wilma J. Vande Berg. From birth, marriage and death records, and from public member trees ancestry.com. Obituaries taken from this page www.iagenweb.org/sioux/obits .

John Wesley Dale was born 25 Aug 1861 Cascade, Dubuque, Iowa and died 10 Sep 1925 Ireton IA. His parents were James Samuel Dale 1816-1899 and Mary Frances Margaret Jane Hillis 1817-1909. In 1883 at Dow City, Crawford County Iowa, he married Lois Leota Talbot.

Lois Leota Talbet was born 7 Jan 1864 at Iowa City, Allamakee, Iowa and died 26 oct 1943 at Hawarden, Iowa. She was the daughter of Lewis B. Talbot 1842-1873 and Alice Carrie Gruwell 1844-1875.

CHILDREN of John and Lois Dale:

1. WALTER DALE In the obituary of his mother, Lois Dale, it is stated that she was the mother of seven children, one son Walter had died in infancy. The date of birth and death was not revealed.

2. EDNA ALICE DALE Woertink born 7 Jul 1885 Iowa died 5 Sep 1973 Glendora, Los Angeles CA.
Find A Grave list Edna Alice Woertink born 7 Jul 1885 Dow City Iowa, died 5 Sep 1973 Glendora CA. She was married 19 Feb 1914, her husband was John Woertink 1885-1976, two children listed John Henry Woertink and Arthur Talbot Woertink.
In a family report on ancestry.com the children listed were Arthur Woertink 1915-1955, Robert Woodrow Woertink 1918-2004 and John Woertink 1028-2010. There may have been three more children as listed ‘private’ in that report.

3. RAY ARTHUR DALE born Dec 1887 South Dakota died 1959
Hawarden Independent, September 10, 1959
Funeral services for Ray Dale, 70, prominent Hawarden farmer, sales barn operator and one of the nation's top individual dealers in horses, were held at 2 o'clock Saturday afternoon at the Methodist Church, Rev. C. E. Custer officiating. Burial was at Grace Hill cemetery under the direction of the Barnard Funeral Home. Casket bearers included Earl V. Slife, Earl Slife, Jr., Dave Gearhart, Lawrence Meeter, Dick Feenstra and Bob Lynott. Mr. Dale suffered a stroke last Friday morning which paralyzed his left side although his mind was not affected. He died the following Wednesday night. For some time he suffered from diabetes from which complications contributed to the cause of death. Born December 5, 1888 at Miller, SD, he moved with his family to Ireton as a child. He married Freda Freerksen at Canton, SD, June 30, 1930, and farmed southeast of Hawarden until moving to Hawarden in 1947. While on the farm he specialized in dealing in horses and one year sold nearly 4,000 horses to parts all over the country. He was known from coast to coast, having handled more horses than any man in this part of the country. He performed innumerable kindnesses to humanity, most of which were never publicized. Feeding and housing transients, assisting families in need, even to the extend of sharing his home with them for a full winter, were a few of his humane tasks. Untold numbers were fed at the Dale home for which his wife toiled by his side in the preparation of the food he provided. His two daughters, Evonne and Shirley, were adopted upon the death of their mother, Mrs. Fred Pluss who died while a tenant on the Dale farm, leaving six small children. When Mr. Dale and his wife moved into town he purchased the Hawarden Sales Co. and was associated with the sales barn for several years. He later had various partners in the company when his activity was curtailed because of failing health. Survivors include the widow; two daughters, Mrs. Evonne Kane of Hawarden and Mrs. Shirley Hansen of Rock Valley; five sisters, Mrs. Edna Woertink of San Bernardino,CA; Mrs. Ruth Brown of Ypsilanti, MI; Mrs. Belle McNally of Ypsilanti; Mrs. Helen Bogg of Warsaw, IN, and Mrs. Grace Ahmann of Hawarden, and seven grandchildren. The funeral services were attended by friends too numerous to mention and the following out of town relatives, John McNally of Fort Atkinson, WI; Mrs. Sig Hauge and Mrs. George Martin of Los Angeles, Mrs. Fred Wemmering and Mrs. George Wemmering of Watertown, SD; Luke Freerksen of George, IA; Mr. & Mrs. George Freerksen of Sibley; Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Macey; Mr. & Mrs. Milton Macey and Mr. & Mrs. Harry Macey, all of Vermillion; John Woertink of San Bernardino, Ca; and Mr. & Mrs. Lloyd Morgan of O'Neill, NE.

4. RUTH FLORENCE DALE born 15 Jul 1890 Hand, SD died 31 Dec 1984 Ypsilanti, Washtenaw MI Married Loren Brown. Find A Grave lists Ruth Brown born 15 Jul 1890 died 31 Dec 1984 buried Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co. MI, husband Loren S. Brown, one child listed as Barbara Parsons. Found a family report on ancestry.com. Ruth Florence Dale was born 15 Jul 1890 Hand, SD. And died 31 Dec 1984 Ypsilanti, MI. Married March 9, 1920 at Cristobal, Panama Canal to Loren Sheldon Brown born 20 mar 1895 Minneapolis MN died 13 Sep 1965 MI. Two children listed were Barbara Lois Brown 1920-2010 and David Loren Brown 1922-1994.

5. BELLE ADA DALE born Mar 1892 Ireton IA died Oct 1982 Montpelier, Williams Ohio.
Hawarden Independent of Nov 4, 1982
Mrs. John McNally, 90, of Stoughton, Wis., formerly of Ireton, died at Stoughton Friday, Oct. 29.
Graveside services were at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Hawarden.
The Rev. William Carel officiated.
Visitation was from 9 to10 a.m. Tuesday at the Dow Funeral Home in Hawarden.
The former Belle Dale, Mrs. McNally was born March 29,1892, in Ireton. She married John McNally in 1912. They lived in Lodi, Wis. Mr. McNally died in 1951.
Mrs. McNally was a matron at Michigan State Hospital in Ypsilanti, Mich., for a number of years.
Survivors are three daughters, Mrs. Ruth Brown of San Antonio, Texas, Mrs. Mary Heilman of Leesburg, Fla., and Mrs. Margaret Wilson of Montpelier, Ohio; two sons, Jerry of Sante Fe, N.M., and John F. of Fort Atkinson, Wis.; 12 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren,and two sisters, Mrs. Ruth Brown of Ypsilanti and Mrs. Grace Ahman of Hawarden.

6. HELLEN CLARE DALE born Apr 1895 Iowa died 13 Dec 1966 Warsaw, Kosciusko, IN Married Boggs lived in Warsaw IN.
Hawarden Independent, Hawarden, Sioux, Iowa, USA December 22, 1966
Mrs. Helen Boggs Dies In Indiana Funeral services for Mrs. Helen C. Boggs, who was born and raised at Ireton, were held Tuesday afternoon of last week at the Titus Funeral home at Warsaw, Ind. Interment was at Oakwood cemetery, Warsaw. Rev. Sheldon Duecker officiated. Mrs. Boggs died December 10 after a long illness, according to word received this week from Mrs. Grace Ahmann, a sister of Mrs. Boggs who is visiting her son Robert at Bloomington, Illinois, and who was in Warsaw at the time of her sister's death. She was a member of the Methodist church and the Order of the Eastern Star. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Dale. She was preceded in death by her husband and two brothers, Walter and Ray. Besides Mrs. Ahmann she is survived by three other sisters, Mrs. John (Edna) Woertink, Mrs. Ruth Brown and Mrs. Belle McNally. Two daughters, one son and seven grandchildren also, survive.

7. GRACE MAY DALE born 23 Sep 1897 Ireton IA died 18 Jul 1990 Gillette, Campbell, WY.
Her obit was on the ancestry.com page. Grace Ahmann – Gillette, WY – Grace Mae Ahmann, 92, Gellette, formerly of Hawarden, Iowa, died Wednesday in Pioneer Manor Nursing home in Gillett. Grace Dale was born Sep. 23, 1897, in Ireton, Iowa. She was graduated from Ireton High School as valedictorian. She attended nurse’s college in Denver for a year. She married Vernon Jasper Ahmann in Ireton. The couple lived in Minnesota before moving to Hawarden. She worked as a practical nurse in the Hawarden Community Hospital and the Methodist retirement Home in Fort Dodge, IA. She was a housemother at the Boys and Girls Home in Sioux City.
She was a member of the Hawarden Untied Methodist Church and one of the original founders of the Hawarden Senior Citizens.
Survivors include three sons: Vernon of Winslow AZ; and Robert and Roger both of Humble TX; two daughters; Patriciai Jamikowske of Amityville NY; and Lois Bruget of Gillette; 16 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. Services will begin at 10:30 a.m. Monday in United Methodist Church in Hawarden. Burial will be in Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Ireton.

OBITUARY OF JOHN WESLEY DALE
Mayor John Dale Dies Suddenly- John W. Dale, pioneer resident of Ireton, died very suddenly at his home here shortly after noon Wednesday. Mr. Dale had been in his customary health and had been down town looking after business affairs during the forenoon. He went home about noon for dinner and laid down upon a couch to rest for a few minutes before eating. He was heard to groan once or twice, and then suddenly passed away. A physician was hastily summoned but it was found that life was extinct. His death was attributed to heart failure. His sudden death was a great shock to his wife and members of his family and the news of his passing spread rapidly about town and cast a pall of gloom over the entire community.
The making of definite funeral arrangements has been deferred until the arrival of some of his children but it is anticipated that arrangements will be completed some time today.
Mr. Dale was 64 years of age and had resided in Ireton for more than thirty years and enjoyed a wide acquaintance all over Sioux County. He worked as a machinery salesman for many years, but of late years has been engaged in the real estate and insurance business. A year ago last spring he was elected mayor of Ireton and was still serving in that capacity at the time of his death. He was an honored member of the Odd Fellows lodge, had served for years as secretary of the Ireton Cemetery Association and was always active in every community enterprise. Besides his wife he is survived by one son and five daughters, Ray Dale of Hawarden, Mrs. John Woertink of Hospers, Mrs. R. Brown of Detroit, Mich., Mrs. J. C. McNally of Ireton, Mrs. Harry Boggs of Chicago and Mrs. V. J. Ahman of Hawarden. Mrs. Woertink was in the hospital at Rochester, Minn, at the time of his death but it is understood that she will be here for the funeral. Mrs. Boggs and family returned only last week to Chicago after visiting her parents here. A sister, Mrs. Alf Morgan resides at Hawarden.
The sincere sympathy of the community goes out to the grief stricken wife and children in their sudden bereavement.
Hawarden Independent, September 10, 1925

RESEARCH NOTES:
The Sioux County Cemetery Index has Dale, John W., b. 1862, d. 1925, Pleasant Hill Cem, Ireton IA.
His death certificate [very faint text] gives his full name as John Wesley Dale; wife Lois E.[?] Dale; born 2/25/1860[?] In Cascade, Iowa; occupation, Real Est. Insurance; parents Jas. J. Dale, born Ind., and Mary J. Hillas[?], born Minn.; died Sept. 9, 1925; cause: Death occurred suddenly, perhaps angina pectoris.
FindaGrave.com has John Wesley Dale, born Aug. 25, 1962; died Sep. 9, 1925; parents James Samuel Dale (1816-1899) and Mary Jane Frances Hillis Dale (1817-1909); spouse Lois Leota Talbot Dale (1862-1943); daughter Ruth Dale Brown (1890-1984); sister Emma Viola Dale Morgan (1870-1945); buried Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Iowa. There is a portrait photo of him, and a photo of his headstone (“John W. Dale, 1862-1925”).

OBITUARY of Lois Talbot (Mrs. John Dale) 1863-1943
Mrs. Lois Dale, a long time resident of Ireton and Hawarden, passed away at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Grace Ahmann, in this city about 9 o'clock Monday evening. Mrs. Dale had been in frail health for a long time, but was bedfast only two weeks preceding her death, which was due to her advanced age.
Funeral services will be held at 2 o'clock this afternoon at the Methodist Church at Ireton, with Rev. Fred Grantham in charge. Interment will be made in Pleasant Hill cemetery.
Lois Talbott as born Jan. 7, 1863, at Iowa City, Iowa and passed away in Hawarden, Oct. 26, 1943, so had reached the advanced age of 81 years, 9 months and 19 days. She was left an orphan early in life. She grew to young womanhood at Iowa City and was united in marriage with John W. Dale at Dow City in October, 1883. The first three years of her married life she spent at Dow City, after which she moved to Miller, SD., where she lived for six years. In 1892, the family moved to Ireton and she continued to live there until the death of her husband Sept. 9, 1925. During the 30 years she lived in Ireton, she took an active part in community affairs. Her husband was mayor of Ireton at the time of his death.
She was the mother of seven children. One son Walter died in infancy. The six surviving children are Ray Dale and Mrs. Grace Ahmann of Hawarden; Mrs. Edna Woertink of San Bernadino, CA; Mrs. Belle McNally of Lodi, WI, Mrs. Helen Boggs of Wausau, IN, and Mrs. Ruth Brown of Ypsilanti, MI. She also leaves one sister, Mrs. Sarah Macy of Vermillion, SD, and one half-sister, Mrs. Alice Hampton of Des Moines. There are 21 grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. Two children, Evonne and Shirley Pluss, who have been raised in the home of her son, were as dear to her as her own grandchildren.
Three of her grandsons are in the armed forces. They are S/Sgt. Vernon Ahmann, who has been in Africa for a year, Corp. David Brown at Tomah, WI, and James McNally, who is in the South Pacific. She was a sister-in-law of Mrs. Alf. Morgan of Hawarden, who is critically ill.
Mrs. Dale was reared in the Quaker faith, but later she united with the Methodist church at Ireton. She was also a member of the Rebekah Lodge.
All of her daughters who live at a distance came for the funeral. Other relatives who came for the services include Corp. David Brown of Tomah, Wisc. and Mrs. Sarah Macy of Vermillion.
Hawarden Independent, October 28, 1943

OBITUARY of James Dale abt.1812-1900 father of John Dale 1861-1925
Sioux County Herald April 25, 1900
Mr. James Dale died on Thursday morning at the home of his son John. The deceased was a very old man being 88 years of age. The funeral services were held in the M.E. church Friday and the remains were interred in the Ireton cemetery.
(The cemetery index lists James S. Dale born 20 May 1815 died 7 May 1899 Wife Mary J. buried Pleasant Hill cemetery Ireton IA. Her maiden name was Morgan, see her obit )

OBITUARY of Mrs. Mary Jan Dale 1827-2909 (mother of John Dale 1861-1925) Hawarden Independent, September 23, 1909 Mrs. Mary Jane Dale was born in Flanningsburg, Kentucky, on Sept. 16, 1827 and departed this life at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Alf Morgan, near Hawarden, on Sept. 8, 1909, at the ripe old age of nearly 82 years. When a child she accompanied her parents to the state of Indiana, where later in life she was united in marriage to James S. Dale. The early part of her wedded life was spent in Illinois, but with the opening up of the State of Iowa, she moved with her husband and young family about 60 years ago to Iowa where with the exception of intervals of residence with her children elsewhere she has remained until her death. The family born to the deceased numbered ten in all, two of them died in infancy, two more departing this life in early adult age, while she is survived by two sons and four daughters, residing as follows: Mrs. Melvina C. Byam, Baker City, OR; Harvey Dale, Portland, OR; Mrs. Relle Yates, Fossil, OR; Mrs. Ruth Byam, Los Angeles, CA; John Dale, Ireton, IA; Mrs. Ollie Morgan, Hawarden, IA. Eight years ago last April Mrs. Dale was bereaved of her husband, since which time she has made her home with her several children. In the death of Mrs. Mary Jane Dale, commonly known as Grandma Dale, this community loses one of its early settlers and most highly respected citizens. Mrs. Dale was well thought of by all who knew her. She possessed a quiet disposition and strong personality. She was buried by the side of her companion, looking forward to the day when in a better world we will join her again around the great white throne. Omitted information about the sermon and information on visits from her children.

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