Dahly, B. O. 1826 -
DAHLY, KNUTSEN, NUTT, SHUTTLEWORTH, FULLER
Posted By: Bill Waters (email)
Date: 4/19/2014 at 17:08:23
B. O. DAHLY
In recounting the history of progress of Winneshiek county a prominent place in its development must be given to B. O. Dahly, one of the early merchants of Decorah and a pioneer of this state. Although there have passed eighteen years since his death occurred, his memory is still fresh in the minds of the people who knew him and esteemed him. Born on Christmas day in 1826, in Christiansand, Norway, and of Norwegian parentage, he spent his early life in his native city and in Christiania, the beautiful capital of the northern kingdom. The intervening period to the time of his demise comprised over sixty-eight years, his death taking place in Decorah on March 18, 1895. An active boy with ambition to gain a place for himself, he early began to look for opportunities and soon decided that there was no country that offered greater advantages than the new world and at the age of eighteen, in 1844, with a party of other young people, braved the deep and came to the United States in a sailing vessel, the crossing being made under difficulties and dangers and consuming about three months. He first located in Chicago, where for several years he worked in the McCormick Machinery Company and by thrift and industry succeeded in saving enough money to invest in city lots in that city, which he subsequently disposed of at a handsome profit. While in Chicago he first met his future wife, Miss Margaret Knutsen, who was learning the millinery trade in that city. Her home was Whitewater, Wisconsin, and there subsequently Mr. Dahly was married to her. While in Chicago he organized the first Norwegian Sunday school class which was ever held there. He lived for a time in Whitewater, Wisconsin, coming subsequently with teams and horses to Freeport, Iowa, with the intention of founding a city there. Securing help, he built the first wagon road between Freeport and Lansing and then hauled the lumber to Freeport in order to begin building operations. Sending to Wisconsin for carpenters, he soon had erected a new hotel, a general store, a livery barn and a millinery store. The hotel was called the Young American Hotel and was conducted by our subject, who invested in land there and soon the place began to grow and make advancement. He also operated the general store, while his wife took charge of the millinery store at the same time. At that time the controversy began as to the location of the county seat between the people of Decorah, headed by "Mother Day," and the people of Freeport, headed by Mr. Dahly. A great fight ensued to obtain the coveted prize, but "Mother Day" won the victory for Decorah and naturally Freeport began to decline. Largely for that reason Mr. Dahly soon sold out and, coming to Decorah, erected a store next door to where the Winneshiek Hotel now stands. Therein he opened a millinery stock. In 1865, at the close of the war, Mr. Dahly built the store which he conducted for the rest of his life and which continues in a flourishing condition today under the able management of his widow. The new establishment was ceremoniously opened and christened by a large entertainment and dance, given in honor of the soldier boys returning from the war, and in November, 1865, the place opened its doors for business. General merchandise was largely handled, including cloaks, dress goods, shoes, millinery, dry goods and other articles, Mr. Dahly being ably assisted by his wife, who, however, did not long benefit by the successful turn their fortunes had taken, as she was stricken with paralysis while on a business trip to Chicago in 1867. She had gone to that city in order to purchase millinery goods and there died on Christmas day of that year. Mr. Dahly continued to conduct his store with ever increasing success until his death on March 18, 1895, becoming one of the foremost merchants of the town. For thirty years he was connected with this enterprise and made a name for himself which stood foremost for fair dealing and honesty. Paying close attention to business and being wide-awake and progressive, he made a success of which evidence remains today in the profitable establishment which is still carried on by the widow. For the last three years of his life he was an invalid and although he could do no active work in the store, kept well informed upon all matters of management and kept in touch with the business until his death. By his first wife Mr. Dahly had one son, Frank W., who is now engaged in the hardware business at Northwood, South Dakota. As prosperity came to Mr. Dahly he invested in land, buying a valuable farm near Decorah, from which he received a steady and handsome income. The widow still owns this place, which is managed and operated by their son, Charles, who now resides there.
In 1877 Mr. Dahly was again married, his second union being with Miss Caroline Shuttleworth, a daughter of Henry and Caroline (Nutt) Shuttleworth, both natives of England. They went from London to Toronto, Canada, where Mrs. Dahly was born, and later removed to Cleveland, Ohio, in which city Mr. Shuttleworth owned and conducted a jewelry store, going from there to Elyria, that state. In that city he also owned a store which he subsequently traded for land at Cresco, Iowa. However, he was not satisfied with the prospects his place offered and he subsequently sold out and preempted prairie land, going back to Ohio to bring his family to Iowa. Mrs. Shuttleworth suddenly died ten years later and her husband sold the farm and moved to Cresco, where he engaged in the livery business. He died at the home of his daughter, the wife of our subject, in Decorah in 1903, having made his residence with Mrs. Dahly three years before passing away. Mr. Dahly by his second wife became the father of four children, as follows: Charlotta Cotilia who died at the age of sixteen; Amelia, who died when but six months old; Henrietta, who passed away very suddenly at the age of eighteen; and Charles Lewis, who cultivates the family farm and is married to Miss Josie Fuller, of Cresco. They have four children, Henrietta, Joseph, Dorothy and Katie.
Progressive and public-spirited, the welfare of Decorah was always near the heart of Mr. Dahly, who championed every moment or measure undertaken to benefit the city along moral, intellectual or material lines. In politics he was a republican but not an office seeker. He gave his allegiance to the Norwegian Lutheran church, of which he was a member and in the work of which he took an active and helpful interest. Fraternally he was connected with the Masons, belonging to the blue lodge at Decorah. Mrs. Dahly carries on the important business interests left in her charge upon the demise of her husband and guides the establishment with a steady hand, the annual increases in business being evidence of her ability. She attends and supports the Episcopal and Congregational churches of Decorah, being always deeply interested in charitable causes. She is highly respected and esteemed by all who know her, her sweet womanly qualities having won the friendship of many. Mr. Dahly's memory is still enshrined in the hearts of the people who knew him and who cannot forget his kindly, open-hearted ways, his pleasing personality, his true manhood and the spirit of helpfulness which prevaded all his actions. As a pioneer merchant he played an important role in the history of Decorah and his name is among the honored ones in the annals of the city.
Source: History of Winneshiek County, Iowa Vol. II Chicago the S. J. Clark publishing Company 1913
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Winneshiek Biographies maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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