| |
John A. Dalrymple is a retired farmer living in Hopkinton and
while actively engaged in agricultural pursuits was one of the extensive
landowners of the county. He has held a number of public offices and has at all
times been scrupulously conscientious in the performance of his duty. He was
born in Shelby county, Ohio, on the 22d of September, 1840, a son of John E. and
Nancy (Plum) Dalrymple. The father was a native of South Carolina, born in 1792
of Scotch parentage. He went to Ohio in his young manhood and there married
Nancy Jane Hall, by whom he had two children.
Mrs. Dalrymple passed away and he married Miss Nancy Plum,
who was born in Virginia in 1801 of German parentage. She became the mother of
seven children, five daughters and two sons, all of whom have passed away save
the subject of this review. The parents removed to Bureau county, Illinois, and
remained there for three years, after which they came to this county and
continued to make their home here until their deaths. The father was a farmer by
occupation and owned and operated a fine farm of one hundred and twenty acres.
He participated in the War of 1812, serving under Commodore Perry on Lake Erie.
He passed away April 24, 1878, and his second wife survived him for three years,
dying August 15, 1881.
John A. Dalrymple was educated in the public schools and remained
at home assisting with the farm work until 1862, when he enlisted in Company K,
Twenty first Iowa Volunteers and served until the close of the war, when he was
honorably discharged. He took part in the siege of Vicksburg under Grant and was
also engaged in a number of other battles. After the fall of Vicksburg he was
promoted to the rank of corporal and at the battle of Black River, which
occurred May 17, 1863, he was severely wounded in the ankle by a split shell. On
several other occasions he was wounded but only slightly. After the cessation of
hostilities he returned to the home farm, which he purchased and to the
cultivation of which he devoted his time and energy. He bought additional land
as his capital increased and eventually owned eight hundred and fifteen acres of
prairie land in Palo Alto and Pocahontas counties in addition to the homestead
in this county. At present this land could not be bought for less than two
hundred dollars an acre. He has disposed of all of his landed interests and is
living retired in Hopkinton. For forty five years he acted as auctioneer and
cried a great many sales in Delaware county.
Mr. Dalrymple was married in 1868 to Miss Jane Hull, who was
born in Grant county, Wisconsin, April 18, 1846, a daughter of Henry O. and
Charlotte (Owen) Hull. Mr. and Mrs. Dalrymple are the parents of three children,
all of whom are living. Roxanna E., born January 16, 1869, is now the wife of W.
C. Bradke, a farmer, by whom she has two children. Henry A., born June 23, 1870,
is a Methodist minister at Cedar Rapids, this state. He married Miss Elsie
Lewis, a niece of Bishop Lewis of China, and to this union three children have
been born. Rosetta, born on the 1st of March, 1872, married George H. Nordmann,
by whom she has one child. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Dalrymple are all
members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Mr. Dalrymple is a republican in his political belief and has
held a number of local offices. For four years he was school treasurer, for
twelve years served as assessor and was census enumerator for two terms. He has
an unusual record as justice of the peace, having held that office for
twenty nine years. In the course of that time he has married the oldest and
youngest couple in the county, the oldest bridegroom being seventy nine years of
age and the youngest bride being thirteen years old. In all of his official
capacities he has displayed qualities of industry and strict integrity and has
earned that genuine respect which only real worth can command. |
| |
|
