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Delaware County, Iowa

 

 Biography Directory

John A. Dalrymple

Agriculturalist

Hopkinton

 

 
      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.
 

 

~ source: History of Delaware County, Iowa and its People, Illustrated, Volume II. The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1914, Chicago. Page 205-206.  Call Number 977.7385 H2m; LDS microfilm #934937.

~transcribed and contributed by Constance Diamond for Delaware County IAGenWeb

 

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