Daykin, John

DAYKIN, SMITH, HON, BEAVERS, CRESWELL, GLENNDAR

Posted By: Mary H. Cochrane, Volunteer
Date: 6/29/2019 at 13:32:30

Biographical and Historical Record of Ringgold and Decatur Counties, Iowa, (Lewis Publishing Company (1887)), p. 681:

"JOHN DAYKIN, farmer and retired physician, resides on section 30 of High Point Township. He owns 360 acres of fine land. He was born in England, December 12, 1829, a son of Samuel and Ann Daykin, natives of the same country. The doctor immigrated to America in 1850, landing in New York City, with only one cent. He first worked for John I. Davis, a Dutch farmer, one month, for $5, then worked at shoemaking three years. He attended medical lectures at Philadelphia and at Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York City. He was married in Onondaga County, New York, in 1854, to Jenet R. Smith, born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1832. Their children are -- Samuel, married to Mary Hon, and they have three children -- Katie, Oregon and John; Margret A.; Frances, wife of Layton Beavers, has two children -- George and Laura; Hattie, wife of Stephen Creswell, has one child -- Donald; Benjamin, Laura and Wallace. The doctor commenced the practice of his profession in New York State. He practiced about twenty years in Michigan, two in Missouri, and was cashier of Sprakers' Bank a short time. During the late war Dr. Daykin was in the service of the Government as a spy and received three wounds. He raised the first colored company for service under Ben Butler. He raised more recruits the first year than any man in Western New York. He was on Horace Greeley's staff as night reporter for three months. He came to Leon in 1868. The doctor's father was imprisoned with Joseph Barker, in Manchester, England, for speaking their Charter principles. His maternal grandfather was the celebrated Lord Owen Glenndar, who was banished from Wales on account of his Liberal principles. The doctor was intimately acquainted with William H. Seward. The latter lent the doctor $100 to commence business with. When they were young the doctor and his wife were so poor that at one time they lived six weeks on mustard greens. He purchased a farm near Battle Creek, Michigan, for $1,800, and in a short time sold it for $2,500. The doctor is a great reader and well informed on general subjects."

(Submitted to the Decatur County GenWeb site by Christy Jay, email: Jaygenie@aol.com)