J. F. Dalton

For thirty-five years John Franklin Dalton has been an active figure in the affairs of Calhoun County, Iowa, for many years wielding a large and beneficent influence as a newspaper publisher, while as a private citizen his efforts have been consistently exerted for the upbuilding and development of his locality. He was born at Wilmot, Kenosha county, Wisconsin, on the 22d of October, 1870, and comes of sterling Irish parentage. In May, 1875, the Dalton family came to Calhoun county, settling on a farm just west of Pomeroy, where Mr. Dalton spent his boyhood and young manhood. He received his education in the district school of his home neighborhood, and in the fall of 1889 began to teach school, following that occupation during three successive winter terms, working on the home farm between terms.

On July 5, 1892, Mr. Dalton began the editing and publishing of the Northwest Democrat, at Manson. This paper was started April 1, 1891, by a small coterie of democrats, who possessed plenty of enthusiasm, but very little money. As their money ran out their enthusiasm waned in corresponding ratio and the paper was taken over by T. B. Lemoine, an energetic democrat. He then gave Mr. Dalton a half interest in the paper to run it for him during the Cleveland campaign. Cleveland was elected and Mr. Lemoine was promised the post office, whereupon he sold the remaining interest in the paper to Mr. Dalton, who assumed entire ownership and control thereof on December 1, 1892. Through his energetic business management, his able editorial work and his strong personality, he put the Democrat on its feet and published it successfully until Thanksgiving day, 1920, when he sold the paper to Tom D. Long, publisher of the Manson Journal. Since then Mr. Dalton has been devoting his attention to the manufacture of calendars under the firm name of The Dalton Press, in the same building in which he has always been located in Manson, and has been eminently successful.

On October 12, 1892, Mr. Dalton was united in marriage to Miss Lillian E. Ford, and they are the parents of nine children, as follows: John, of New York; Mary, at home; Alice and Charlotte, of Los Angeles, California; Mrs. Lillian M. Foley, of Manson; and Walter J., Florence C., Dorothy I. and Joseph A., who are at home. Mr. Dalton has been a lifelong supporter of the democratic party and served as a member of the state central committee from 1906 to 1912, during the last four years of which period he was secretary of the committee. He is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Knights of Columbus. A man of broad views and well defined opinions, he has stood for all that is best in the life of the community, and by his own example and persistent efforts has been a factor in the prosperity of his city. He enjoys a wide acquaintance throughout this section of the state and is regarded as one of Calhoun county's representative men.

Transcribed for the Iowa History Special Project