JAMES DAKER
Although
thirty-six years have passed since James Daker was
called to his final rest, he is still remembered by many of the older residents
of Delaware county as
one of its prosperous agriculturists and esteemed citizens who for a number of
years owned and operated a farm of two hundred and ninety acres in Milo township. His birth occurred in Yorkshire, England, on the 4th of
December, 1828, his parents being Thomas and Mary (Brown) Dacre,
as the name was then spelled. They had eight children but only two of the sons emigrated to the United States, our subject coming to this country
about 1850. He settled first at Prattsburg, New York, and there followed the trade of
shoe-making, which he had learned in his native land. Subsequently he made his
way westward to Galena, Illinois, and about 1853 came to Delhi, Delaware county, Iowa. About 1860 he took up his abode in
Milo township
and here successfully carried on general farming and stock-raising throughout
the remainder of his life, accumulating two hundred and ninety acres of rich
and productive land on section 31. He
followed the most practical and progressive methods in the conduct of his agricultural
interests and became widely recognized as one of the substantial and respected
citizens of the community.
On the
20th of September, 1860, Mr. Daker was joined in wedlock
to Miss Mary A. Graham, a daughter of Thomas and Mary (Weems)
Graham, who were natives of Scotland and settled in Pennsylvania on coming to this country.
To Mr. and
Mrs. Daker were born seven children, as follows:
Thomas, who is a resident of North Dakota; John G., living in South Dakota: Loie, who is the wife of Justice Olmstead and resides in
South Dakota; Homer J., of Buchanan county, Iowa; Millicent, deceased; Harry
W., at home, who wedded Miss Verna Wilson; and Grace N., the widow of Clarence
J. Bishop.
Mr. Daker gave his political allegiance to the republican party and served as justice of the peace for a
number of years, making a highly commendable record in that connection. His
religious faith was that of the Methodist church, to which his widow and
children also belong and in the work of which he took an active part. His
demise, which occurred on the 1st of August, 1878, was the occasion of deep and
widespread regret, for he had won an extensive circle of warm friends during
the long period of his residence here. Mrs. Daker
is also well known in the community, and the hospitality of the best homes is
cordially extended her.
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