1914 Delaware County History pgs. 205-206
John A. Dalrymple
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.
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