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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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