Benjamin W. Dake Jr. was born
in Mt. Morris, Livingston Co., N.Y. on May 31, 1833 to parents Benjamin W. Dake
Sr. and Sally M. Dake. In 1846 he attended the Nunda Literary Institute (A Baptist
Church School) with his brothers and sisters. On Oct. 24, 1854 he married Adaline
Harriet Herrick in Livingston Co., N.Y. (She was the daughter of John Herrick
(b. Mar. 22, 1800 d. Nov. 21, 1864) and Cynthia (Booth) Herrick (b. May 2, 1800
d. 1872). Adaline was born Dec. 18, 1834 in Ossian, N.Y.)
On Feb. 7, 1855 Benjamin and his wife Adalaine moved to Flagg Township, Ogle Co.,
Ill. to be with his parents and brothers. (His father had purchased land in Ogle
County prior to this time so they may have made the trip to Illinois after his
parents). Census records suggest that they had a son William about this time who
died as an infant. On Jan. 23, 1856 they purchased land in Section 4, Rockvale
Township, Ogle Co., Ill. and more adjoining land on April 29th of the same year.
On Feb. 1, 1858 he purchased land from his father in Marion Township. On April
19, 1861 he sold his original land in Marion Township to his brother William and
they both purchased land from their father on the following day. On Oct. 13, 1864
he purchased additional land from a D.G. Sears. (This land may have been in Monroe
Township, Ogle Co.).
On Oct. 1, 1868 he purchased land in Kishwaukee, New Milford Township, Winnebago
Co., Ill. from Edwin Miller. (Edwin Miller was a descendent of Orpha Miller, wife
of William W. Dake, who was a brother to Benjamin W. Sr. (At this time Benjamin
was listed as being from Monroe Township, Ogle Co.). (The Town of Kishwaukee,
Ill. was started in 1838 but due to the growth of Rockford, Ill. the village was
never completed. A Westlyn Methodist Church was started in 1844 and the members
met in the local school until a church building was constructed in 1868 . Mrs.
Dake is listed in the records of this early church. The Village of Kishwaukee
consisted of: Blacksmith, Wagon Shop, Cider and Vinegar Shop (later Johnsons'
Prime Cider/Vinegar), School, Church, Post Office, and Stage Coach Stop).
The 1870 Census of Illinois listed the family living in the Town of New Milford,
Winnebago Co.:
Benjamin Jr. age 36 Farmer
Adaline 32 Keeping House
Adelbert 12
Horace 9
Freddie 4
Alice 1
It is believed that Benjamin
ran a General Store while living in Kishwaukee. (There may be some fact to this
tradition as the home is still standing and has quite large rooms which could
have served as a store. The home is currently owned by a Ruth Busey and she explained
that the back of the current home is a second building that at sometime in the
past was connected to the original structure. She discovered in 1985 that the
current home has logs in the walls). On Oct. 29, 1873 he purchased land from Charles
Marsh in Winnebago Co. On Oct. 27, 1874 he sold his land in Winnebago Co. to Charles
Burroughs and moved for a short period of time to Monroe Township. Two days later,
on Oct. 29, 1874 he sold his land in Section 22, Marion Township, Ogle Co. to
Robert Rothwell. (Mr. Rothwell was his neighbor in Kishwaukee). He possibly lived
for a short time with relatives or friends in Monroe Township.
Some time shortly thereafter, in 1874 or 1875, they moved to Eden Township, Benton
Co., Iowa. (Their farm was near what was then Benton City, Iowa). The 1880 History
of Benton County listed Benjamin as a farmer in Section 4, Benton County. On August
7, 1888 his wife Adalaine died of an overdose of Morphine given to her during
an Asthma attack. According to Evergreen Cemetery records she died at the home
of Mrs. Ellison, So. Vinton, Ia.
Vinton Eagle,
Tuesday Aug. 7, 1888
Funeral Notice: The funeral of the late Mrs. B.W. Dake will take place at
the M E Church this Friday, afternoon at 4:00 PM
Vinton Eagle, Aug.14, 1888
Mrs. B.W. Dake of whose death
we made mention in our last issue was born in Ossian, Livingston Co., N.Y. Dec.
18,1834. Her maiden name was Adalaine Herrick. She was married to Mr. Dake Oct.
24, 1854. Feb. 7, 1855 they removed to Ogle County, Ill. and from there to Benton
County, Iowa, about 15 years ago. Mrs. Dake was the mother of 5 children, four
of whom are living. The first born having preceded her to the better world.
Thirty two years ago she gave her heart to God and united with the Methodist Church
of which she was still a member. When God took her she was a loving mother and
devoted wife and kind neighbor and when health permitted an active zealous Christian.
She departed this life August 9th in the 54th year of her age.
On Dec. 23, 1891 Benjamin was remarried to Mary J. Allard in Vinton, Iowa. They
moved to Hanson Co., South Dakota and lived for a short period of time. In October
1896, they moved to Eagle Grove, Iowa and lived on the Campbell property on Wright
St. where he farmed until his death. On Jan. 7, 1898 he died of a stroke in Eagle
Grove, Iowa. His body was returned to Vinton, Iowa for burial next to his first
wife. Benjamin was a member of the "Grand Army of the Republic" which was an association
of Civil War Veterans.
The obituary in the Eagle Grove Times-Gazette on January 13, 1898 read:
DeathofB.W.Dake
BENJAMIN W. DAKE
TOMB
EVERGREEN CEMETERY, VINTON, IA
Benjamin W. Dake died Saturday
morning, January 8, aged 64 years, of Paralysis. Friday morning Mr. Dake arose
and ate breakfast with his usual relish. At 8 o'clock he went out to the barn
to do a little work and was stricken with paralysis. He lingered all day Friday
and Saturday afternoon death came to relieve his troubles. Mr. Dake was born in
New York State, May 31, 1833. He was twice married and leaves a wife and three
children, the latter living near Vinton. In October, 1896, he moved to Eagle Grove
from South Dakota, and has remained here since. Mrs. Dake is cousin of J. P. Allard
of this city. The family will have the sympathy of many friends in their hour
of affliction. The funeral will occur Sunday at 4:00 P.M. at the house, by carriage
to Goldfield and by train to Vinton where he will be laid to rest by the side
of his first wife.
His obituary in the Vinton
Eagle read:
Jan. 11, 1898
B. W. Dake who was for many years a resident of Benton Co. died last Friday at
Eagle Grove, Iowa aged sixty four years. The remains were brought to Vinton for
burial. A number of old friends laid the body to rest in Evergreen Cemetery Monday
forenoon. Dr. Avery conducting a simple service at the grave.
His Obituary in the Eagle
Grove Eagle on Jan. 12, 1898 reads:
DeathandFuneralofMr.Dake
Benj. W. Dake died at his residence on Lucas Ave. Saturday morning Jan 8th at
10 o'clock. His death resulting from a stroke of paralysis. He was seriously crippled
from a stroke which occurred about two years ago, but was usually well until last
Friday morning when he experienced another attack which terminated his life. Mr.
Dake was born in the State of New York in 1833. He came to Eagle Grove from Hanson
Co., S.D. in Oct. 1896, living upon Wright Street. Recently he came into possession
of the Campbell property where he was living at the time of this death. Mr. Dake
had been married twice having three sons living at Vinton, Ia. Mrs. Dake is the
mother of Beach Allard and cousin to J.R. Allard. The funeral occurred at the
home opposite the Congregational Church Sunday at 4 o'clock P.M. Rev. Shafton
preached the sermon. The remains were taken to Goldfield and thence by the Burlington
Ry. to Vinton for interment where his first wife was buried. Mrs. Dake accompanied
the remains to Vinton Mr. Dake had formed but few acquaintances in this city but
he had impressed that few with a sense of his sterling virtues and genial disposition
and was gladly counted a friend by all who knew him. Mrs. Dake has the true sympathy
of all her neighbors and friends in this affliction.
