Jeremiah Daniels

As printed in 1887

EREMIAH DANIELS, deceased, was born in Westmoreland County, Pa., and was a son of Ebenezer Daniels. In early years he was apprenticed to learn the blacksmith's trade, and. removing to Columbiana County. Ohio, in early manhood, he there labored at his trade for several years, and subsequently engaged in mercantile pursuits. Our subject was married in Columbiana County, Ohio, to Miss Susanna Purkey, a native of Maryland. Thirteen children were born to them, only five of whom lived to attain the age of majority. Mary A. is the widow of W. II. Harrison, a distant relative of President Harrison, ami she is living in Stark County, Ohio; John J. married Martha Kinley, a Quakeress, and is living in Bertram Township; Rachel is the wife of Aquilla C. Campbell, of Greene County, Iowa; Catherine is the widow of Jacob Irey, and is living in Cedar Rapids; Samuel is Justice of the Peace at Marion, and his biography appears elsewhere in this work. Jeremiah Daniels is a pioneer of this county of 1844, emigrating here from Ohio, and taking up his above in Bertram Township, near Bertram, in which village he engaged in mercantile pursuits. At that time there was but little money in the county, and Mr. Daniels exchanged his g Is for wheat, which he stored at what was then West Port. lie built a flat-boat the following year, and shipped his wheat to St. Louis, realizing a g I price for it at that day. He also entered land in what is now Bertram Township, which he farmer, and in addition to the duties appertaining to a farm life, erected a sawmill and operated it. In 1852 he made a trip overland to Oregon, ami was there engaged in lumbering for a time, and returned home via San Francisco and New York, after an absence of two years. Selling his mill in 1857, he moved to Kingston, now West Cedar Rapids. In 1860 he purchased a mill site at Bertram, on which he erected a flouring-mill, and continued to make Bertram his home until his death, which occurred in August, 1883. His good wife had preceded him to the home beyond, her demise occurring in September, 1873. The father was a member of the Christian Church, and the mother of the German Baptist Church. Both were active laborers in the cause of the Master.

Mr. Daniels was a Whig in early life, but on the formation of the Republican party in 1856, he joined its ranks and continued to vote with it and uphold its principles until his death. He was an active, energetic business man — prompt in the discharge of every obligation, and, while he was exacting as to getting his own just dues, he was as equally sure to pay the last penny justly due from him to others. He possessed the confidence, respect and esteem of his neighbors and acquaintances, as a just and upright man.

As printed in Portrait and biographical album of Linn County, Iowa (1887). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.