A One-Name Study for the BARNUM/BARNHAM Surname
From Parker, L. F., & S.J. Clarke Publishing Company,. (1911). History of Poweshiek County, Iowa: A record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement. Chicago: S.J. Clarke Pub. Co.: Harry W. Dee. A well known citizen of Sheridan Township is Harry W. Dee, who is actively and successfully engaged in cultivating a four hundred acre farm on sections 9 and 10. He was born in Princeton, Bureau County, Illinois, on the 19th of November, 1870, his parents being James E. and Mary (McElvania) Dee. The father was a native of Vermont, his birth occurring on the 7th of April, 1843, and the mother of Ireland, her natal day being the 1st of May, 1845. When a lad of about twelve years James E. Dee removed with his parents from his native state to Ohio, locating in Columbus about 1855, and two years later settled in Bureau County, Illinois. Upon attaining his maturity Mr. Dee decided to adopt for his life vocation farming, the pursuit for which he was best fitted by nature and experience. He was identified with agricultural pursuits in Illinois until 1880, at which time he came to Iowa, locating in Sheridan township, Poweshiek county, where a year previously he had purchased eighty acres of land, which he had rented until he settled upon it in 1880. He and his wife are now residing upon a farm adjoining the one owned by their son, Harry W. He was one of the defenders of the Union for a year and a half during the Civil war, having enlisted April 7, 1862, in the One Hundred and Thirty-ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry.
Being reared at home Harry W. Dee acquired his early education in the district schools of Illinois and Iowa, this being later supplemented by a course in the academic and commercial departments of Iowa College at Grinnell, where he remained for two years. During his vacations and at such other periods as he could be spared from his text-books, he assisted his father in the cultivation of the farm. After the completion of his education in 1891 he returned home and rented his father's farm, which he operated for nine years. Two years later he purchased eighty acres of land on section 9, Sheridan Township, which he also cultivated, and in 1897 he bought forty acres adjoining the home place on the southwest. At the expiration of another two years he purchased eighty acres from his father adjoining the original farm on the north, while in 1899 he bought one hundred and sixty acres on section 10, same township, to which he added another forty adjoining it on the south, making the aggregate of his land holdings four hundred acres, in addition to his large farms near Mount Vernon in Linn county, Iowa, and South Dakota. His homestead is under a fine state of cultivation, and the land, which is tiled and thoroughly drained, is given the careful supervision which results in abundant harvests, while all the improvements are kept in repair and excellent condition, everything about the place bespeaking thrift and prosperity.
In the fall of 1893 Mr. Dee established a home of his own by his marriage to Miss Evalyn Wolcott, who was educated at Grinnell Academy. She is a daughter of Edwin and Angeline (Barnum) Wolcott, at that time well known and prominent citizens of Sheridan township. Mr. and Mrs. Wolcott were both natives of New York state, removing from there to Whiteside county, Illinois, and later to Poweshiek county, Iowa, and settling upon a farm, in the cultivation of which he engaged until he passed away .on the 1st of December, 1901, at the home of our subject. Mrs. Wolcott had died five years before, her demise occurring on the 5th of July, 1896. Five sons have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Dee: Glen H., who is sixteen years of age, a student in the engineering department of Cornell College at Mount Vernon, Iowa; Harold M., thirteen years of age; Harry Paul, who is nine; Ralph V., now five; and James E., aged three.
Mr. and Mrs. Dee and the three older boys are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Sheridan, while he is also affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America, both of Sheridan, and Mrs. Dee is a member of the Royal Neighbors, the ladies auxiliary of the Modern Woodmen, at Sheridan.
Ever since attaining his majority Mr. Dee has given his political support to the candidates of the Republican Party. He always takes an active and helpful interest in local affairs and was for seven years township clerk, while at present he is serving as secretary of the board of school directors of district No. 1, Sheridan Township. He is one of the progressive and successful citizens of the community, who is well regarded and highly esteemed, his prosperity being directly and justly attributed to his own well directed effort.
A Research Guide to the Genealogy of the Barnum/Barnam/Barnham Family Worldwide
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