Untitled Surnames: Cataline, Spencer, Kimbell, White, Cook, Haines, Strock, Willard, Ricards, Pickard, Cooper, Eastman, Fush, Mitchell, Gaskill, Williams, Clemens

From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette Wisconsin, publ. 1901 - page 69-70

DANIEL N. SMALLEY, the genial postmaster at Cuba City, Grant county, and a man well known throughout the surrounding district, is well worth mention in the annals of his neighborhood.

Mr. SMALLEY's birth occurred Feb. 1, 1833, at Union, N.Y., and he is a son of Nehemiah and Sarah (CATALINE) SMALLEY, natives of Vermont and Connecticut, respectively. The parents grew to maturity in New York State, married there, and in 1837 migrated to Illinois. The father died in Chicago in 1837, two weeks after reaching that place. Mrs. SMALLEY subsequently married Moses SPENCER, and they removed to Pleasant Grove, Ill., where they remained until the death of Mr. SPENCER. Mrs. SPENCER then removed to Chicago, and died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Sarah KIMBELL, of that city. Of the children born to the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Nehemiah SMALLEY, George O., born in New York State, settled near Madison, Wis., and later removed to Illinois, settling at Eureka; he has two daughters living near Eureka, Ill. Sarah A. married Martin N. KIMBELL, resides in Chicago and has seven children, some of whom reside in Chicago. Caroline, born in New York state married David WHITE, of Illinois, and had three children; upon his death she married Adrian COOK, by whom she had five children. Dudley C., born in New York State, moved to Illinois, and later to Grant county, and purchased a farm on which he resided until 1891, when he moved to Morris county, Kans., where he followed farming; he married Miss Amanda HAINES, of Grant county, and now resides in Kansas City; they have six children. Alonzo, born in New York State, is now a retired farmer of Manhattan, Ill.; he has six children living. Martha, born in New York State, married Joseph STROCK, of Chicago, and settled on a farm near Waukegan, Ill. Electa married Nelson WILLARD, resides near Chicago, and has two children. Our subject is the youngest of the family.

Daniel N. SMALLEY, after coming West, lived some five years with his sister, Mrs. KIMBELL, in Chicago. He then returned to his old home and worked for a Mr. RICARDS until twenty-one, when he entered Oberlin College, remaining for two years; he next studied under J. L. PICKARD, principal of the Platteville Academy. In 1854 Mr. SMALLEY taught his first school, and so successful was he that he practically adopted this calling as his life work, and since then has taught forty terms, in Grant, Lafayette and other counties. Among his assignments were seven consecutive years at Dickeysville. In 1881 he settled at Jamestown, remaining there until 1889, when he located at Cuba City, and became identified with the public schools in that city, becoming one of the best known educators in the county. In July, 1897, Mr. SMALLEY was honored by appointment as postmaster, and has since that time filled the office with credit to himself and satisfaction to the patrons of the service.

The war record of Mr. SMALLEY is a very interesting one, he having become a member, in 1862, of the 25th Wis. V.I., as first lieutenant, Capt. Robert Nash commanding. The regiment served in the Western Army some time, then was sent to Vicksburg, participating in that world-famous siege. After the capture of that city the regiment was sent into Arkansas, thence into Kentucky, participating in various engagements. While in Arkansas Mr. SMALLEY was appointed captain of his company, and led the command back, during the Rebel strongholds, and encountering much danger. This regiment took part in the famous march to the sea, and through the entire war Mr. SMALLEY was a brave soldier and a gallant and capable officer. After his long and arduous service he was honorably mustered out, in 1865, and retired to private life.

In 1860 Mr. SMALLEY was married to Miss Mary E. COOPER, of Jamestown, Wis., who was a daughter of James T. and Cynthia A. COOPER, coming from one of the old aristocratic families of Kentucky. In 1844 Mrs. SMALLEY's parents came to Lafayette county, where they remained seven or eighty years, then went to Dubuque, Iowa, and stayed until the death of Mr. COOPER, in 1853. Mrs. COOPER died at the home of her daughter in Grant county in 1868. Mrs. SMALLEY was born in Missouri in 1841, attended the district schools of the neighborhood of her home, and the high school at Dubuque, Iowa. She was one of five children: Mary E., Mrs. SMALLEY; Margaret, now wife of N. EASTMAN, one of the wealthy lumbermen of Platteville; George S., who is married, and a resident of Salem, Ore.; James I., who died when young; and N. S., now a resident of Boyden, Iowa.

Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. SMALLEY: Lorinda A., born in Jamestown in 1861, was educated in the public schools, and in 1880 married John FUSH, of Georgetown, where they now reside on a farm; they have four children, Wallace S., Laura B., Lee S. and Raymond B. Sherman E., born in Illinois in 1866, was educated in the public schools of his State, and for a time was connected with the Houskins Lumber Co., of Galena, Ill. as bookkeeper and manger, but later studied law, passing the examination at Madison in 1895, and now carries on a law practice in Cuba City; in November, 1892, he married Miss Polly MITCHELL, of Cuba City, and they have two children, Luverne and Gynett. Edna M., born in Grant county in 1869, was well educated in the district schools, and was one of the successful school teachers of Grant county until her marriage to George G. GASKILL, of Lafayette county, who is postmaster at Argyle and editor of the Argi Atlas, a publication having a large circulation. Maggie B., born in Jamestown in 1875, was a student at the State Normal, and followed teaching until her marriage, in 1895, to John N. WILLIAMS, of Hazel Green; they now reside at Carroll, Iowa, on a farm, and have two children, Myrtle E. and Margery B. Mary E., born in March, 1878, was educated in the home schools, graduating from the Cuba City high school, and assisted her father until her marriage, March 27, 1900, to J. A. CLEMENS, of Cuba City; they now reside on a farm at Hazel Green.

Politically Mr. SMALLEY has always been a stanch Republican. He has filled a number of local offices, including those of assessor, town clerk, justice of the peace, etc., for a number of years, and in every instance has given unbounded satisfaction. Taking an active interest in matters pertaining to the veterans, Mr. SMALLEY is an earnest member of Sherman Post, G.A.R., of Platteville, and fraternally is a member of the A.F. & A.M., in Illinois, having founded a chapter in that organization when still a young man. Mrs. SMALLEY is a member of the M. E. Church, and Mr. SMALLEY attends with his wife and family, and always gives liberally toward the support of the church and its works. Being a cultured man, possessed of a vast store of erudition, Mr. SMALLEY is fitted to shine in a much more exalted sphere in the literary world, and it is to be hoped that, although he is honored in his present office, he will not "hide his light under a bushel," but allow his ability full scope, that it may result to the good of coming generations.



This biography generously submitted by Carol Holmbeck