Francis Dano

From The Portrait and Biographical Album of Rock County, Wis., publ, 1889 - page 224, 225

FRANCIS DANO, of Janesville, one of the pioneer settlers of Rock County, of 1844, is a native of Boston, Mass., born Feb. 16, 1810. His father, Francis DANO, was a native of France, and when a young man emigrated to Boston, where he married Miss Betsey VOSE, a native of that city, an a daughter of Emeliah VOSE. Her father was a soldier in the War of the Revolution, and was commissioned officer under Gen. Washington. The family is of English descent, and was founded in this country during the early days of New England history. In fact, Boston has been the home of the VOSE family for many generations, and numerous are its representatives, who still reside in that city. Francis DANO, Sr., and his wife removed from Boston to Vermont, when our subject was a lad of four years, and settled in the city of Vergennes. There they resided for many years until after the mother's death, when the father removed to another part of the State, where his own death occurred. They were the parents of four children, two sons and two daughters, though our subject is the only one now living. The other members of the family were Eliza, who died in early life; Jane, (deceased) wife of a Mr. RICHARDS, of Rock County; William died in Sauk County, Wis., in the fall of 1886, leaving a family of seven children. When fifteen years of age our subject was apprenticed to the trade of a blacksmith, which he made his principal occupation while residing in the East. On the 14th day of August, 1831, in Waybridge, Vt., Mr. DANO was united in marriage Sarahphina PALMER, a native of the Green Mountain State. About two years after their marriage they removed to Monroe County, N.Y., where Mr. DANO worked at his trade. A number of years having passed, in which he accumulated a few hundred dollars as the result of his labor, he resolved to come West and invest it in real estate, where land was cheaper than in the older and more settles States of the East. Receiving favorable accounts of Rock County, Wis., from neighbors and friends, who had made this county their home, he decided to make Janesville his objective point, and the autumn of 1844, found him in this city, then a hamlet containing about 400 inhabitants. The methods of traveling forty-five years ago were quite different from the present luxurious mode. Mr. DANO accompanied by his wife and three children, left his home in Ogden, Monroe Co., N.Y., going by way of the Erie Canal to Buffalo, and then by steamer around the Lakes to Milwaukee, whence he transferred his family and effects by team to Janesville. The journey which can now be accomplished in a day then required a week. After arriving in this city, Mr. DANO engaged in blacksmithing, which he has followed in connection with various other occupations continuously since. His wife who accompanied him on this tedious journey and who shared with him the trials and privations of pioneer life, and for over fifty-seven years was a true helpmate to him, died July 2, 1884. They were the parents of four children, namely: Jane Ann, who is now the widow of Garrett OSTRANDER; Francis E.; Ellen V., wife of O. E. NEWTON; and Ernest A., the youngest of the family. On the 30th day of November, 1885, Mr. DANO was married to Mrs. Eunice PAYNE, widow of Charles Howard PAYNE. Her maiden name was Eunice PRESTON, daughter of Charles and Betsy (BLANDING) PRESTON, and she was born in the town of Hopewell, Ontario Co., N.Y. For many years she resided in Corning, N.Y., and in 1862 came to Janesville. The following year, she wedded Mr. PAYNE, who died in May, 1884. For the long period of forty-five years, Mr. DANO has been a resident of Janesville, and has witnessed its growth from a mere village to one of Wisconsin's most prosperous and growing cities. In early life, in his political sentiments, he supported the Whig party, but when the Republican party was formed, joined that organization, with which he has since been identified. In religious belief, Mr. DANO and wife are Baptists, and have long been connected with the church of that name. Thus we have given a brief sketch of one of Janesville's oldest and most highly esteemed citizens, who is well worthy a place in the permanent record of the old settlers of Rock County.

Submitted By Carol