William E. Dull

William E. Dull owns and operates two hundred acres of land located on the line between Clayton and Allamakee counties, three miles from Monona, and the success which has attended his efforts in its cultivation places him among the most able and substantial agriculturists of Franklin township. He was born in the locality where he now resides November 11, 1867, and is a son of Simon B.and Eva()Miller) Dull, the former born in Virginia, May 20, 1834, and the latter in Pennsylvania, February 23, 1838. The father came from his native state to Iowa in pioneer times and, locating in Franklin township, Allamakee county, purchased government land, which he improved and developed for a number of years. He later moved to a farm in the extreme eastern part of that township, which he cleared, developed and improved, residing upon it until the early ‘80s, when he sold out and purchased land in Clayton county, near Monona. He and his wife now make their home upon that property. He is a veteran of the Civil war, having served for two years as a private in an Iowa regiment, seeing a great deal of active service and being confined for some time in a hospital.

William E. Dull is the fifth in a family of eleven children. He acquired his education in the Walnut Grove district school situated on the county line and at the age of twenty went to Brown county, Nebraska, where he purchased land, operating it for one year thereafter. At the end of that time he became connected with the Burlington railroad and after eighteen months in that position became an overseer in a nursery in Nebraska, serving for two years. Upon the expiration of that period he returned to Iowa and purchased two hundred acres on section 34, Franklin township, the land lying on the county line between Clayton and Allamakee counties. This was at the time an entirely unimproved tract, but with characteristic energy Mr. Dull set about the work of developing it and he has here evolved a model and productive farm, equipped with substantial buildings and reflecting everywhere his careful supervision and competent management.

Mr. Dull has been twice married. He wedded first, in 1887, Miss Lucy L. Wymore, who was born in Mahaska county, Iowa, near Rose Hill, October 4, 1871, a daughter of Robert and Sarah (Griffith) Wymore. Her parents, who were natives of Indiana, went as early settlers to Mahaska county, Iowa, where the father engaged in farming. He later removed to Nebraska on account of failing health and settled in Wymore, that state, where his death occurred about the year 1888. His wife now makes her home in California. Mrs. Lucy L. Dull passed away August 15, 1911, leaving ten children: Elsie, born March 23, 1888, who is the wife of Alfred Ferguson, a farmer of Clayton county; Grace, born November 8, 1890, who married Herbert Ferguson, also a farmer of Clayton county; Ross, whose birth occurred May 10, 1894; Edna, born in December, 1896; Page and Dave, twins, whose birth occurred March 23, 1898; Lucy, born in 1902; William and Winifred, twins, who were born March 13, 1907; and Albert Arthur, born in March, 1910.

Mr. Dull was married on the 23d of January, 1913, to Mrs. Rebecca (Shilson) Monty, who was born in Minnesota, near Winona, January 18, 1870, a daughter of Christian and Rosetta (Pomeroy) Shilson, the former a native of Germany, born about 1827, and the latter of Ohio, born May 3, 1847. The father, who spent his entire active life in farming, became a resident of Minnesota and there died in 1870. From that state he enlisted as a private in the Union army and served throughout the entire Civil war. After his death his widow married Thomas May and now resides in Minneapolis. Mrs. Dull had three children by her first marriage. Mabel, born February 23, 1891, is the wife of Henry Frye, who is engaged in the ice business in Postville. Orpha, whose birth occurred December 8, 1895, married Adolph Williams, in the automobile business in Hayward, Wisconsin. Leon, born July 17, 1897, makes his home with the subject of this review.

Mr. Dull is a regular attendant at the Methodist church. He is a stockholder in the Monona Creamery Company and in the Shipping Association of that city, where his ability is widely recognized. He gives his political allegiance to the Republican party and keeps well informed on questions and issues of the day, although he has no desire for political preferment. His energy, business ability and enterprising spirit have resulted in the attainment of a gratifying measure of success and he holds the respect and high regard of all who are in any way associated with him.

-source: Past & Present of Allamakee County; by Ellery M. Hancock; S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.; 1913
-transcribed by Diana Diedrich

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