Husband John A. Dale 1 2
Born: 14 Nov 1808 - Centre Co, PA 1 2
Christened:
Died: 25 Jun 1877 2 3
Buried:
Father: Rev. Joseph Dale (1786-Abt 1814/1816) 4
Mother: Mary Gates (1789-1872) 4
Marriage: 27 Jun 1837 5
Other Spouse: Elizabeth E. Watson ( -Aft 1890) 2 - 1852 - New York City, NY 2
Wife Jane E. Richardson 2
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Father: William Richardson ( - )
Mother:
Children
General Notes: Husband - John A. Dale
He was educated in the public school of Venango (now Forest) County, Pennsylvania, and for sev-eral winters taught school. He also studied medicine, but was never in regular practice. In 1835 he began merchandising in Tionesta, and in 1847 was elected sheriff of Venango county, and later was appointed prothonotary of the county to fill a vacancy. He was active in the formation of Forest County and the selection of Tionesta as the county seat. In 1867 he was appointed associate judge, and filled many positions of trust in the new coun-ty. From 1870 he was connected with the Atlantic & Great Western railroad until his death. He was an honored member of the Masonic order, and was buried with Masonic ceremonies.
Opportunities for mental improvement were few in the undeveloped and sparsely settled country in which he grew up, but, overcoming every obstacle, he obtained a liberal education, and for a number of years taught school in the winter months, engaging in other pursuits in the summer. This early self-tuition gave him a lawyer's skill in drafting documents; and for many years deeds, leases and all legal instruments for the people of his section were written by him, with no other reward than the good-will of those whom he served. He studied medicine in the office of Dr. Marvin Webster, but never practiced. In 1835 he embarked in mercantile business at Tionesta (then a mere hamlet), in which he was successfully engaged for many years, making, by his honorable, straightforward course, many friends. As an instance of his personal popularity, he was, in 1847, nominated by the Whig party, and elected by a large majority, sheriff of Venango County, although the county was at that time largely Democratic; he afterward held the office of prothonotary of the same county, by appointment, on the death of William Elliott. During the Civil war he was active in raising troops for the suppres-sion of the Rebellion, sparing neither time, labor nor expense in sustaining the government, and he was proffered by President Lincoln an appointment as paymaster in the army, with rank of major, but failing health obliged him to decline the honor. The present boundaries of Forest County, with Tionesta as the county seat, are largely due to his influence and energetic action, and although conscious that he was making personal enemies, he still worked for "the greatest good to the greatest number."
In 1867 he was appointed associate judge upon the death of the incumbent. He filled many other positions of public trust, ever conscientious in the discharge of duty, the public schools being the particular object of his solicitude. The life of Judge Dale was a busy one. He was engaged at dif-ferent times in the manufacture of lumber, and in the development and sale of oil lands. Early in 1870 he became connected with the interests of the Atlantic & Great Western Railroad, and labored zealously for the interests of the com-pany, holding various positions in the same. It was while returning from an official visit to James McHenry (then in New York) that he met with the terri-ble accident at Renovo, Pennsylvania, on the Philadelphia & Erie Railroad, which was doubtless the cause of his death. Thus from his early manhood until his death, Tionesta was his home, and the best interests and prosperity of its people his care, until he left the stamp of his individuality throughout its entire limit; indeed, a history of Forest county would be very incomplete without prominent mention of his name.
He was a great lover of nature, and made a special study, in the later years of his life, of horticulture and arbor culture, which he understood fully, as demonstrated by garden and arbor surrounding his beautiful home on the banks of the Allegheny river. Pure and upright in his daily walk and conversation, honest and earnest in all things, he was respected by all, and left his family the best of all heritages-that of a good name. He was a Freemason of high order for many years, having great affection for the fraternity, and he was buried with Masonic honors. [HMFE, 926]
General Notes: Wife - Jane E. Richardson
from Kittanning, Armstrong Co, PA