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JAMES DAZEY (deceased). - The lives of those pioneers of Illinois who braved all the dangers of frontier life, teach undying lessons of endurance, patience and fidelity to duty.  While their names have been emblazoned upon the pages of history, at the time they were making this history they were not aware they were doing anything out of the ordinary, but went about their every day tasks as a matter of course.  This makes their bravery all the more commendable, and, as long as the nation exists, the pioneers of Illinois will be held in grateful remembrance by its people.  The late James Dazey, of Findlay, Ill., one of this hardy class of men, was born Sept. 28, 1828.  In Bourbon County, Ky., a son of William and Elizabeth (Earp) Dazey.  Mrs. William Dazey was born in Fairfax County, Va., in 1804, and in 1817 removed with her father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Simon Earp, to Bourbon County, Ky.  She was united in marriage, in 1823, with William Dazey, who died Jan. 1, 1876.  In 1830 William and Elizabeth Dazey drove from Kentucky to Illinois in a wagon, and settled one mile east of the present site of Findlay; they spent the remaining yeas of their lives within two miles of Findlay, engaged in farming.  Mrs. Dazey died Mar. 11, 1893, aged eighty-eight years, ten months and three days.  Before leaving Kentucky, she united with the Methodist Church, and continued an earnest member of it until her decease, dying firm in its faith.  She was always a hard worker in the church, and endorsed all of its good work.      The children born to William and Elizabeth Dazey were as follows:  William, who married Eliza Ann Earp, and lived and died close to Findlay, his widow, who still survives, living in Findlay; James; Lemuel, died unmarried in young manhood; Mitchell, died in young manhood, leaving a wife, Belle (Smith) Dazey, and three children:  Millie, who married James Wright, lives at Sullivan, Ill.; Mary, who married Ross Spicer, died soon after the birth of her first child, and her husband was killed in the battle of Shiloh; Julia Ann, who married Howard Francisco, lives at Findlay; Bethena, and Harriet, died at the same time as Lemuel, in young womanhood.      James Dazey was brought to Illinois when he was two years old.  His grandparents lived in Illinois and when his grandfather, Lemuel Dazey, was buried, he was but a boy, although distinctly remembering the occasion, for it was at his funeral that James lost the first money he had ever had in his possession.  He remained at home with his parents until his marriage, Nov. 17, 1852, to Miss Caroline Truitt, the daughter of Littleton and Jane (Hamilton) Truitt, who came from Kentucky about the same time as the Dazeys, who were neighbors of theirs in Kentucky.  Mrs. Dazey was born July 18, 1834, three miles south of Findlay, in Okaw Township.  Her father died in 1864, aged seventy-one, and her mother died in 1865, aged seventy.  The family born to Mr. and Mrs. Truitt were as follows:  William, who lived on a farm in Okaw Township, died at the age of fifty-six; Samuel, who went overland with General Fremont, settled in Texas, and died at the age of sixty; Peace, who married Wilse Scoonce, lived in Pickaway Township, and died there at the age of seventy-nine; John, who went to Centralia, Mo., and died there at the age of sixty, was postmaster and merchant; Levi, who lived on the old farm, died there at the age of fifty; Caroline; Mary, who married Newton Earp, lived Clarence, Mo., and died there at the age of forty; and Jane, who married William Harris, of Clarence, Mo., but died in the State of Washington at the age of sixty-five.  Mrs. Dazey is the only one living in her family, and there are but two living in the family of Mr. Dazey.      After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. James Dazey began housekeeping with $17 worth of household goods.  Mr. Dazey had eighty acre of land he had entered from the Government, and they lived on this property for fifty yeas.  In 1864, he put up the present residence, and they lived there until 1901, when they retired to Findlay, and there he died May 12, 1805, aged seventy-six years, eight months and fourteen days.  In 1893, he organized the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Findlay, and was its president for ten years.  In 1903 this bank was reorganized as the First National Bank of Findlay, and he continued its president until his death.  He added to his land until he owned 760 acres, all in one body, and operated it himself, farming and stock-raising.  He was a heavy shipper of stock, and rode all over Shelby county, buying stock.  Mr. Dazey was a very charitable man, although he was quiet about his good deeds.  He was very public-spirited and among other things secured the right of way for the C. & E. I. R. R. from Tuscola, Ill., to Shelby County.  Largely through his efforts and generosity, the surveyors located the depot at Findlay, which then was only a village of a few houses.  He added forty acres to the village and always took a prominent part in all of the improvements and public works of the place.  A strong Democrat, he was prominent in local politics, and served as Supervisor sixteen continuous years, although he did not care for public office, being occupied with his business cares.  From childhood, he was a Methodist, but during the last forty years of his life, he became very liberal in his religious views, and gave generously to all denominations.  He donated a site for the United Brethren Church, and was often to be seen at the services in the different churches, although he believed the doctrines of the Methodist Church to be the best.  His greatest pleasure was taken in his farm operations, although he enjoyed social events as much as anyone.  In earlier years he was associated in his stock business with Alexander Ward, and later with John Freybarger.  Mr. Dazey erected a handsome residence in Findlay before leaving the farm, and here his family now reside.  Mrs. Dazey has been a Methodist for many years.  The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Dazey were as follows:  Jennie, who married S. D. Dole, a stockman and farmer, at Findlay, is a twin sister of Lizzie, who is at home with her mother; Edward, who is at home with his mother, is cashier of the First National Bank, owning a controlling interest, and giving the affairs of the bank his personal attention; Charles, who died at the age of ten, and three who died in infancy.      Mrs. Dazey was one of the most genial men Shelby County has ever known.  He enjoyed all kinds of social diversion, and was especially fond of playing checkers.  He believed in young and old enjoying themselves, and up to the last two yeas of his life, would join in dancing, being regarded as one of the best partners in the room.  His old home was always open to visitors, and he lavished hospitality upon everyone with an unstinted generosity.  While he became very wealthy, his benefactions were almost without number; his name is connected with many of the public improvements, and at his death the whole city mourned the passing away of one of Shelby County's most public spirited men. Source:  Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Shelby County, Vol. II, Publ. 1910 - Page 846

DANIEL DIETZ. - The soil of Illinois is wonderfully fertile, and repays abundantly any toll that is expended upon it.  Illinois, one of the greatest corn localities in the world, is also a great stock-raising State, and many men of remarkable intelligence have recognized this fact and devoted their lived to agricultural pursuits.  Especially is Shelby County fitted to be the home of farmers, for it lies directly  in the corn  belt, and its black acres grow millions of bushels every year.  Daniel Dietz, of Richland Township, is one of the most enterprising of its farmers, and has earned from his farm all he possesses.  He was born in Franklin County, Ohio, May 16, 1847, but when eight yeas old was  brought by his parents to Randolph County, Ind.  After seven years spent in Indiana, in 1863 he came to Illinois.  His mother, Louisa (Lecrone) Dietz, died in Indiana, and in 1863 George Dietz, his father, also came to Illinois, died in Richland Township in 1869, aged sixty-six yes, and is buried in Middlesworth Cemetery.  George Dietz bought forty acres of land in the northwest corner of the township, which he had not finished paying for at the time of his death.      Daniel Dietz remained with his father until 1868, and then went to Kansas, where his father joined him, remaining only a few months.  The four sisters of Daniel Dietz were:  Sarah Ann, who married Ad. Harrmann of Ash Grove Township; Melissa, widow of Henry Bartlett and lives at Roseville, Kan.; Phoebe Jane, who married Joseph Smith and died in 1908, aged fifty years; Emma, married Lewis Johnson and moved to Kansas where he died, and his widow married Aaron Stovall, of Rossville, in the same State.      Daniel Dietz worked for William Middlesworth six years and for the Turner family four years, during which time he saved over $1,000, and, in addition looked after the interests of his sisters until they were married.  On Mar. 7, 1883, Mr. Dietz married Elvira Storm, a daughter of William B. and Elizabeth (Rankin) Storm, the latter being a daughter of Samuel Rankin.  William Storm was a member of the old Storm family of Ash Grove, where he died on his farm in 1894, aged sixty years.  Mrs. Dietz was born on this farm, Oct. 24, 1860.  Prior to his marriage, Mr. Dietz had bought fifty acres of his present farm, paying $25 per acre for it.  With the exception of ten acres, which were cleared, this land was covered with timber, and a log house had been built on it by Billie Webb.  The farm now contains 123 acres for some of which he has paid $45 per acre.  He has cleared about sixty-five acres of it, and burned off much valuable timber.  The land is well drained as he has laid a great deal of tile.  Mr. Dietz grows grain, wheat, corn and oats, and has a very valuable property.  His residence was erected a few years ago, and his barn was built in 1907.  All that he possesses has been earned from his farm.  During the years he worked for others, Mr. Dietz was heavily burdened with the care of his sisters, yet he managed to pay for his first forty acres of land, and has the satisfaction that comes of having done his duty by his family.      Mr. and Mrs. Dietz have had children as follows:  Ora Ethel, married Silas Curry, who is a merchant at Burrowsville, near Hammond, Ill.; Edna Alberta, married J. O. Hartssell, who lives on his father's farm in Ash Grove Township; William Elmer, who lives on the farm with his father, was born Jan. 11, 1889, and has a teacher's certificate; and Norma, a school girl.  Mr. Dietz is a Democrat, has served as School Director for two terms, was School Trustee for three terms, and is the present Commissioner.  The family belong to the Ash Grove Christian Church, are active in its good work, and command the confidence of all with whom they come in contact. Source:  Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Shelby County, Vol. II, Publ. 1910 - Page 849