Biographies Michigan Biographies Project |
Since the first echo of the woodsman's axe resounded through the dense forests of Leroy township, the name of Dana has been familiar to the inhabitants of that section of the country.
The parents of J. J. Dana were both born at Batavia, N. Y. The father, Orren in 1807, and the mother, Adaline Goodwill, in 1814. They were married in the year 1829, and emigrated to Michigan in the year 1837 and settled on sections 8 and 9 in Leroy township. The land was all in a state of nature. One hundred and sixty acres was taken up from the government. For the first few years the family not only had to endure the privations common to the lot of pioneers in a new country, but at times suffered from want and hunger. This was not on account of any lack of industry or energy but rather from unforseen and unavoidable causes. In the fall of 1838, six acres, the entire crop of corn was destroyed by forest fires. The year following, the entire crop of wheat and corn upon which the family depended for their winter supply, was trampled down and destroyed by wild deer and black bears. A log enclosure was a necessity to keep the cows form being killed by roving bands of wolves. For the first six months after locating here, Detroit was the nearest postoffice. Then one was established at Mason. In the 1840, what is now the township of Leroy, was set off by itself and names by Orren Dana after a township in his native state. For over twenty years there was no place of business within the limits of the township. For thirty-two years Orren Dana was Justice of the Peace for Leroy. He died in 1879. Of a family of eight children, but one is now living, E. L. Dana, of Leroy.
J. J. Dana was a lad of but three years when the family arrived at Detroit, and this was just before the territory was admitted into the Union as a state. The first settlement by the family was made on the property now owned by the heirs of H. J. Dana, of Leroy.
J. J. Dana enlisted as private in Co. H, of the 26th Michigan Volunteer Infantry, August 12, 1862. For nearly two yars he followed the fortunes of his regiment, participating in several of the hardest fought battles of the Civil War, and was severely woulded in the right arm at Spottsylvania, May 12, 1864. With thousands of others, more or less seriously wounded, he marched during the next few days about fifty miles to a steamboat landing and from there was taken in a transport to Washington. Arriving at the hospital, amputation was found necessary and he ever afterward carried an empty sleeve. A few months later he was mustered out of service with the rank of Corporal and honorably discharged by reason of disability. Mr. Dana had to his credit in which he took part, the ever memorable battle of Wilderness, May 5, 1864, where the lossess fotted up in killed, wounded and missing, about fifteen thousand on a side. Other engagements in which he took part were Suffolk, Va., Windsor, Va., May 22, Mine Run, Va., November 29, all in '63, Corbin's Bridge, Va., May 8, Ny River, May 9, Po River, May 11, '64. Returning to civil life, he a few months later was united in marriage to Miss Frances Keys. Of this union two children were born, William J. and James A.
Mrs. Dana died September 5, 1869, and a few weeks later, October 14, the elsest son, William, died.
Mr. Dana was again married March 3, in the year of 1870, to Mrs. Mary Thurston, daughter of Lawrence VanAlstyne of Oakland county, a native of New York state.
In the year of 1872 Mr. VanAlstyne came to Williamston, which was ever after his home. He died in July, 1876.
Mr. Dana was a charter member of Williamston Lodge, I. O. O. F., and always loyal to its principles. For several years he was a member of the Eli P. Alexander Post of the G. A. R., named in honor of a gallant yount lieutenant of his own company.
Mr. Dana by frugality and business tact secured a comportable competence for himself and family. He died February 16, 1898, and is survived by a widow and one son, James. A.
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Biographies Michigan Biographies Project |
 Sondra Higbee
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