Denver County, History of Colorado, BIOS: DANA, J. H. (published 1918) *********************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. *********************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Maggie Stewart-Zimmerman http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00015.html#0003643 August 29, 1999 *********************************************************************** "History of Colorado", edited by Wilbur Fisk Stone, published by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. (1918) Vol. II p. 75-76 J. H. DANA. J. H. Dana, a prominent attorney successfully practicing in Denver, was born in Washington county, Iowa, September 28, 1868, his parents being William Bancroft and Nancy Jane (Williams) Dana, the former a native of Iowa, while the latter was born in Ohio, whence she removed to Iowa in early life. They were married in that state and In 1868 became residents of Kansas, settling on a farm in Montgomery county, where Mr. Dana continued to make his home to the time of his death, which occurred in 1908. His widow still survives and yet occupies the old homestead in Montgomery county. J. H. Dana was the fifth in order of birth in a family of eight children, all sons. In early life he attended the district schools and also became a student in the Fort Scott Normal School. After completing his course there he devoted several years to educational work as a teacher, spending three years in that connection with the district schools of Montgomery county. He afterward became principal of the schools of Caney, Kansas, in which capacity he served for two years. In the meantime he began reading law and in 1896 was admitted to the bar. In connection with his law work he had served as editor and was proprietor of the Caney Times, but he sold the paper at the end of a year and concentrated his efforts and attention entirely upon law practice at Caney, where he followed his profession for three years. He was elected county attorney of Montgomery county and occupied that position acceptably for two years. In 1901 he left Caney to become a resident of Coffeyville, Kansas, where he entered into partnership with Thomas G. Ayres under the firm style of Ayres & Dana. This connection, however, was later dissolved and he became a member of the firm of Ziegler & Dana. He thus continued in successful practice until 1910, when he sold his Interest to his partner and removed to Denver, seeking the broader field of labor offered in this city. He has since been active here in the legal profession and has made for himself a creditable name and place as an able attorney. His mind is naturally analytical and logical and he readily recognizes the relation between cause and effect. He loses sight of no point bearing upon his case and his ability to marshal the points in evidence at their greatest strength has been one of the salient features in his success. Mr. Dana is also heavily interested in a number of oil companies of Colorado and Wyoming and in some of these is a director. Fraternally Mr. Dana is a Mason and has attained the Knights Templar degree in the York Rite. He also has membership with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Denver Athletic Club, while along strictly professional lines his connection is with the Denver City & County Bar Association, the Colorado State Bar Association and the American Bar Association. He has become widely known through his professional and business activities in this state and stands deservedly high, his personal worth as well as his ability making for popularity among those with whom he has come in contact.