BIOGRAPHY: Dahley, B. O. From the A.T. Andreas Illustrated Historical Atlas of the State of Iowa, 1875 ************************************************* Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ************************************************* B. O. DAHLEY, the popular millinery merchant of Decorah, is a native of Norway. He was born on the first day of December, 1824. His parents gave him a good common school education. In 1844 he immigrated to this country, and spent about nine years working as a mechanic in Chicago. His first venture in mercantile business was at Whitewater, Wisconsin, where he carried on business nearly two years with indifferent success. In 1854 he came to Winneshiek County, Iowa, and identified his interest for a time with the prospective town of Freeport, which it was thought had some prospect of becoming the seat of justice of the county. He erected a store, hotel and other buildings; but the county seat question being decided in favor of Decorah, Freeport declined; and Mr Dahly, failing to see any prospect of success there went to Minnesota and started business both at Preston and Rushford, in Fillmore County. At the former place, the county seat, he erected a store, but he had hardly got started when the financial crisis of 1857 proved disastrous to his enterprises, and in the Fall of that year he removed to Decorah. He was now without means, but full of energy and determination to succeed in business somewhere. Fortunately his last situation was well chosen, for Decorah, having conducted business on a sound and reliable basis, was comparatively prosperous throughout the panic. Here Mr. Dahly started a small millinery and fancy goods business, which, following with energy, tact and business enterprise, has proved a remarkable success. That small beginning has grown into one of the most extensive retail millinery establishments in the Northwest. In getting this business started, Mr. Dahly owes much to his first wife, whose good taste and practical acquaintance with millinery rendered him valuable assistance. In 1858 he built a stone store east of the Winnesheik House, which he occupied with his business till 1866, when having finished his present building, he occupied it with the finest stock of goods ever opened in the place. He has continued to add to it from time to time, as the increasing demands required. Here can be found every thing in the line of millinery, straw goods, ribbons, flowers, plumes, silk, velvets, fancy dress goods, cloaking, shawls and all sorts of furnishing articles for ladies, children and misses. None but a truly energetic business man could make it pay to carry so large a stock of this class of goods outside of Chicago or Milwaukee. Some idea of the business may be formed from the fact that sixteen persons are constantly employed in the store. Mr. Dahly is a purely Yankeeized Norwegian, and yet no man loves his native country better than he does. Whenever there is any celebration or any thing connected with his former home, you will be sure to find at the head of it. We cordially ask all who visit Decorah to call at O. B. Dahly's emporium of fashion, and see for themselves if they do not say with us that it is the finest establishment they have seen west of the lakes. Mr. Dahly's first marriage was in Chicago, in 1848, to Miss Margaret Knudson, of Milwaukee, who died in 1868, leaving one son. He was married the second time in Decorah, in 1871, to Miss Caroline Shuttleworth, and by this marriage also has one child.