Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Dando, Meshack 
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com November 10, 2007, 2:40 pm

Author: Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County

MESHACK DANDO, who is engaged in the insurance, real-estate and conveyance 
business at Braidwood, was born in Bristol, England, in 1847, a son of 
Jeremiah Dando, a native of the same city. Under the instruction of his 
father, who was a practical coal miner, he gained a thorough knowledge of 
mining, when he was only fifteen years old. He then left home and went to the 
coal mines in Monmouthshire, Wales, where he was employed for two years. In 
1865 he set sail for America, crossing from Liverpool to New York, and thence 
going to Pittston, Pa., where he secured work in the mines. In December, 1866, 
he went to Newburyport, Mass. Three months later he came west. He dates his 
residence in Will County from February, 1867. At that time he began to work in 
the old Cady mine near Wilmington, remaining there during the summer. In the 
fall of the same year he came to Braidwood, then a new mining camp. His first 
work here was in "B" shaft. From that time until 1874 he was engaged 
principally in mining. In 1874 he was elected city clerk of Braidwood, being 
the second incumbent of that office, and serving for two years. To fill an 
unexpired term, caused by the election of Justice William Mooney to the 
legislature, he was elected justice of the peace in the spring of 1875, and 
this commission he held until 1877. From that time until 1885 he served as 
police magistrate. Later he was again elected to that office and was again 
chosen to serve as justice of the peace, which he filled for a period, 
altogether, of more than twenty years. It was partly due to his efforts that 
the city library was started and the cataloguing of the books was conducted 
under his personal supervision; he has since acted as a director of the 
Library Association and was for years clerk of the board. In every enterprise 
for the benefit of his home town he has taken a warm interest. The growth of 
Braidwood interests all of its citizens and none more so than those who have 
been identified with its history ever since its pioneer days as a mining camp. 
To this class Mr. Dando belongs. A respected citizen, a stanch Populist, and a 
man of firm convictions upon matters pertaining to our national welfare, he is 
a fine representative of our foreign-born citizens, who are true and loyal to 
their adopted country. In 1877 he assisted in organizing the Greenback party 
in this county, but when the People's party sprang up he transferred his 
allegiance to it, for its principles accurately represented his views. He was 
at one time the Populist candidate for the legislature, but was defeated. In a 
number of fraternal organizations Mr. Dando has been active. He was among the 
charter members of the Lodge of Foresters in Braidwood and several times was 
elected chief ranger; also served as delegate to the subsidiary high court at 
St. Louis, Boston and Providence, R. I. He was the first vice-commander of the 
Knights of Sherwood Forest, which was organized at Providence. As a charter 
member he took an active part in the organization of the Sons of St. George at 
Braidwood, which he served as president a number of terms. For several years 
he held office as secretary of the Miners' Union. In other labor organizations 
he has also been quite active. In 1868 he married Miss Martha Swansboro, a 
native of South Wales. She died in 1883, leaving five children, viz.: William 
J.; Hattie, wife of George Milner; Ada, Thomas and Albert. The oldest and 
youngest sons are both employed in Joliet.

Additional Comments:
Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County Illinois Containing 
Biographies of Well Known Citizens of the Past and Present, Biographical 
Publishing Company, Chicago, 1900

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/will/bios/dando1185gbs.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ilfiles/

File size: 4.3 Kb