Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Darling, Col Daniel H 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com November 10, 2007, 10:07 am

Author: Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County

COL. DANIEL H. DARLING has been a resident of this county since 1855, and at 
the outbreak of the Civil war was engaged in teaching in the Joliet schools. 
The family of which he is a member has been represented in America since 
colonial days, and has borne its part in the various wars in which our country 
has engaged. His grandfather was a soldier in the Revolution, and his father 
served in the second war with England, while he himself has a creditable 
record as an officer in the Civil war, in which he rose from the ranks to the 
command of a regiment. Professor Darling (for he is better known by this title 
than by that of colonel) was born in Painesville, Ohio, June 8, 1836, and was 
fourth in a family of six children. His father, Seth, was a native of Madison 
County, N. Y., and there learned the trades of carpenter, joiner and 
wheelwright. He became a pioneer of the western reserve of Ohio, where he 
entered and improved a tract of land, and at the same time followed his trade. 
There he remained until his death, in 1841. His wife, Marline, was a daughter 
of Noah Anderson, who was born in Maryland, of Scotch parentage, and settled 
in Ohio at the same time with Mr. Paine, after whom the city of Painesville 
was named. After having completed the studies of the local schools, the 
subject of this sketch became a student in Lake Erie College, where he 
completed his education. In 1855 he came to Illinois and accepted a position 
as principal in the Lockport school, where he remained for three years. He 
then came to Joliet, as principal of the public schools of this city, in which 
capacity he was serving at the beginning of the Civil war. Fired with the 
enthusiastic spirit and the patriotism of his forefathers, he determined at 
once to offer his services to the Union. He went to Chicago for that purpose, 
but, as he weighed only one hundred and twenty pounds, the recruiting officers 
would not accept him. However, he would not give up his purpose, but proceeded 
to Michigan, where he was accepted, becoming a member of Company C, Seventh 
Michigan Cavalry. He was in all the campaigns and engagements of the army of 
the Potomac. In the battle of Gettysburg he was wounded, but the need of 
soldiers being great and the battle a close one, he had the wound bound up, 
and continued in the fighting line, taking part in the fifteen battles that 
followed during the next fourteen days. When the fighting ceased he permitted 
the physicians to dress his wounds in a hospital. After the grand review in 
Washington he was honorably discharged, but immediately re-enlisted for 
service against the Indians, in which he made so creditable a record that he 
was promoted to the command of his regiment, serving under Generals Custer, 
Kilpatrick and Sheridan. He now has in his possession, as an interesting 
relic, an Indian blanket worn by one of the savages, a memento of his first 
engagement with the Indians. The fatigue of long marches and exposure to 
inclement weather told severely upon Prof. Darling's health, and on the 
expiration of his army service he was unable to immediately resume teaching in 
Will County. As the Ohio Reform school was located in a very healthy place he 
went there, accepted a position in the school, and continued in it for four 
years, when, his health being again restored, he returned to Lockport and 
resumed work as principal of the schools. When the need of a superintendent of 
schools was felt in Joliet he was offered the position, which he accepted, 
holding it for fourteen years. In 1868 he married Miss Abbie Wyman, of 
Painesville, Ohio. Owing to her ill-health, in 1896 he resigned his position, 
in order that he might be free to take her to a warmer climate during the 
winter months of each year. He has long been recognized as one of the most 
efficient educators of northeastern Illinois. Certainly there are very few who 
have accomplished more for the educational interests of Joliet than has he, 
and he richly deserves his high standing as a teacher. In politics he has 
never been active, but is intelligently conversant with public affairs and 
votes the Republican ticket. During the war he was made a Mason, and took his 
first degree in General Washington's old lodge at Winchester, Va. He is 
connected with Bartleson Post, G. A. R. In religion he is identified with the 
Christian Church. 

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

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