Beckham County, OK - bios: John Riley Dare Wednesday, 07 January 2009 Submitted by: Ray Riley (drriley@prodigy.net) ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm ************************************************ Biography of John Riley Dare John Riley Dare was born on January 21, 1837 1/ near Cahawba, Dallas County, Alabama which was near present day Selma, Alabama. John Riley Dare was the son of John Dare Sr. (1806-1874) and Mary Stanfield (about 1808- 1870). John Dare Sr. and Mary Stanfield were married in 1830 in Bedford County, Tennessee. John Dare Sr. and Mary Stanfield moved to Alabama with Mary’s parents Thomas Stanfield (1780-1836) and Mary Waddle (1782-after 1850). John Dare Sr. and Mary Stanfield settled in Dallas County, Alabama. John Dare Sr. and his family were disappointed in the slavery conditions in the south and subsequently choose to join the larger Dare family in Dareville, Jefferson County, Illinois sometime between 1842 and 1846. The known children of John Dare Sr. and Mary Stanfield were: Martha Ann Dare born 1831, likely in Bedford County, Tennessee William Hubbard Dare born August 1835 in Dallas County, Alabama John Riley Dare born January 21, 1837 near Cahawaba, Dallas County, Alabama James Mecady Dare born in 1839 near Cahawba, Dallas County, Alabama Thomas Winfield Dare born March 26, 1846 in Jefferson County, Illinois Margaret M Dare born 1853 in Jefferson County, Illinois John Riley Dare spent most of his youth in Jefferson County, Illinois. He was usually referred to as Riley Dare until after his father died in 1874. After 1874, he is referred to as John Dare or John R. Dare. In about 1856, John Riley Dare was apprenticed to Daniel Ireland to learn the trade of brick masonry. Daniel Ireland (1815-after 1890) was born in Hamilton County, Ohio in 1815 and then in 1826 moved to Brownstown, Jackson County, Indiana with his parents James Ireland (1788-1864) and Sarah H Bunnel (1788-1864). Daniel Ireland married Susan Johnson (1818-Aft 1880) on October 17, 1836 in Brownstown, Jackson County Indiana. Daniel Ireland was a brick mason by profession and in 1849 moved to Union County, Illinois where he built the first brick home and business in the county. By 1856, he was in Mount Vernon, Jefferson County, Illinois. John Riley Dare married America M Ireland (1839-1911), daughter of Daniel Ireland and Susan Johnson, on July 17, 1858 in Mount Vernon, Jefferson County, Illinois. In 1860, John Riley Dare and America (Ireland) Dare are still living in the household of Daniel Ireland. Between 1860 and 1864, John Riley Dare continues to live in Jefferson County, Illinois where he pursues the profession of bricklayer, has two children born, and purchases a home and property. On October 3, 1864, soldiers from the Union Army visit his home and inform him that he is to be drafted into the Union Army in 10 days. After making arrangements for his young family, John Riley Dare becomes a private in Company B, 29th Illinois Infantry on October 14, 1864. The following information related to the 29th Illinois Infantry was taken from the Illinois military web site. Additional information for clarity has been inserted in parenthesis. (The 29th Regiment, Illinois Infantry) Moved from Springfield, August 22, 1864; arrived at Natchez the last of the month, and remained until October, when moved to mouth of White river, having been assigned to Third Brigade, Reserve Corps, Military Division of West Mississippi. A short time afterward was ordered to Memphis, and thence to Paducah, arriving October 20, 1864, for protection of Kentucky from enemy's cavalry, which appeared on the border. (John Riley Dare had apparently joined Company B, 29th Regiment, Illinois Infantry prior to November 26, 1864). November 26, (29th Illinois Infantry) embarked for Memphis, camping in that city November 29. December 21, marched with expedition into the interior of Tennessee. Hard marching, cold weather and bad roads. Returned December 31. January 1, 1865, embarked for New Orleans. Camped above the city at Kenner, on the 5th. February 11th, assigned to Third Brigade, First Division, Thirteenth Army Corps, Colonel Kent commanding Brigade and Lieutenant Colonel J. A. Callicott commanding Regiment. Embarked for Mobile. Landed at Dauphin Island on 15th February. March 17, embarked for Fort Morgan, and, landing, bivouacked on the beach. During eight succeeding days, were toiling over almost impassable roads to Spanish Fort, arriving on the 26th. Took an active part in the siege. Moved to Fort Blakely, arriving April 2, and was engaged in the whole siege, supporting the charge made by our Second Brigade, on the 9th, which resulted in the capture of the entire rebel army. Regiment lost, during the campaign, 26 men, killed and wounded. April 10, marched for Mobile. Arrived 12th, and remained in camp. June 26, embarked on steamship Scott, for Texas. Arrived off Galveston, July 1. The sea being quite rough, two or three days were required to disembark. Soon after ordered to Millican, Texas, on Texas Central railroad, arriving on the 9th.July 26, Regimental headquarters moved to Hempstead-two companies remaining at Millican, two at Brenham, and one at Beaumont. The Regiment being in Provisional Division, Department of Texas, Major General F. Steele commanding. The Regiment reported to Major General J. A. Mower, commanding Eastern District of Texas, until November 6, 1865, when it was mustered out of the United States service by Lieutenant B. W. Ladd, Ninety- eighth Ohio, and A.C.M. John Riley Dare was honorably discharged from military service on October 13, 1865 in Houston, Texas. His mode of passage from Houston, Texas back to Jefferson County, Illinois is unknown but it was likely by Steamship from Galveston, Texas to New Orleans, Riverboat from New Orleans to Cairo or St. Louis Missouri and then approximately 100 miles overland to his home in Jefferson County, Illinois. He probably arrived home in Jefferson County, Illinois at about Christmas 1865. After the Civil War, John Riley Dare resumed his chosen profession of brick- layer. In the 1870 Jefferson County, Illinois census, John Riley Dare is mistakenly listed as James Dare but the census correctly shows his wife America Dare and his known children Warren age 9, Flora Belle age 6, Anna age 3 and Ella age 1. James (John Riley) is correctly listed as age 33 and his profession listed as Brick Moulder. In 1880, John Dare is listed in the Village of Ashley, Washington County, Illinois which is just across the Jefferson County Line. Two new children John Birty Dare born 1876 and Oscar Dare born 1880 have been added to the family. John Riley Dare’s locations between 1880 and 1900 are based on his Civil War Pension application #988761. First, we learn that John Riley Dare describes himself as 5 feet 7 inches in height, dark complexion, blue eyes and dark hair. John Riley Dare’s daughter Flora Belle Dare married William Riley in 1883 at a location unknown. John Riley Dare had likely left Illinois by 1883 since his future son-in-law William Riley was in the Military in San Antonio, Texas in 1880. John Riley Dare made his initial pension application from Amarillo, Potter County, Texas on April 13, 1891. His pension application appears to have been validated by the Pension Office of the War Department on September 16, 1891. In the 1900 census, America (Ireland) Dare indicates that she has had 11 children born alive but only three are living. Two years earlier on September 24, 1898, John Riley Dare files a pension paper from Springer, Indian Territory in which he states that he has four children still living as follows: Warren L. Dare born July 27, 1861 Flora Dare born May 9, 1864 Ella Dare born November 22, 1868 Burt (John Birty) Dare born December 25, 1876 Of the eleven children of John Riley and America (Ireland) Dare, only the four named above plus Anna born 1867 and Oscar born 1880 are known. Anna and Oscar had apparently died between 1880 and 1898. Flora Belle and John Birty Dare are still alive in 1900 but either Warren or Ella Dare died between 1898 and 1900. Since Warren Dare is not in any 1900 census index (Heritage Quest), he likely died between 1898 and 1900. In 1900 John Riley Dare, America Dare and their son John Birty Dare are living in Elk Township, Roger Mills County, Oklahoma with William Riley and Flora Belle (Dare) Riley living nearby. It is likely that both families are living in that portion of Roger Mills County that became Beckham County prior to 1910 since both families appear in the 1910 Elk Township, Beckham County census. John Riley Dare filed a general pension affidavit outlining medical conditions prior to February 25, 1903. John Riley Dare’s post office is listed as Port, Oklahoma Territory. In 1910, John Riley Dare and America Ireland are living in the household of John Birty Dare and his wife Mahala S. (Bean) Dare. They are living in Merritt Township, Beckham County, Oklahoma. America (Ireland) Dare died on September 27, 1911 and is buried in Poarch Cemetery, Beckham County, Oklahoma. John Riley Dare filed his last pension papers on February 10, 1912 from Carter, Beckham County, Oklahoma. John Riley Dare died on July 9, 1916 in Carter, Beckham County, Oklahoma and is buried beside his wife in Poarch Cemetery. 1/ John Riley Dare’s tombstone in Poarch Cemetery and his obituary in the Carter Express on July 14, 1916 indicate that John Riley Dare was born in Cahawba Alabama on January 21, 1838. This information was likely given by his son John Birty Dare. However, John Riley Dare indicates that he was born January 21, 1837 in Cahabwa, Alabama in his pension application. His father John Dare indicates that John Riley Dare was 13 years of age in 1850. John Riley Dare gives his age as 23 in 1860; 33 in 1870; 43 in 1880 and 63 in 1900. The bulk of available information appears to confirm John Riley Dare’s date of birth as January 21, 1837. --------------------------------------------------- Return to Beckham County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/beckham/beckham.html