My Genealogy Hound

DELAPLAIN, J. W., was born at Edwardsville, Madison Co., Ill., July 8, 1829; with his parents, he moved to Adams Co., of the same State; thence to Iowa, crossing the Mississippi River on the ice at Fort Madison Jan. 2, 1840; with his parents, he went to a point near Fairfield, but returned after an absence of about a month to Fort Madison, and attended school, Judge Robert A. Russell being his first teacher; after receiving an education fitting him for the ordinary walks of life, he entered the employ of R. W. Albright, editor of the Fort Madison Courier, afterward known as the Lee County Democrat, as printer’s apprentice; continued on the paper until his departure from Fort Madison, in the spring of 1848; spent several months in St. Louis for pleasure and recreation, and came to Keokuk in the spring of 1849; his first occupation here was with Howell & Cowles, proprietors of the Keokuk Register and Des Moines Valley Whig; was identified with the newspaper business in various capacities a number of years; In January, 1860, he established the Sunbeam, a temperance paper, not for pecuniary motives alone, but principally with the object of benefiting the community through laudable efforts in the cause of temperance, in which he had the support of the Good Templars; although meeting with considerable opposition during the exciting times of the war, the paper existed some twenty months; during the period of three years from Jan. 1, 1863, to July 1, 1866, as partner of Mr. Howell; from August, 1860, to August, 1862, he was the G. W. Secretary and Treasurer of the Grand Lodge of Good Templars of the State of Iowa; in the fall of 1867, Mr. D. engaged in the agricultural implement business; continued in it until the fall of 1873; during the existence of the Board of Trade in the fall and winter of 1873-74, he was its Secretary; in April, 1876, he was elected City Clerk, which position he has since filled. Mr. Delaplain married Jane Elizabeth Trimble Dec. 27, 1855; they have five children — Clara T., George W., Joie Grant, Minnie B. and Grace Helen.