Francis Asbury "Frank" Dale, born on 12 January 1858 near Beaver Dam, Dodge County, Wisconsin. He was the second of the four children of Wisconsin pioneers Matilda (née Winebrenner) and Samuel Cornelius Dale. The family in 1860 was farming in Dodge County. Having volunteered for 3 years' service, Private Samuel C. Dale mustered in a Wisconsin regiment in March 1862; fought in the Battle of Shiloh in April 1862; and died from typhoid fever in July 1862. Frank Dale was then 4½ years old. His three siblings died within a few days of each other in April 1864. Frank and his mother afterwards moved to Paxton, Ford County, Illinois, where relatives lived.*

Matilda Dale and Civil War veteran David "Hilsbury" were married in 1865 in Paxton. In 1870, Francis A., age 12, was enumerated in Noble County, Indiana, with his mother, step-father, and two younger half-siblings. David Hillsberry died in 1872 in Noble County. Matilda then returned with her children to Paxton. There, in 1874, she married a third time—to Civil War veteran Thomas D. Laswell. In 1880, "Franklin" Dale, age 22, a laborer, was enumerated in his mother's and step-father's household in Neosho Falls, Woodson County, Kansas.

Frank Dale, age 25, and Laura Saferite, age 18, were married on 8 February 1883 in Yates Center, Woodson County; both were Neosho Falls Township residents. The couple, who became the parents of six children, were enumerated in 1885 in Eureka, Greenwood County, Kansas, with their year-old son Samuel. Frank was then employed as a mason. In 1895, Frank and Laura Dale with four children were enumerated in Neosho Falls Township, Woodson County, where he was a mason. The couple later had two more sons.†

Frank Dale died on 8 October 1899 in a worksite accident in Neosho Falls. He was age 41. His widow eventually moved to Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and died there in 1912 at the age of 47.

Notes

1860 U.S. Census, Calamus Twp., Dodge Co., Wisconsin; dwelling 1014, family 1010, lines 32-36, p. 139 (written), 16 Aug 1860. (Post Office: Fall River)
32. Samuel Dale, 32, farmer (-0-; $200), Penn.
33. Matilda -----, 22, Penn.
34. Mary -----, 5, Wisconsin.
35. Francis -----, 2, Wisconsin.
36. Anna -----, 4/12, Wisconsin.

1870 U.S. Census, Noble Twp., Noble Co., Indiana; dwelling 47, family 47, lines 35-39, p. 193 (printed), p. 5 (written), 18 Aug 1870. (Post Office: Brimfield)
35. Hillsbury, David, 30, laborer, Penn.
36. ----- Matilda, 31, keeping house, Penn.
37. ----- Francis A., 12, at home, Wis.
38. ----- Dora, 4, Ill.
39. ----- John H., 1, Ind.

1880 U.S. Census, E.D. 65, Neosho Falls City, Woodson Co., Kansas; dwelling 49, family 50, lines 25-31, p. 221A (printed), p. 5 (written), -- Jun 1880.
25. Laswell, Thomas D., 45 [head], farmer; born in Indiana, father in Va., mother in Maryland.
26. ----- Matilda, 44, wife keeping house; born in Pennsylvania, parents in Penn.
27. ----- Myrta, 4, daughter; born in Illinois, father in In'a., mother in Penn.
28. Dale, Franklin, 22, step-son, works on farm; born in Wisconsin; parents in Penn.
29. Hillsbury, Dora, 15, step-dau., at school; born in Illinois, father in Ill., mother in Penn.
30. Hillsbury, John, 12, step-son, at school; born in Indiana, father in Ill., mother in Penn.
31. Hillsbury, Edward, 9, step-son; born in Indiana, father in Ill., mother in Penn.
• Frank's future wife, Laura A. Saferite, age 15, enumerated in Neosho Falls Twp.

Woodson Co. Marriage Records, vol. C, p. 73.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939J-TT97-9M?i=581&cc=1851040

"On February 9th [sic ], 1883, at the Probate Judges office, in Yates Center, J. E. Pickett officiating, Mr. Frank Dale to Miss Laura Saferite, both of Neosho Falls Township, Woodson Co., Kansas," ("Married," The Neosho Falls Post, Neosho Falls, Kansas, 16 Feb 1883, p. 3.)

"Mr. Frank Dale was married yesterday to Miss Saferite [...]" (The Yates Center News, Yates Center, Kansas, 9 Feb 1883, p. 3.)

1885 Kansas state census, Eureka, Greenwood Co.; dwelling 284 lines 13-15, pp. 39-40 (written), 1 Mar 1885.
17. Frank Dale, 27, Mason / Wisconsin, [came to Kansas from:] Indiana.
18. Laura Dale, 20 / Kansas , -----.
19. Sam'l Dale, 1 / Kansas, -----.
• Samuel Eli Dale was named after both of his grandfathers.

"Frank Dale has the contract of putting in a part of the stone guttering along Main street." (The Neosho Falls Post, Neosho Falls, Kansas, 7 Aug 1896, p. 2.)

1895 Kansas state census, Neosho Falls Twp., Woodson Co.; p. 21 (written), 1 Mar 1895.
1. Dale Frank, 37, Wisconsin, [came to Kansas from:] Ind.; mason.
2. ----- Laura, 30, Ks.
3. ----- Samuel, 11, Ks.
4. ----- Francis, 8, Ks.
5. ----- Lena, 4, Ks.
6. ----- Glen, 2, Ks.

"Death of Frank Dale," The Neosho Falls Post, Neosho Falls, Kansas, 6 Oct 1899, p. 3.
• Six children, not seven, known to be living.

* Matilda Dale's widow's pension application provides details of her family. Her sister, Hester Winebrenner, was married to her first husband's brother, Henry Dale. The couple resided in Paxton.

† In the 1900 U.S. Census, Laura Dale reported to have had six children (all living); in 1910, six children (five living).

Bio. by blueheron14, 3 November 2023.