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from Past and Present of Mahaska County, Iowa by Manoah Hedge The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1906
Robert W. Dye, successfully carrying on general agricultural pursuits, owns and operates two hundred acres of land on sections 8 and 9, Harrison township. He has been a resident of Mahaska county since 1869, and is a native of Hampshire county, West Virginia, now Mineral county, his natal day being September 5, 1846. His parents were George R. and Rachel (Offett) Dye, both of whom were natives of the Old Dominion. The son was reared to manhood there, being fourteen years of age at the time of the outbreak of the Civil war. He came to Iowa in 1869. When a young man, making his way direct to Mahaska county, where he joined an older brother. He worked for a year for his brother, after which he operated rented land for four or five years. Mr. Dye was married in this county, February 9, 1873, to Miss Orlena A. Baughman, a native of Ohio, and a daughter of A. J. Baughman, who came with his family to Iowa in the fall of 1851, settling in Mahaska county, so that Mrs. Dye was here reared. She completed her education in the schools of Oskaloosa, having successfully engaged in teaching for five years. After his marriage, Mr. Dye engaged in farming north of Oskaloosa for a few years and then purchased where he now resides, becoming owner of one hundred acres. He and his father-in-law together purchased two hundred acres. Mr. Dye located upon the property and began farming it, adding many improvements and placing the fields under a high state of cultivation. He later fenced and cross-fenced the place, thus dividing it into fields of convenient size, has laid many rods of tiling and remodeled the house which he occupies. He built a new barn, has repaired one that was already standing upon the place, and has added many modern improvements. When the property came into his possession it was in a somewhat dilipidated condition, but he has brought everything to a high state of improvement and is regarded as one of the substantial and leading agriculturists of the community. He has been a stock-raiser and breeder and this branch of his business has proved profitable. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Dye have been born three children: Gertrude, the wife of Thomas Ritchie, a farmer of Harrison township, by whom she has one son, Robert H.; Edna F., the wife of I. A. Weaver, of Springfield, Illinois, by whom she has a daughter, Cleo Edith;. and Mabel C., at home. Politically Mr. Dye is a prohibitionist, supporting the party because it embodies his views upon the temperance question which he regards today as one of the most important issues before the people. He has never sought office nor desired political preferment, save that he has served as a member of the school board. He believes in the employment of good teachers and the adoption of progressive methods of instruction, the cause of education finding in him a warm friend. He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church and has served as trustee and steward. For thirty-seven years he has lived in the county, witnessing much of its development and progress. In 1886 he removed to Oskaloosa, where he made his home for about three years engaged in the patent right and implement business, but with this exception he has always given his attention to farming interests. He now has two good tenant houses upon his place and rents his land. He is well known in Oskaloosa and the southern part of Mahaska county and in Wapello county as well and is recognized as a man of good business ability and of integrity and worth. His wife is a well educated, refined and intelligent lady, who has been a true helpmate to her husband. She manages her household affairs with great care and the neat and attractive appearance of her home greatly reflects credit upon her supervision. The family is much esteemed in the county and the hospitality of the best homes of this part of the county is freely, accorded to Mr. Dye and his family.
Past and Present of Mahaska County, Iowa
Mahaska County, Iowa Genealogy