WI BIO - Dane Co - MAIN, Edwin Dakin
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893, Vol II, pp 538-539

Edwin Dakin MAIN, a resident of the village of Oregon [Dane County, WI], was 
born 03 Nov 1847. His father, Robert P. MAIN, was born in Stonington [New 
London County], CT, and his father, Rial MAIN, was a native of the same 
State. Tracing still farther back, we find that the great grandfather of our 
subject, David MAIN, was a captain in the Revolutionary War. The grandfather 
followed the trade of shipbuilder in CT until 1853, then came to WI, settling 
in Madison [Dane County], where he built a home and spent his last years. He 
was well educated, and when he was sixty years of age taught several terms of 
school. The maiden name of the grandmother of our subject was Unice 
[Eunice?] PALMER, and she was born in CT, but spent her last days in Madison.

The father of our subject, Robert P. MAIN, attended school very steadily 
until he was seventeen years of age, then began teaching, and at the age of 
eighteen went South, where he taught school in several Southern States, but 
finally drifted to Cincinnati [OH], thence to Clinton County, where he met 
and married Miss Cordelia, daughter of Preserved DAKIN. Her father, 
Preserved DAKIN, left his home in New York in 1804, and settled in OH, on a 
tract of land containing [p 539] 1,000 acres, all in one body, which he 
purchased of the Government, where he remained until his death. Mr. [Robert 
P.] MAIN continued in OH until 1843, when, with his wife and three children, 
he started with a team and made an extended journey to Bureau County, IL. 
Two years were spent here, but as the locality at that time seemed unhealthy, 
in 1845 they started again with team and made an overland journey to Dane 
County, WI. At that time northern IL and WI had few settlers, and much of 
the land was still owned by the Government.

Robert P. MAIN, father of our subject, located in the town of Oregon [Dane 
County, WI], where he selected a tract of Government land on section 13, 
there built a log house, in which the subject of his sketch was born. At 
that time there were no railroads, and all the grain had to be hauled to 
Milwaukee, entailing much time and labor. He improved the farm and occupied 
the place until 1864, when he sold it and bought 400 acres in the town of 
Rutland [Dane County, WI]; lived there until 1873, then moved to Oregon [Dane 
County, WI], where lived retired until his death in 1882. The maiden name of 
the mother of our subject was Cordelia DAKIN, who was born in Clinton County, 
OH. Her ancestors were among those who reached this country in the 
"Mayflower." She still lives in Oregon [WI] at the age of eighty years, and 
reared a family of eight children: Mary Frances, Louisa, Hattie, Martha, 
Edward Dakin (our subject), Anna, Alice, and Robert Walter. The father was 
formerly a Whig, and a Republican from the formation of the party. He was 
public-spirited, and filled various offices of trust, being elected to the 
State Legislature in 1856.

Edward Dakin MAIN received his early education in the district school, and 
this was advanced by attendance at the high school in [the village of] Oregon 
[WI], and in 1873 he took charge of his father's farm. This was located in 
Rutland [Dane County, WI], and he operated until 1877, when he located on 
a farm of 320 acres that he still owns, on section 31 in the town of 
Fitchburg [Dane County, WI]. At the time he purchased his large and valuable 
in the town of Fitchburg, with only $1,000 to pay down, it was predicted that 
he must fail. By the untiring industry and good business ability of himself, 
aided by his noble wife, the entire debt was paid off in a few years, and he 
now finds himself in a position of ease. He was engaged in general farming 
and stock raising, including the raising of horses and Shetland ponies. In 
the fall of 1892 he rented his farm, and purchased a tract of 26 acres in the 
village of Oregon, where he now resides.

Edward Dakin MAIN was married 26 Nov 1872 to Miss Juliet CHAPIN, who was born 
in the town of Utica, Rock County [WI], a young lady from one of the first 
families in WI. Edward Dakin and Juliet (CHAPIN) MAIN are the parents of 
five children: Celia H., Florence E., Idell M., Stanley D., and Lillian H. 
Miss Celia H. MAIN, oldest daughter of Edward Dakin MAIN, having been obliged 
to assist her father for that purpose, was taught at the age of ten to ride a 
horse, and became an expert in horsemanship, an accomplishment of which she 
may well be proud. Her perfect horsemanship has made her a conspicuous 
figure wherever she appeared with her steeds. In his social relations Edward 
Dakin MAIN is a member of the Masonic ledge, of Oregon, and politically is a 
Democrat. He has always taken a deep interest in all public enterprises; is 
highly esteemed by a wide circle of friends as a man of strict integrity and 
high moral character.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly