James Dyer History
In
1847 James Dyer, with his wife and three children, moved to this
area from Banwell, Somersetshire, England. He secured land in the
area for himself, his friends, and also his family. Many of these
people moved to larger cities, where their talents could be
better appreciated. James Dyer remained in the area, until his
death in 1864 at the age of 44. He worked hard in everything he
did. He constantly worked, built, and planned for his community.
As the English community moved on, the area filled up with immigrants of German descent. Dyer farmed for three years, before he moved out of his log cabin, to build a bigger house. He found the perfect spot on a wooded knoll with a stream nearby. The materials to build the home had to be hauled by wagon from Dubuque, IA.
Many of his friends soon moved close, and this firmly established the site of Dyersville. For a long time his home was the only house on the one-square block. The town of Dyersville soon closed in around his home.
When the railroad came to Dyersville, Dyer found it necessary to build a hotel. The hotel he built contained 80 rooms. He called it The Clarendon. Dyer moved in to the hotel in 1857 and sold his house to Abel Botsford of Dubuque. Mr. Botsford was a mill owner and operator in Epworth, IA. The Botsford's and their descendants lived in the house for 108 years.
Dress brought to this country by Mrs. James (Anne) Dyer
