Biography of Orris Danks, pages 861/ 862.  History of De Kalb County, 
Indiana.  Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

Orris Danks, dealer in boots and shoes, Waterloo, Ind., was born in Onondaga 
County, N.Y., July 16, 1825, a son of Benoni and Phoebe (Earle) Danks, 
native of New York.  His grandfather, Robert Earle, was a soldier in the war 
of the Revolution, and subsequently a very prominent man of his town.  Our 
subject was reared on a farm, but received a good education for an early 
day.  In 1836 he left his native home and started for the West to buy a 
home, and liking the looks of the country in De Kalb County, Ind., bought a 
tract of land on section 13, Smithfield Township, on which he lived two 
years, clearing the land of timber and preparing it for cultivation. In 
1838, he returned to New York where, in 1840, he was married to Euseba, 
daughter of William Brown.  In the fall of 1841 he moved to De Kalb County 
and settled on his land, in a little log cabin 16x20 feet in dimensions.  
The young couple were poor in purse, but rich in ambition and perseverance, 
and with a determination to make a home for themselves and their family, 
laughed at all difficulties and obstacles, and bravely endured privation 
that they might gain the end for which they toiled.  After sharing his 
cares and participating in his joys eleven years, the young wife died in 
1851, leaving two children---Charles O., who enlisted in the fall of 1861 
in the Forty-fourth Indiana Infantry, and died at Battle Creek, Tenn., in 
August, 1862, and Ella, now the wife of Frederick Waterman, of De Kalb 
County.   In the spring of 1862 Mr. Danks moved his family to Waterloo and 
formed a partnership in the hardware business under the firm name of St. 
Clair & Co.  In 1870 he sold his interest and engaged in the grocery and 
boot and shoe business, but in 1874 disposed of his stock of groceries and 
has since devoted his attention to the boot and shoe trade.  He was married 
in 1852 to Miss Estella Booge, who died in 1863, leaving one child---Emma, 
now the wife of Wm. H. Leas, attorney of Waterloo.  In 1864 Mr. Danks 
married Sarah A. Jones.  He has been a prominent man in the township, and 
has served in many official positions.

Submitted by:
Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
Agoodwin@ctlnet.com