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1874 Johnson County, Kansas Atlas-----
Daniel Rolfe was born in Hillsborough, New Hampshire, in 1807. In '22 he went to Jeppen, New Hampshire, working three years in a cotton factory. In '27 he went to Massachusetts, and engaged as a carpenter in building a large cotton mill - afterwards learning the millwright business. For several years he was engaged in preparing the leaf, and manufacturing palm leaf hats. Then for four years he was engaged in manufacturing machinery, and in '47 he emigrated to Ohio to put up the first bucket factory west of the Alleghany mountains, and after this was in operation, he returned to Massachusetts to purchase the machinery, came back and erected a machine shop. In '48 the bucket factory burned, and he, in four months rebuilt it, putting in six lathes, and other machinery sufficient to manufacture 1,600 buckets and tubs per day. For seven years he was engaged in the mercantile business.
In '57 he came to Kansas, put up Williams & Stratton's mill at De Soto, and after running the engine for nearly two years, he took charge of the De Soto hotel, when first built in '58. In '60 he moved three miles south, on a farm, where he remained until '54, when he went into the mercantile business, and in '74 he purchased the De Soto hotel, where he is pleasantly situated, ready to accommodate all his old customers that may call. He holds the office of justice of the peace and postmaster.
In 1829 he married Miss Hannah N. Norcross of Roylston, Mass.. She died in '46 leaving seven children. The same year he was united in marriage to Miss Adaline Stone of Winchendon, Mass. They have two children living.
