Daniel B. McMaster, of Hancock, is one of our "old soldier" citizens who served his country in her hour of need, and then settled down in the great State of Iowa, to the peaceful pursuit of agriculture. His father, William McMaster, came from Scotland, near the coast, in sight of Ireland. He was well educated for his day, a great reader and a lover of books, and possessed a considerable library. He learned the tailor's trade, and married, in Ireland, Miss Sarah Boyd, daughter of James Boyd of the city of Belfast, who was a drover and dealer in cattle, driving and shipping cattle from Scotland to Ireland. He was the father of nine Children: James, Thomas, Henry, William, Daniel, Robert, Jane, Sarah and Esther, all born in Ireland. He emigrated with his large family to America, and settled in Boston. In William McMaster's father's family there were four children: Archie, William, Bettie and Margaret. The two girls lived and died in Scotland, unmarried. William and his wife came to America soon after their marriage, in 1820, and settled in New Brunswick, where his two eldest children were born, and then removed to Boston, where the remainder of their family were born. There were twelve children: Archie, William, Hugh, John, James, Daniel, Walter, Samuel, Margaret, Mary, Matilda and Jennie. Mr. McMaster followed his trade, tailoring, in New Brunswick and also in Boston for many years. In 1850 he moved with his family to Michigan, and settled in Schoolcraft, Kalamazoo County, on what was called Big Prairie Ronde (Round Prairie), and on the farm bought by Mr. McMaster his widow still lives. Mr. McMaster was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and Mrs. McMaster was a strong Baptist. He was a prominent Odd Fellow and instituted the first lodge in Schoolcraft. While in Boston Mr. McMaster was a wealthy man, but he lost his property and therefore moved to Michigan. He was a man of very industrious habits, and with strict integrity of character, made many friends and held them, and had no enemies. He was noted for being a close-mouthed man, always attending to his own business. He lived to the age of seventy-three years, and died on his farm in Schoolcraft, Michigan. Three of his sons were in the Civil War. John H. and Daniel B. were in the Union Army, and William was in the Confederate service. He went to New Orleans when quite a young man and became a merchant there, owned a plantation in Texas and was a slave-holder. He was an officer in the Confederate Army. John H. was in a Massachusetts regiment.

Daniel B. was born July 3, 1842, and received a common-school education, and was but eight years old when his father moved to Michigan. He learned farming and also the iron-molder's trade. Young Daniel was but twenty years of age when the Civil War broke out, and, filled with patriotism and the thoughts and glory of a soldier's life, he enlisted in Company I, First Michigan Volunteer Cavalry, August 21, 1861, and went directly with his regiment to Washington. He was in the battles of Harper's Ferry, Charlestown, Virginia; Berryville, Winchester, Strasburg, Piedmont, Markham Station, Manassas Gap, Happy Creek, Front Royal, May 23, 1862; Haymarket, Rapidan, Orange, July, 1862; Madison Court House, July, 1862; Stannardsville, Barnett's Ford, Louisa Court House, Culpeper, Kelly's Mills, Rappahannock Station, Rappahannock Ford, Waterloo Bridge, Salem, White Plains, Thoroughfare Junction, Bull Run, August 30, 1862 (at which Mr. McMaster had his horse shot under him), Chantilly, Ashley's Gap, Snicker's Ferry, Wolf Run, Shoals, December, 1862, and Bristow, January, 1863. At the second battle at Culpeper Court House he was taken sick with typhoid fever and was left on the battle-field for two days and nights. He was taken at night to Culpeper and lay in the court-house one hour, then taken to Warrenton Junction, where he lay several hours, and the same day was taken to Mt. Pleasant Hospital, Washington, District of Columbia, where he was sick for six weeks, coming very near death.

On September 15, 1864, he was honorably discharged, three months after reaching the hospital, on account of expiration of his term of service, having served his country faithfully for three years and fifteen days, and engaged in a large number of battles, which constitute a roll of honor of which his children and descendants may well fell proud. His name will be transmitted to posterity as one of those brave sons of America who risked their lives to preserve their country. After the war Mr. McMaster returned to Michigan and resumed the occupation of farming, also working at his trade.

January 01, 1866, he married Miss Loretta Thayer, daughter of Simon and Almira (Tiffany) Thayer. Mr. Thayer was from Livingston County, State of New York, and was a carpenter by trade. He was from an old American family and moved to Michigan in 1850, settling in Vicksburg, Kalamazoo County, and later on a farm near this place. In 1875 he came to Iowa and settled in Valley Township, Pottawattamie County, where he died, in January, 1880, at the age of sixty-nine years. His widow still lives in Vicksburg, Michigan. Mrs. Thayer is a member of the Congregational Church. Mr. Thayer was much respected as a citizen. He had a good education, was well read, and sometimes contributed articles to the newspapers. He held the office of Justice of the Peace for many years, and was also Township Commissioner, and was a man of intelligence and active temperament, and was an honorable man. Mr. and Mrs. Thayer were the parents of two children: Fairfield and Loretta. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. McMaster lived in Schoolcraft, Michigan, until 1874, and Mr. McMaster followed his trade. They then moved to Iowa and settled on a farm in Audubon County, remaining there but two years, when they came to their present home in Pottawattamie County. In 1879 Mr. McMaster went to Cass County, and ran a large farm for six years, and then returned to his home in Pottawattamie County. Mr. and Mrs. McMaster are the parents of five children: Kate, Clara, Becton (deceased at two years), Bell and Walter. Mr. McMaster is a man who has the confidence of the community in which he lives. He is a Justice of the Peace, and socially is an Odd Fellow, and is a member of the G. A. R., of William Layton Post, No. 358, Oakland. In politics he is a stanch Democrat. He has an honorable record as a soldier and citizen, and has always been a law-abiding and moral man. He is temperate in his habits and is interested in the cause of temperance. His children and descendants will reverence his noble record as a soldier. Mr. McMaster is secretary of the Woman's Relief Corps of Oakland, Iowa, an auxiliary of the G. A. R. Their daughter Kate married Elmer Lambert, and they have two children: Libbie and Alderman. Mr. Lambert is a farmer in Woodbury county, Iowa; Clara married James Livingston, Jr., a butcher in Hancock. They have one child, Hugh.