DOROTHY DAKAN SEDOSKY is admired and respected for her life-long commitment to the preservation of the history and genealogy of Marshall County and beyond. She is the leading authority on the history of Roseby's Rock, near Moundsville, where she was born and raised and still maintains her ancestral home. She is a tireless volunteer in numerous organizations, including the Marshall County Historical Society and the Daughters of the American Revolution. [PHOTO] - [PHOTO]

     The third child of George Bruce Dakan and Eliza Rosena Kull, Dorothy's family included two brothers, George Bruce, Jr. and Kenneth Eugene, and a sister, Dollye Lee. The children grew up in Roseby's Rock and attended the Methodist Episcopal Church there.

George & Eliza (Kull) Dakan with Dollye, Gene & Dorothy.
Gene served in WWII and was home on leave.

     In the History of Marshall County 1984, published by the Marshall County Historical Society, Dorothy submitted the following to describe her childhood in Roseby's Rock:

     "Growing up in Roseby's Rock was a wonderful experience, one that any child would enjoy. At one's fingertips every activity was available - swimming, sledding, ice skating, ice hockey and almost everyone engaged in the sport of baseball, softball or touch football. Hiking to the "Rock" or to the tunnel and over the hills and into the hollows where wildflowers and wildlife was abundant, was always a happy experience. But Roseby's Rock is a story in itself and in so short a space I could not adequately describe it and the wonderful people that I, my parents, grandparents and great-grandparents had the privilege of knowing and living in so close proximity."

     Dorothy's history of Roseby's Rock was also published in the 1984 history book:

ROSEBY'S ROCK

     A history of the Dakan Family, written by Dorothy, was submitted to this website and was also published in Lewis County West Virginia Her People and Places, edited by Joy Gilchrist-Stalnaker.

THE JOHN DAKAN FAMILY

     In a letter, dated March 2006, Dorothy provided additional information about her life in Marshall County. The following excerpts are from the letter:

     "Teachers of the Roseby's Rock Grade School had room and board at our home for six years of my elementary school years and one of my high school years. The teachers of our two-room school (had 2 basement areas, indoor plumbling and a small library) brought much pleasure, not only to our Dakan household but to the community, as well as our school and the children who needed special care."

     "I was a member of the 4-H club. The 4-H leaders were usually the teachers who directed us (among other things) through the plays that were well received by the community at monthly meetings. - Our 4-H club had a very good softball team. I was assigned to play either first base or short stop."

     "In those days, we always had a patriotic program on Armistice Day (Veterans' Day) and a very special Christmas program."

     "The teachers always opened school, after the Pledge to the flag, with devotions from the Bible.

     During recess and lunch time, we could play a game of soft ball which gave us extra practice and made us the 'winningest' team."

     "If there was snow, we would take our sleds to school if we stayed for lunch or [if we went home for lunch] we'd go back to school early and take advantage of a nice sled riding track adjacent to the school."

     "Roseby's Rock was a wonderful place to grow up. It was exciting to go on hikes into the woods in the spring and summer to gather wild flowers. - In the summer we swam in the Big Grave Creek. - In the fall we'd either hike to Bowman Ridge or Fork Ridge. Besides the fun in walking, we'd visit some relatives of my Wellman friends."

     "Other special hikes were to the famous rock and tunnel about two miles above Roseby (the tunnel, 2 miles). The "rock" is a huge boulder which is a landmark depicting where the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad drove their last spike for the completion of that railroad in 1852. - We were always proud of this magnificient fete and everyone held the B & O in high esteem, not only for their accomplishment but they continued to be wonderful P.R. people to all who lived on their railroad line."

     "It was a compliment to name our community for one of the foremen who led his men to the town with no name until that time - that was Roseby Carr. As time went on, it was said that in their celebration, the men probably said "Roseby Carr's Rock!" The celebration led to erroneously spelling ROSEBY with two Bs [ROSBBY'S], which is the carving on the 'Rock' - erroneously, as is also pointed out in the B & O Museum in Baltimore. - This hike was special when we couldn't sled ride on Roseby (or Bowman) hill or ice skate on Big Grave Creek."

     "During my high school, I worked in my aunt's store, Kull's Fashion Shop, during Saturdays before Christmas and Easter. One summer my aunt took a few days to visit her brother in Cuyahoga Falls and left me to manage the store by myself. It was in my junior year and quite an experience; she thought I did well! - I continued to work on Saturdays until after graduation, and simultaneuosly at C & P Telephone Company."

     Dorothy married Chester Sedosky and their children are:

Samuel Dakan m Rita Baker
Maxine Lee m Robert Wayson
John Lafferty m Deborah Kirker

DAKAN LINEAGE:
Joshua (Simon) Dakan m. Elizabeth Martin
John Martin Dakan b. 1826 m. Eliza Terrill (also Terrell)
Robert Gillispie Dakan b. 1861 m. Elizabeth Jane Lutes
George Bruce Dakan b. 1893 m. Eliza Rosina Kull
Dorothy Lynn Dakan

KULL LINEAGE:
John Kull b Germany m Rosena Fankhauser
Augustav Kull m Emma Rabel
Eliza Rosena Kull m George Bruce Dakan
Dorothy Lynn Dakan

EDUCATION:

Roseby's Rock Grade School, Grades 1-8

Moundsville High School - Graduate

West Liberty State College - Regents Degree, 1984

EMPLOYMENT:

Kull's Fashion Shop - Clerk

C. & P. Telephone Company

Marshall County Schools' Secretary - Retired from Center McMechen Grade School. Other schools: Limestone, 3 years; Parkview, 6 years; Summer School J. T. King, 3 years; McNinch Summer School, 5 years; Central School Headstart. When school was not in session, employed on summer paint crew for 4 years.

PUBLIC SERVICE & MEMBERSHIPS:

Marshall County Activities Development Authority - Current President; Past Secretary

Marshall County Democratic Executive Committee - 40 years

Marshall County Landmarks Commission

4-H Counselor at 4-H Camp

Kidney Foundation for Marshall County Drive

Girl Scout Leader

Pine & Petal Garden Club, 3 years

Moundsville Garden Club, 10 years

Business and Professional Women's Club

First Presbyterian Church, Moundsville - Sunday School Teacher; Past Deacons; Presently, Board of Deacons

Daughters of the American Revolution

Marshall County Historical Society - Current Board of Directors

Wheeling Area Genealogical Society

(Past) Western Square Dance classes; dances with Mound Squares of Marshall County

Adopt-A-Highway - Big Grave Creek - [PHOTO]

AWARDS:

Marshall County Historical Society HISTORY HERO - 2007

Dorothy (right) in Munich, Germany with friends, Louise, Naomi & Clarice.

Dorothy w/ picture drawn of Roseby's Rock; shown at Delf Norona Museum.

Dorothy and brother, George B. Dakan, Jr.
George died in February 2005.

DAKAN FAMILY BOOK

By Dorothy Dakan Sedosky

Titled, "Descendants of Simon & Elizabeth Martin Dakan," the book contains 472 pages, with an additional 83 pages in a section about Roseby's Rock, the village where Dorothy was born and raised, and where she still maintains the family homeplace.

The book is not the kind of genealogy book we often see today, that is nothing but names and dates. Rather, it reads more like a story, with an abundance of pictures and documents telling much of it.

Someone told Dorothy she should call the book, "Dorothy's Scrapbook." And it is very much like a scrapbook, with all the items carefully labeled and described.

The DAKAN book was quite obviously a labor of love for Dorothy and will be a wonderful resource for researchers of this family.

With a hard cover, the book is $63; $51 for soft cover. This price includes shipping.

Orders may be sent to:

Dorothy Dakan Sedosky
240 Curtis Avenue
Moundsville, WV 26041.