DUNN, A. M. - 1914

DUNN, GRACE, FOWLES, ELLSWORTH, STEVENS, BAXTER, SNELL, MCCURRY, WYLIE

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 7/8/2009 at 17:47:12

HISTORY OF
Cherokee County
IOWA
VOLUME II
ILLUSTRATED
CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY
1914
by Thomas McCulla

A. M. DUNN.

In the thirtytwo years during which A. M. Dunn has lived upon his present farm on section 32, Spring township, he has transformed this place from a tract of raw land into a productive and valuable property, his individual success forming an important factor in the general agricultural development of the locality. He was born in Scott county, Iowa, March 31, 1849, an(i is a son of A. R. and Margaret G. (Grace) Dunn, the former born near Columbus, Ohio, of Irish ancestry, and the mother in New York, of Pennsylvania-Dutch extraction. Their marriage occurred at Davenport, Iowa, and the father purchased land in that vicinity, operating this until 1878, when he moved to the Pacific coast, dying in California in 1887. The old homestead in Davenport remained in the possession of the family until after the mothers death in 1908, when it was sold. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. A. R. Dunn: A. M., of this review; Alice, the wife of Alvin Fowles, of Galva, Iowa; J. D., who resides near Denver, Colorado; John D., of Cherokee county; A. R., Jr., who was accidentally killed; Greely, who died at the age of two; and Maggie, who passed away when she was three years of age.

A. M. Dunn acquired his education in a country school in Scott county and he learned practical agriculture by assisting his father with the work of the homestead. When he was twentythree years of age he began farming independently, renting land in Ida county, upon which he resided for three years. At the end of that time he bought a farm, which he occupied until 1881? when he came to Cherokee county. Here he purchased the northeast quarter of section 32, Spring township, and upon this property he has made his home since that time, the years bringing him constantly increasing success and prominence. When the land came into his possession it was entirely unimproved, but with characteristic energy Mr. Dunn broke the soil and began the work of cultivation. This he has carried forward along modern and progressive lines since that time and has today one of the best managed, best equipped and most productive farms in

this section of the county. He engages in stockraising on an extensive scale and has an enviable reputation as a fancier of horses, hogs and cattle.

On March 25, 1873, Mr. Dunn was united in marriage to Miss Delia Ellsworth, a daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Stevens) Ellsworth, natives of New York. The father was a veteran of the Civil war and was first cousin to the first man killed in that conflict. He enlisted in 1861 in Company C, Ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and after serving for three years reenlisted in the Seventh Iowa Cavalry, serving until the close of the war. After his second discharge he returned to Iowa, buying eighty acres of land near Washington, where he followed agricultural pursuits until he retired from active life. He lived in Cherokee county for a short time afterward and then moved to Minnesota, where his death occurred, when he was past the age of eighty. He and his wife became the parents of seven children: Delia, the wife of the subject of this review; Horace, of Kansas City, Missouri; Mary, who married E. W. Baxter, of Ains- worth, this state; and Charles, Albert, Daniel and George, who have passed away. Mr. and Mrs. Dunn have become the parents of eleven children: Nancy J., who was born in 1876 and who married E. H. Snell, of Cherokee county; Delbert, whose birth occurred in 1878 and who is now practicing law in White- tail, Montana; Wade, who was born in 1880 and who is a resident of Whitetail, Montana; Maud, the wife of C. E. McCurry, of Whitetail, Montana; Asa, whose birth occurred in 1884 and who now resides in Whitetail, Montana; Hazel, who was born in 1887 and who married Jesse Wylie, of Whitetail, Montana; Harry, who was born in 1889 and who died in 1891; Roy, who was born in 1891 and who also resides in Whitetail, Montana; Delia, who was born in 1893 and who is now engaged in teaching; Amzey, twin to Delia and also engaged in teaching; and Floyd, whose birth occurred in 1899.

Mr. Dunn is a progressive republican and has served as township clerk, as trustee and as a member of the school board. He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal chur.ch and he has been very active in religious work, for many years preaching Baptist and Methodist Episcopal doctrines. He is a man of exemplary character and is highly respected and esteemed in a community which has known him for more than thirty years.