DAY DUNNING

DUNNING, STYLES STILES, KELLER

Posted By: Sharon R. Becker (email)
Date: 11/17/2008 at 09:50:34

DAY DUNNING

Biographical and Historical Record of Ringgold and Decatur Counties, Iowa
Lewis Publishing Company, 1887. pp. 258 - 259.

"Day DUNNING, cashier of the Citizens' Bank, at Mt. Ayr, is a native of Cass County, Michigan, born October 15, 1849, a son of Barton B. and S. L. (Styles) Dunning, the father born in Erie County, New York, April 3, 1808, and the mother a native of Massachusetts. They were married in Indiana, and to them were born four sons - Walter, Frank, Day and Charles B., of whom Charles B. is deceased.

Barton B. Dunning, father of our subject, passed his youth in his native State, where he was reared to agricultural pursuits, and when a young man he went with his parents to Michigan, where he improved a large farm. He learned the cooper's trade, which he followed in Michigan, and subsequently removed his business to Chicago, Illinois, where he engaged in the manufacture of barrels.

He was one of the early settlers of Ringgold County, bringing his family here in the spring of 1855, before Mt. Ayr was laid out. He was the first merchant in Mt. Ayr, bringing his first goods from Keokuk, Iowa, and in connection with his mercantile business he dealt in real estate and carried on farming and stock raising.

He was one of the most active and enterprising citizens of Mt. Ayr, and was one who helped to give the town an early impetus. He died in Mt. Ayr in 1877. His widow still survives. Day Dunning, whose name heads this sketch, was quite young when he was brought by his parents to Mt. Ayr, and there he was reared, receiving his education in the schools of Mt. Ayr.

At the age of eighteen he began farming and dealing in stock under the direction of his father, and later left the farm and engaged in the mercantile business, in partnership with Andrew Ingram, with whom he was associated under the firm name of Ingram & Dunning for five years, when they disposed of their business.

Mr. Dunning was married in 1870 to Miss Paroda Keller, a daughter of I. W. Keller, and to this union have been born eight children.

In the fall of 1880, after the death of his brother, Charles B. Dunning, who had organized the Citizens' Bank at Mt. Ayr, in June, 1880, Day Dunning took charge of the business, and soon after became sole proprietor and cashier, and has since been doing a general banking business.

Mr. Dunning has served some time as city councilman, and is also a member of the School Board. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he has been trustee and steward for many years."

Submitted to the Ringgold County IAGenWeb Project by Christy Jay, email: Jaygenie@aol.com