Dunham, Leander B. 1853-1932

DUNHAM, SMITH, ARMSTRONG

Posted By: Paul Van Dyke-Volunteer
Date: 5/30/2012 at 22:34:50

Hawarden Independent (24 Mar 1932)

L.B. Dunham for more than sixty years a resident of this community, died last Friday forenoon at the home, of his niece, Mrs. J.A, Armstrong, four miles northwest of town. He had been in gradually declining health for the past two to three years and since early last October had been confined to his bed a large part of the time although suffering but little physical discomfort. The day preceding his death he celebrated his 79tbirthday and was up and dressed and about the house a greater part of the day, enjoying the company of Eben Ensign an old time friend who spent the day with him. During Thursday night he was taken acutely ill. And a physician was summoned who succeeded in easing his pain. When Mrs. Armstrong went to his room about 8:30 Friday morning he appeared to be sleeping soundly but an hour or so later when she again went to his room he had passed on. Funeral services were held at the Barnard Funeral Home at 2 o’clock Monday afternoon conducted by Rev. R.J. Cornell, pastor of the Associated church and interment was made in Grace Hill cemetery.

Leander B. Dunham, son of John L and Fannie (Smith) Dunham, was the third in a family of eight children and the last surviving member of the family. He was born in Delaware County, Ohio, March 17, 1853. In 1868 he moved with his parents to Albion, Marshall County, Iowa, and in 1871 accompanied his older brother Thomas H. Dunham, to Sioux county and has been continuous resident of this community ever since. They first located on what is now the John Muth Jt. Farm, five miles south of Hawarden, which Thomas Dunham purchased from Alex Johnson. A part of the farm was acquired from Mr. Johnson in exchange for breaking prairie on other land owned by Mr. Johnson. Under the terms of the agreement, Thomas Durham was to receive $5.00 per acre for breaking but was obliged to take part of the pay in land, at a valuation of $2.50 per acres for the land. Thomas Dunham was elected sheriff of Sioux county in 1872 and in his younger brother L.B. Dunham remained on the farm and operated the place for a considerable number of years while Thomas Dunham was fulfilling his duties as sheriff at Orange City. Later L.B. Dunham acquired a farm in Buncombe Township, south of the mouth of the Rock River, where he lived for a number of years before disposing of it. There was plenty of free range in those days and his operating consisted more in herding cattle on the range than in actual farming operations.

About 1895 his mother, who had been left a widow a few years earlier moved from Albion to Hawarden and Mr. Dunham made a home for her until her death in 1906. After that he made his home with his sister, Mrs. O.D. Stone and family.