Dunn, John R.

DUNN

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 14:32:13

History of Warren County, Iowa; Containing a History of the County, Its Cities, Towns & Etc., by Union Historical Company, 1879, p.635
DUNN, JOHN R., farmer and stock raiser, Belmont Township, Sec. 18; P. O. Milo; born August 28, 1830, in Green county, Ohio; came to Warren county, Indianna, 1831, and to Green county, Wisconsin, in 1845; was educated in common schools; came to this county in 1859, and settled on his present farm in 1864; when he came to this State he had nothing; what he has he has made by honest, hard labor; has been town trustee, and taken great interest in educational matters; has been a strong advocate of the cause of temperance, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church; was married March 26, 1857, to Emma, daughter of Pleasant Thomas, of North Carolina, who died July, 1869, and left six children: Virginia A., Florence D., Thomas J., Charles P., Wallace B. and Alonzo; Florence D. died at eight years of age; married again June 21, 1872, to Mary E. Burson.

JOHN R. DUNN
born Aug 30, 1830, Ohio
J. R. Dunn is one of the honored pioneers of Warren county, and a devout Christian gentleman, who is throughout the community as one of the faithful laborers in the Lord's vineyard, furnishing an example to others well worthy of emulation. He was born on his father's farm in Greene county, Ohio, August 30, 1830; being the eldest of the seven children of Thomas and Hester (Benson) Dunn. The former was a native of Virginia, born in March, 1806. In 1831 he removed with his family to Warren county, Indiana. There thirteen years later his wife died, leaving him with a family of little children. Subsequently he wedded Miss Cynthia Berry, a native of Ohio. During the greater part of his life he carried on agricultural pursuits. In 1845 he determined to make his home in Green county, Wisconsin, then a wild and unimproved region, where he entered land from the Government, building a log cabin from timber which he cut on the place. His family numbered fourteen children, there being five survivors of the first marriage and five of the second. In order of birth they are as follows: J. R., of this sketch; Louise J., widow of James Grant, of Colorado; Emeline Rebecca, widow of Daniel Miller, and a resident of Indianola, Iowa; William C., of Adel, Dallas county, Iowa; Charles W., of Warren county; Maggie, wife of Mr. Thornton, a well-known and properous merchant of Adel; Martin L., who resides in Dallas county; Sylvester S., a farmer of Nodaway county, Missouri; Frank, a minister of the Methodist Church, now located at Churdan, Iowa; Baldwin, who is living with his brother Frank. The father of this family died in Dallas county, Iowa in February, 1885. Our subject spent his early childhood in Warren county, Indiana and under the instruction of Henry C. Benson began his education in a log school house with slab seats and other primitive furniture. After the removal of the family to Wisconsin he again attended school, but the privileges of a pioneer region are not the best. He has, however, largely added to his store of knowledge by experience and observation and is now well informed. Mr. Dunn gave his father the benefit of his services and remained under the parental roof until his marriage to Miss Emily Thomas, the wedding being celebrated in the Methodist church in Warren county, Indiana in March, 1857. To them were born the following named children: Virginia A., who was born March 29, 1858, and is the wife of William Shaw, a merchant of Milo; Florence D., who was born December 26, 1859 and died August 22, 1868; Thomas J., who was born May 9, 1862 and is living in Los Angeles, California; Charles P., who was born February 9, 1864, and is living in Squaw township, Warren county; Wallace, who was born February 3, 1866, and is a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church; Alonzo, who was born September 3, 1868, and is engaged in mercantile pursuits in Milo. In 1859 Mr. Dunn came to Warren county, purchasing eighty acres of land in White Breast township. There he made his home until 1864, when he purchased eighty acres of land on section 18, Belmont township. The farm now comprises 200 acres and is well improved and under a high state of cultivation. He has witnessed almost the entire development of this region and has ever borne his part in the work of public improvement. His earnest and industrious labors have been blessed with a competence that has enabled him to provide his family with a comfortable home. On the 2d of July, 1869, Mr. Dunn was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, a most estimable lady, who was born in Tennessee, February 1, 1836. On the 18th of June, 1872, he wedded Miss Mary E. Burson, daughter of Cyrus Burson, and a native of Loudoun county, Virginia. They have one child, Iverson, who was born May 21, 1873, and is of great assistance to his father in the work of the farm, enabling Mr. Dunn to practically rest from all business cares in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former labors. Our subject votes with the Republican party on matters of State and national importance, but at local elections is not bound by ties. His first presidential vote was cast John C. Fremont. He has been a liberal contributor to all interests calculated to prove public benefit, and he and his family are faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a man of deep religious convictions and in early life became a laborer in the Master's vineyard. He afterward, however, went back to the world, but in 1857 was married, and through the influence of earnest Christian wife was again led back the fold. As the years have passed, he studied the Bible more and more and is devoting his life and service to the cause Christianity. Source: A Memorial and Biographical Record of Iowa, Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1896, vol.1, p.512