JOHN BUNN, fifth son of James Bunn and Mary A[nn] Seabrook, was born 2 January 1850 in Berkhampstead, Staffordshire, England, and came to this country while an infant, with his parents;  was educated in country schools, and was a carpenter in early life, has been a farmer, insurance agent and merchant.  He built the first house in Ida Grove, Iowa,  and many rural school houses in Ida  and Cherokee Counties, of that state; purchased 40 acres of land in Ida County, at $4.80 per acre, and engaged in farming for a time; moved from this farm to Washta, Cherokee County, in 1917; was at one time mayor of Washta, and carries a bullet in his neck, received while in discharge of his duty. He was County Supervisor of Ida County about six years and of Cherokee County nine years; was a hardware and machinery merchant, and long served as justice of the peace; has built two homes, and purchased his present residence in Cherokee.  He has been a member of the I.O.O.F., since 1889; joined the order at Holstein, Iowa; transfered [sic] to Quimby, Iowa; is a charter member and first Noble Grand of Spruce Lodge, No. 284 of Washta, where he still retains membership; is a member of Cherokee Encampment, No. 147.  In the great blizzard of January 1888, Mr. Bunn had a memorable experience, becoming lost on the way from his place of business at Washta to his home in Ida County; he was accompanied by a neighbor, riding in a sleigh which was followed by a dog; fortunately, they came in contact with a haystack, and men and dog found some protection under the hay; the warmth of the dog's body kept the men's feet from freezing and, by using their fists on each other they kept awake and thus escaped from fatal freezing.  Mr. Bunn married 17 February 1874 near Worthington, Dubuque County, Iowa, Rebecca Parrott, daughter of Leven and Cornelia (Shawhan) Parrott now deceased.