"JOHN DUNBAR, an active and enterprising farmer and stock-raiser, residing on section 1, Bloomington Township, was born in Marion County, Ohio, May 31, 1839.  His parents, Joseph and Mary (Kepner) Dunbar, were both natives of Pennsylvania.  To them were born fourteen children, named as follows -- Benjamin, Betsy, Mary, Sally, Maria, Catherine, Hattie, Jane, Robert, Joseph, William, Lewis, John and Wesley.  John Dunbar, the subject of this sketch, was reared to agricultural pursuits which he has always followed, and in his youth he attended the district schools.  In 1860 he came to Decatur County, where he improved a farm, which he afterward sold, and purchased the farm where he now resides.  In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company I, Thirty-fourth Iowa Infantry, and participated in the battles of Chickasaw Bluffs, Vicksburg, Mississippi, Red River, Fort Morgan, Alabama, Arkansas Post, Fort Esparanza and Fort Gaines, Alabama.  He received an honorable discharge at Davenport, Iowa, September 15, 1865, when he returned to Decatur County.  May 5, 1868, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Rauch, a daughter of Anthony and Betsy Rauch.  They have four children -- Emma Frances, Laura Etta, Walter Edwin and Warren Anthony.  Mr. Dunbar's farm contains 160 acres of highly-cultivated land, well improved, and in connection with his farming pursuits he is engaged in raising and feeding stock.  He has one of the best farm residences in the township, built in a substantial manner, and surrounded with a grove of native trees.  He has a commodious barn, 32 x 40 feet, for his stock and grain.  In politics Mr. Dunbar affiliates with the Democratic party.  He is a member of Decatur Post, No. 110, G. A. R.  He is numbered among the representative citizens of Bloomington Township, where he takes an active interest in all enterprises for the good of the public.  He is giving his children the benefit of a good education."

(Submitted to the Decatur County GenWeb site by Christy Jay, email: Jaygenie@aol.com)