My Genealogy Hound

W. S. DUNN, farmer; P. O. Jaysville; is the son of Isaac and Julia A. (McGrew) Dunn; he was a native of Kentucky, and of French descent; she was of Irish descent, and a native of Virginia; they were married in Butler Co., Ohio, and came to Darke Co. soon after the treaty of Fort Greenville, and were the first family that ventured into the wilderness west of Greenville after the war. Here the subject of this sketch was born in 1817, and here he lived until he was 16 years of age; then his parents removed to Randolph Co., Ind.; he remained with his parents until 21, then returned to Darke Co., and worked in the vicinity of Coal Town about three years and partially learned the wagon-maker’s trade. About this time, a little incident occurred which was the occasion of his changing his home. He was somewhat of a horse-trader, and made a trade with a Methodist preacher, in which he was badly cheated, and the youngsters of the neighborhood bored him so over being worsted by a preacher, that he straddled the horse and left that neighborhood, and never resided there afterward. He finished his apprenticeship at wagon-making in Palestine, and then went to Butler Co., and was married there in 1855 to Matilda, daughter of Isaac and Mary Watson. After his marriage, Mr. Dunn resumed farming, and has continued farming ever since, first renting, and, after five years he purchased a farm in Butler Co., where he remained until 1876, when he sold out in Butler Co. and purchased and removed to the farm in Sec. 13, Neave Township, where he now resides with his only son, who has charge of the farm. Mr. Dunn was one of a family of twelve children; his parents came into the wilderness of Darke Co. poor, and he had to depend upon himself entirely, and has made his property by his own exertions and management, never having received any legacy, except about $800, which his wife received from her parents. Her decease occurred in Butler Co. Nov. 16, 1874. They had two children—one still-born, and the other a son, Henry H. He was married to Susannah Young, of Preble Co., and now has charge of the home and farm. He has one child— Matilda.