My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of Jasper County, Missouri published by Mills & Company in 1883.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

* * * *

JOHN P. DUNLAP, post-office Nashville, Barton county. His farm consists of 120 acres of fine improved land, all from his own industry and good management. He is a native of Hamilton county, Ohio, born Nov. 11, 1844, being a son of John and Ann J. (Boyed) Dunlap, natives of Ireland, where they were reared and married, immigrating to America in 1882, settling in Hamilton county, Ohio. Her father died when she was quite young. In 1859 the family moved to Greene county, Ohio, locating on a farm, where the above subject was educated. He, in company with a brother, in 1863, immigrated to Champaign county, Ill., and engaged in farming. During the last year of the late war he responded to his country’s call. After being mustered out at Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 18, 1865, he returned to Champaign county, Ill., and farmed. In 1868 he purchased some 1,400 head of fine sheep and drove them to Fort Scott, Kan., and then south to the Arkansas River. The following winter the entire herd died. He then came to Jasper county, Mo., and located on his present farm and began the improvement of the same. He was married Oct. 18, 1871, to Miss Melissa Plymate, a native of Seymour, Ind., born March 9, 1855, being the daughter of O. J. and Amanda (Moore) Plymate. She, with her parents, in 1856 moved to Monroe county, Iowa; afterwards returned to Indiana, and after a lapse of three years again went to Iowa. During the late war her father was a member of Company C, Eighteenth Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He was a native of New York, and when quite young moved to Pennsylvania, where he grew to manhood and learned the carpenter’s trade. Afterwards went to Indiana and married her mother, and in 1868 with the family settled in Jasper county, Mo., he building the first bridge in the county. Mr. and Mrs. Dunlap settled where they now reside when it was wild, raw prairie in every direction. They have a family of five children, as follows: Carrie E., born May 18, 1872; Ora J., born April 6, 1874; Charles E., born May 10, 1876; Clarence R., born March 29, 1879; and Myrtle M., born April 17, 1881. Their farm is surrounded and subdivided by hedge fence, and some two acres devoted to fruit. The general improvements will compare with the average in the township.

* * * *

This family biography is one of more than 1,000 biographies included in The History of Jasper County, Missouri published in 1883.  For the complete description, click here: Jasper County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Jasper County, Missouri family biographies here: Jasper County, Missouri Biographies

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.