My Genealogy Hound

JAMES DUNLAP. Honored and respected, with his eighty-five years resting very lightly upon him, the venerable James Dunlap, a retired farmer of Cumberland county, is living at Newville, Pa., surrounded by the comforts provided by ample means, and enjoying a well-earned peace, although he still retains his interest in some of his business affairs, and is a director of the First National Bank of Newville.

The Dunlap family is of Scotch-Irish extraction, and the original American ancestor settled near Princeton, N. J. John Dunlap, grandfather of James, married a Miss Armstrong.

William Dunlap, son of John and father of James, was born in Upper Allen township, this county, in 1781, and he died in 1826, in his forty-fifth year. He was an enterprising farmer, and was a successful man. His religious relations were with the United Presbyterian Church, of which his wife was also a devout member. His wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Sproat, was born in Penn township, Cumberland county, in 1785, daughter of William Sproat, one of the earlier settlers of Cumberland county, and she died in 1839, and was buried in the new cemetery northwest of Newville. After their marriage, William Dunlap and wife settled on a farm in Upper Allen township, where he resided for a few years, then moved to Penn township, and purchased a farm of 300 acres, becoming one of the most prosperous men of that township. This farm was formerly the property of his wife’s grandfather, John Sproat, who in 1763 purchased the warrant from a Mr. Robinson, and had it patented. He and his wife became the parents of six children: John S., deceased; William, deceased; Sarah Ann, also deceased; James; Isabel, and Miss Nancy E., the last named a resident of Newville.

James Dunlap, our venerable subject, was born in Penn township, Feb. 20, 1819. He spent his youth upon the farm, and attended the pay school at Palmstown, afterward the free school, but as his father died when the lad was only seven years of age, he was deprived of his care and advice. He remained upon the farm with his mother until his twentieth year, when he began farming on his own account, on the homestead. After his marriage he continued to reside upon the homestead, which later on he bought from his brothers and sisters, and he added to this farm until he had 200 acres. Upon this property were good buildings, which he kept in excellent repair, and engaged actively in farming, stock raising and wheat raising. He continued to reside upon this farm until 1887, when he removed to Newville which has since been his home.

In 1846 Mr. Dunlap married Lucetta Hays, who was born in 1825, daughter of Patrick and Margaret (Mickey) Hays, and the following children were born to this union: William S., a successful farmer in Cumberland county; Robert, a farmer of West Pennsboro township; J. Armstrong, a farmer and resident of Newton township; Fred S., on the old homestead in Penn township; J. Wallace, at home; Margaret, who married William H. McCullough, and resides in West Pennsboro township; and Lillie B., at home.

Mr. Dunlap is a Republican, but while always taking a lively interest in good government, never sought office. He is a director, as before stated, in the First National Bank at Newville. Mrs. Dunlap passed away in April, 1903, in her seventy-ninth year. She was a devoted wife and mother, and a consistent member of the United Presbyterian Church, of which Mr. Dunlap himself has been a member for a number of years, and has served as trustee for the past ten years. By close observation of the rules of health, and being temperate in his habits, he has reached his present age, in possession of all his faculties, and is a fine representative of the vigorous, enterprising, men of his time. He is well read upon general subjects, and keeps pace with the present strenuous age.