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 UCIAN DUNBAR, one of the proprietors of
the Charleston Courier, is a native of this
town. He was born Nov. 4, 1842, and is
the son of Alexander P. and Susan F. (Mason)
Dunbar, his father, a native of Kentucky, born in
Flemingsburg, July 4, 1810, of Scotch ancestry,
and his mother, a native of Harrisburg, Va., born
Nov. 23, 1812, of English ancestry. They were
married at Shelbyville, Ill., in 1836. Prior to his
marriage with the mother, of our subject, Alexander
Dunbar had been married to Miss Ella Monroe, of
Charleston, who lived but a short time after her
marriage. She was a sister of Mrs. T. G. Chambers
and John Monroe. The parents of our subject
had a family of four sons and four daughters,
namely, Mason A., Mary E., Imogene, Lucian,
Albert P., Belle, Charles U. and Sue. Of these but
three are living: Mary E., now Mrs. Lawrence, of
Charleston, Ill.; Charles, also a resident of Charleston, and Lucian, of our sketch. The parents died
in 1883, the mother on the 22d of February, and
the father on the 22d of April. Lucian Dunbar began attending school at an early age, and when thirteen years old entered the office of the Charleston Courier to learn the printer’s trade. He remained there four years and then for a time engaged as a compositor on the Gazette, in Mattoon. Subsequently he returned to Charleston, and afterward visited the cities of Terre Haute, St. Louis, and Sullivan, Ill., occupying himself at his trade. In the latter place he engaged with the Express for a year, and then returning to Charleston purchased, in company with his brother Albert, the Plaindealer, becoming its proprietor in 1866. They continued the publication of the paper until the death of his brother in 1875, and for three years following Mr. D. conducted it alone. In 1878 he sold out to M. A. McConnell & Co., and for two years afterward was engaged in the grocery business. He seemed out of his element, however, in this branch of the business world, and finally returned to the “art preservative.” Mr. Dunbar was married, Oct. 27, 1875, to Miss Mary L., daughter of David L. and Elvira (Sites) Stowers, of Kentucky, the wedding taking place at the home of the bride’s grandfather at Palmyra, Mo., the parents of Mrs. D. being dead. The four children born of this union are, Imogene, Stowers, Cadet and Christina, all at home. Mr. Dunbar is liberal in his religious views, and in politics, strongly Democratic. He has held the office of City Treasurer two terms, and his paper has become one of the indispensable features of his town. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, being a member of Charleston Lodge No. 35, and is also a K. of P., identified with Syracuse Lodge No. 143. He stands high in both societies, and as a business man and citizen, enjoys the unqualified respect of his fellow-townsmen. |
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