WILLIAM T. DUNN. This gentleman is recognized as a leading stock_raiser of this county, being one of the first who introduced the famous Holstein cattle into this section, in the breeding of which he is largely interested, and has at the head of his herd "Tim Tulan" and "Fenelon,", both registered animals from the herd of George E. Brown & Co., of Aurora, and aged two and three years respectively. The farm of Mr. Dunn comprises 160 acres of valuable land, where he has all the buildings and appliances suitable to the requirements of adjuncts of this industry, and the rich pasturage forms a beautiful range for his herds. The farm is located on section 8, township 15, range 11, and although Mr. Dunn has only occupied it since 1884, he has effected many improvements, and there are few which excel it in its location and general value.
Our subject is a native of Illinois, having been born in Cass County, Feb. 24, 1850, and is the son of John and Caroline (Treadway) Dunn, both of whom are deceased, the father passing away in Cass County in October, 1875, at the age of sixty_four years. He had been a resident there for the long period of forty_one years, settling there when the country was mostly a wild prairie, and assisting in developing his township, where he was numbered among its most useful citizens.
The father of our subject was born in Cornwall County, England, where he lived until reaching man's estate, then came to America, and settling in Cass County, this State, was married to Miss Treadway, who was born in Ohio of American parents, the name of her father being Edward Treadway. The Treadway family lived for many years in the Miami Valley, whence they removed to Illinois about 1837, and spent their last years in Cass County. Mrs. Caroline Dunn, after the death of her husband, retained the homestead until about two years before her decease, then went to live with her daughter, Mrs. Mary Paschal, of this county, where she spent her last days and died in 1887, at the age of seventy_three years; both she and her husband had been active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church from the time of uniting with it in 1858.
Our subject was the next to the youngest of the nine children born to his parents, four of whom are living, the three besides himself making their homes in Cass County, this State. He was reared and educated in his native county, and remained a member of his father's household until twenty_five years old. He was then married to Miss Matilda Chalfant, who was born in Beardstown, this State, March 12, 1856. Her parents were Thomas and Ann (Norton) Chalfant, natives of Wheeling, W. Va., who came to Illinois in their youth, and formed, in Beardstown, the acquaintance which resulted in their marriage. Mrs. Chalfant died in Cass County in the spring of 1878, at the age of forty_one years. She was taken away very suddenly with neuralgia of the heart. Mr. Chalfant still resides in Beardstown, where he is employed as a pattern maker, wagon_maker, and general mechanic, and is now about sixty_six years old.
Mrs. Dunn was given a good education, being graduated from the high school at Beardstown, and afterward occupied herself as a teacher some time before her marriage. The two children born to our subject and his estimable wife, a son and a daughter, John and Alice, died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Dunn are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which our subject officiates as Steward, and in politics he upholds the principles of the Republican party.