Reno County Biographies
"The History of Reno County, Vol. 2," Sheridan Ploughe, 1917
F. M. DUNN.
F. M. Dunn, one of the best-known and most progressive farmers of
Enterprise township, this county, proprietor of a fine farm of five hundred
and sixty acres in that township and former trustee of Enterprise township,
is a native of Iowa, but has lived in this county ever since he was brought
here as a baby in 1873 by his parents, who were among the very earliest
settlers of the west central part of Reno county, and may thus be properly
accounted as one of the pioneers of this county. He was born in Decatur
county, Iowa, August 20, 1871, son of John P. and Mary A. (Anderson)
Dunn, who later became pioneers of Reno county and are now living
comfortably retired in the pleasant village of Abbyville, this county.
John P. Dunn was born near the town of Somerset, Kentucky,
September 22, 1842, son of Martin and Emily (Acton) Dunn, both natives of
Kentucky, the former of whom was born in 1811 and the latter in 1816. Martin
Dunn sold his farm in Kentucky about 1852 and emigrated with his family
to Iowa, becoming a pioneer of Decatur county, that state. He had just
established his family there when his death occurred in 1853. His widow
kept the family together and survived for more than twenty years, her death
occurring on July 15, 1875. They were the parents of six children, Thomas,
John P., William, James, George W. and Elizabeth, who were reared in the
faith of the Methodist church.
John P. Dunn was about ten years old when his parents moved to Iowa
and he grew to manhood in that state. Being the second son in the family
he was of large assistance to his widowed mother in the work of developing
the home farm and became a very proficient farmer. On August 19, 1863,
he enlisted for service in the Union army in Company C, Ninth Iowa Cavalry,
with which he served for two years and seven months and with which he
was mustered out at the close of the war. Though he saw much active
service and was in numerous hot engagements he escaped without a wound.
Upon the completion of his military service, Mr. Dunn resumed his place on
the home farm in Iowa. In the spring of 1867 he married and in October,
1873, came with his family to Kansas, settling in Reno county, which had
been opened for settlement not long before that time, he thus being one of
the real pioneers of this county, and homesteaded one quarter of section 34
in Enterprise township, where he established his home. As he prospered in
his farming operations Mr. Dunn gradually added to his holdings until he
became the owner of five hundred and sixty acres and was regarded as one
of the most substantial farmers in that part of the county. In 1900 he
retired from the farm and moved to Abbyville, where he was engaged in the
mercantile business for four years, at the end of which time he returned
to the farm, but after a four-years further residence there again returned
to Abbyville. where he built a comfortable home and where he is now
living in pleasant retirement. He still retains two hundred and forty acres
of land in Enterprise township and a small tract of land adjoining the
village of Abbyville. Mr. Dunn is a Republican and for some years served
as treasurer of Enterprise township and for many years served as a member
of the school board. He and his wife are members of the Methodist church,
of which he was a steward and is now a trustee of the church, and their
children were reared in that faith.
It was on February 3, 1867 that John P. Dunn was united in marriage
to Mary A. Anderson, who was born on February 29, 1844, daughter of
William D. and Sarah Anderson, natives of North Carolina, the former of
whom was born on February 1, 1813, and the latter, November 24, 1812,
and to this union four children have been born, namely: G. W., born on
May 15, 1868; E. M., the immediate subject of this biographical sketch;
Pearl, December 26, 1878, who died on July 12, 1897, and Daisy M., March
24, 1883, who married Ernest Palmer.
F. M. Dunn was just past two years old when his parents came to Reno
county from Iowa and he grew to manhood on the homestead farm in
Enterprise township, where he is now living, and where he has spent all his life,
long having been regarded as one of the leading farmers and most
substantial citizens of that part of the county. He was educated in the common
schools of his home neighborhood and from early boyhood proved a
valuable assistant to his father in the development of the home farm. In 1896
he married, continuing to make his home on the homestead farm and is now
the owner of the same, owning not only the original quarter section but
enough adjacent land to comprise a well-improved and profitable farm of
five hundred and sixty acres. Mr. Dunn is a Republican and has long given
his earnest attention to local civic affairs, having served for some time as
trustee of his home township and in other ways contributed of his services
to the common good thereabout.
On January 8, 1896, F. M. Dunn was united in marriage to Cora Crow,
who was born in the state of Missouri, daughter of William Crow, one of
the first men who traveled through Reno county on his way to the California
gold fields in 1849, and to this union have been born seven children, Flora,
Charles, Harry, Mary L. (died aged nine months), Carl, Darrel and Walter.
Mr. and Mrs. Dunn are members of the Abbyville Methodist Episcopal church
and take an active interest in all neighborhood good works. Mr. Dunn is
a member of the Odd Fellows lodge at Abbyville and a member of the
Woodmen of America, in the affairs of which organization he takes a warm
interest.
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