"History of Cottonwood and Watonwan Counties of Minnesota, 1916"



William Henry Dummett, a well known and well to do farmer of Lakeside township, Cottonwood county, chairman of the board of supervisors of that township and proprietor of a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres in the vicinity of Bingham lake, is a native of Iowa, born on a pioneer farm in Franklin township, O'Brien county, that state, February 26, 1878, son of William Henry and Mary E. (Daily) Dummett, the former a native of the state of New Jersey and the latter of Ireland, she having come to this country with her parents as a child.

The senior William H. Dummett was born in 1841, son of Henry J. and Christina (Westkett) Dummett, the former a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1809, who was a glass-blower by trade. Later he moved to Ohio and still later, in 1856, moved with his family to Iowa, which then was being rapidly opened to settlement, and settled on a farm in Benton county, where he spent the rest of his life. He and his wife were the parents of eleven children, of whom but two are now living. William H. Dummett, father of the subject of this sketch, was about fifteen years old when his parents settled in Iowa and there he grew to manhood. When the Civil War broke out he enlisted in Company H, Sixth Iowa Cavalry, and served under that command until he was mustered out at Sioux City, Iowa, October 17, 1865. Although Mr. Dummett participated in many hard-fought battles and underwent many trying experiences, he came through the war unwounded and with health unimpaired. At the close of the war he returned to his home in Benton county, Iowa, and there, in 1869, was married. In 1871 he and his wife moved up into the northwestern part of Iowa and settled in O'Brien county. There, in Franklin township, he homesteaded a quarter of a section of land and established his home, later increasing his farm to two hundred and eighty acres and spending the rest of his life there, his death occurring in 1915. He was a Republican, an enthusiastic member of the Grand Army of the Republic and he and his family were supporters of the Methodist Episcopal church. He and his wife were the parents of ten children, of whom five still survive, namely: Mary E., who married Frank Merrill and lives in Iowa; Sarah, who married William Brahan and also lives in Iowa; Elmer B., who lives in Iowa; William H., the subject of this sketch, and George, who is also a resident of Minnesota.

The junior William H. Dummett was reared on the pioneer farm in O'Brien county, Iowa, receiving his schooling in the district schools in the neighborhood of his home and as a young man started farming there on his own account. In 1902 he married and established his home in his native county, where he continued to live until 1909, in which year he disposed of his interests there and came to Minnesota, settling in Cottonwood county. He bought a quarter of a section of land in Lakeside township and there has made his home ever since. The place was but partially improved when Mr. Dummett took possession and he has erected new buildings and otherwise improved the farm, bringing it up to a high standard of cultivation. In addition to his general farming he has given considerable attention to the raising of high grade live stock and has done well with his shorthorn cattle and Chester White hogs. Mr. Dummett is a Republican and since coming to this state has given his thoughtful attention to political affairs. He served as a member of the school board for three years and is now serving as chairman of the board of supervisors in Lakeside township.

In 1902, in O'Brien county, Iowa, William H. Dummett was united in marriage to Bertha May DuBois and to this union four children have been born, Forrest Wayne, Averil, Doris and Berdine. Mr. and Mrs. Dummett take a proper part in the general good words of their community and are ever ready to promote such movements as are designed to advance the common weal hereabout. Mr. Dummett holds membership in the Modern Woodmen of America, the Yeomen and the Modern Brotherhood of America, in the affairs of all of which organizations he takes a warm interest.