Ford County IL Archives Biographies.....Dunn, Richard November 14, 1840 - 
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Norma Hass http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00013.html#0003021 February 25, 2017, 9:51 pm

Source: History of Ford County, Illinois : from its earliest settlement to 1908, volume 2, pages 698-700
Author: Gardner, Ernest Arthur

Richard Dunn is a well known and worthy representative of the farming 
interests of Brenton township and now derives his income from a good property 
of four hundred and fifteen acres on sections 9, 10, 15 and 16. He is also 
well known as a dealer in live stock and this has added materially to his 
success.

Mr. Dunn was born in Warren county, Illinois, November 14, 1840, and is a son 
of Joseph and Mary Dunn, the former a native of Maryland and the latter of 
Kentucky. They came to Illinois in 1837 and cast in their lot with the pioneer 
settlers of Warren county, where the father entered land from the government 
and began the development of a new farm, living in the style of those who 
established homes upon the frontier. There he continued until 1866, when he 
sold the property in Warren county and removed to Ford county, investing here 
in four hundred acres of land on section 15, Brenton township. The place was 
at that time a tract of wild prairie but with characteristic energy he began 
its development and brought the fields under a high state of cultivation. He 
lived upon the farm for about seven years and then sold out, removing to 
Nebraska in 1873. Again he invested in four hundred acres of land and upon the 
farm which he there cultivated made his home until his death. The mother of 
our subject had passed away in Warren county, Illinois. They were the parents 
of nine children, of whom six are yet living; Sarah J., now the wife of N. 
Ward of Oklahoma; Richard, of this review; Julia Ann, the widow of Robert 
Wilson of this county; George, living in Kansas; Joseph, whose home is in 
Texas; and James, of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Those deceased are William, who 
was the sixth in order of birth, and Harry and Mary, who were the youngest 
members of the family.

Richard Dunn was reared upon the home farm in Warren county amid the wild 
scenes of the frontier, sharing with the family in all the hardships and 
privations incident to pioneer life and aiding in the arduous task of 
developing a new farm. He attended the common schools and continued to assist 
his father in the work of the fields until twenty-two years of age, when he 
began farming on his own account, purchasing eighty acres of land in Warren 
county, which he cultivated for a year. He then rented that place and took a 
trip to California, going by way of New York and the water route. He spent 
three years on the Pacific coast as stage driver for the Pioneer Company but 
preferring the middle west as a place of residence he returned to Warren 
county, Illinois, in 1866, and again took up the cultivation of the farm which 
he had there purchased. For three years he continued its further improvement 
and then sold out, after which he removed to Ford county and bought eighty 
acres of land. Upon this he located and as his financial resources increased 
he kept adding to his property from time to time until he now owns four 
hundred and fifteen acres, attractively and pleasantly situated on sections 9, 
10, 15 and 16, Brenton township. The fields indicate his careful supervision 
and practical methods, bringing forth rich crops which are a merited reward 
for his labor. He has also engaged quite extensively in raising and feeding 
stock, keeping an hand good grades and thus finding a ready sale for his stock 
on the market.

In 1864 Mr. Dunn was united in marriage to Miss Martha E. Poe, who was born in 
Wisconsin in 1848, a daughter of William Poe and a member of a family of six 
children. By her marriage she has also become the mother of six children who 
are yet living: William H., the eldest, left home six years ago and has not 
been heard from since that time. Fred, at home, is a graduate of the Davenport 
College. He belongs to the Masonic lodge at Piper City and is well known and 
respected throughout the community. His time is given to general agricultural 
pursuits and he owns eighty acres of land on section 9, Brenton township. He 
married Miss Mable King of Rock Island, Illinois, from whom he has since 
secured a legal separation. They had two children, James Richard Joseph, who 
is with the father, and Lula May, who is with the mother. Lula M. Dunn, the 
third member of the family of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Dunn is also a graduate of 
Davenport College and is at home. Herman is married and lives in Ford county. 
Joseph is a dentist practicing in Chicago. Lillian Belle is studying music and 
makes her home with her parents.

The cause of education has ever found in Mr. Dunn a stalwart champion and he 
has done effective work for the schools of his neighborhood during twenty-four 
years of service as school director. He belongs to the Masonic lodge at Piper 
City and also to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He supports and attends 
the Presbyterian church and his influence is ever on the side of those 
interests and movements which tend to promote educational, material political 
and moral progress. His worth as a man and citizen are widely acknowledged and 
in his business life he has shown how forceful are the qualities of diligence 
and perseverance when supplemented by sound judgment. His prosperity is due to 
these sterling traits of character and in all of his undertakings he has been 
so straightforward that his name is largely a synonym for business integrity 
to those who know him.

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