BIO: Horace B. DUNN, Huntingdon County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Denise Phillips Copyright 2006. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ********************************************************** __________________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley: Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, Pennsylvania, Containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers. Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897, pages 84-85. __________________________________________________________________ HORACE B. DUNN, district attorney, Huntingdon, Pa., was born in Huntingdon, January 7, 1858. He is the only son of the late David and Annie (Ferguson) Dunn. David Dunn was born in Morris township, Huntingdon county, July 4, 1820. His father, John Dunn, was a native of Ireland, and served valiantly in the United States army in the war of 1812. His mother was Catherine, daughter of Christian Harnish, one of the pioneers of Canoe valley. He had one brother, John Dunn, and one sister, Mary A. Dunn, both now deceased. His father dying when he was only eight years of age, and his mother being poor, he was early thrown upon his own resources. For a few years he taught school in different parts of the county, after which he was clerk in the store of Major William Moore at Manor Hill. Following this he for a number of years connected with the management of Colerain Forges, Rock Hill Furnace and Aetna Furnace. While at Rock Hill he became acquainted with Miss Annie Ferguson, youngest daughter of David Ferguson, a pioneer settler of Path valley, Franklin county. She became his wife on the 25th day of September 1849. They had two children: Horace B, born January 7, 1858; Cora, born August 26, 1859, and died March 31, 1864. About 1853, Mr. Dunn removed to Huntingdon, and engaged in the general mercantile business at the old Cornpropst stand on the Pennsylvania Canal. He had for his partner at different times George Couch, Abraham Harnish and Alexander B. Cunningham. In 1862, he associated himself with Co. J. J. Lawrence, under the firm name of Dunn & Lawrence, in the business of mining and shipping Broad Top coal from their leased mines at Broad Top and Fair Play, continuing in this business until 1866. He next plunged into the wilderness of Clearfield county, manufacturing and shipping staves for the Cuban trade, which was his last active business venture. The last days of his life were chiefly spent in managing his farm in Walker township. For many years he was a ruling elder and Sabbath-school superintendent in the Reformed church of Huntingdon. He was an "Old Line Whig," and later an ardent Republican. His manner was aggressive and social and his character above reproach, and when he died on the 13th day of January, 1885, in his 65th year, the borough of Huntingdon lost one of its best citizens. Horace B. Dunn attended the public schools of Huntingdon and the Huntingdon Academy. In 1880 he began the study of law in the office of K. Allen Lovell, Esq., and as admitted to the Huntingdon county bar December 18, 1882, since which time he has been actively engaged in the practice of his profession. Mr. Dunn was chairman of the Republican county committee in 1884, '86 and '89. In 1889 he was elected a member of the borough council of Huntingdon, and was re-elected in 1892, serving six years. In January, 1894, he was appointed county solicitor by the county commissioners, and served in this capacity until January 4, 1897, when he entered upon his duties as district attorney of Huntingdon county, having been elected to that office on the Republican ticket at the preceding November election. He is resident attorney for the Mercantile Agency of R. G. Dun & Company, and the Washington National Building and Loan Association. On May 30, 1888, Horace B. Dunn was married to Miss Clara A. Williams, of Portland, Mich. They have two sons: David and Robert W. He has been a member of the Reformed church ever since 1874.