H. A. Dunham Biography


	This biography appears on pages 903-904 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. I (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	H. A. DUNHAM. - A native of Newark, New Jersey, the subject of 
this review was born on the 18th of September, 1846, and is a son of S. 
H. and Dianthe (Alden) Dunham. The father was the owner of a rubber 
factory in the east and when his son was but six years of age he 
removed from New Jersey to Indiana, where he remained for six years. At 
the end of that time he went to Illinois, where he entered land from 
the government and began farming, carrying on agricultural pursuits 
until his death, which occurred in 1885. He had five children: Albur, 
who was killed at Bowling Green, Kentucky, during the Civil war; 
Eugene, who is a veterinary surgeon; C. L., who was also a soldier of 
the Union army and now resides in Iowa; and Hersey, who is the wife of 
Ed. Alden, of Cleveland, Ohio.  

	H. A. Dunham continued under the parental roof until fourteen 
years of age, when he left home and became a sailor, following the sea 
for five years, during which time he visited many foreign ports. Within 
that period he also gained a knowledge of the coopering business and 
followed that pursuit for two years in Yankton, South Dakota. He was 
married in 1867 to Mrs. Jane Grant, of Randeau county. and the 
following year came to this state. He secured a homestead in Yankton 
county, on which he still resides and his time and energies have been 
devoted unsuccessfully to agricultural pursuits. His wife had been 
previously married and by the first union had a daughter, who is now 
the wife of James Ewing, a prominent farmer of Yankton county. Unto Mr. 
and Mrs. Dunham have been born four daughters and a son: Hersey, who is 
the wife of Ezra Willis and resides in the Black Hills; Cora, the wife 
of William McNichols, a farmer of Yankton county; Anna, who lives at 
home; Hiram, who is married and is engaged in farming: and Grace, the 
wife of Nels Anderson, a resident farmer of this county. In 1893 the 
family were called upon to mourn the loss of the wife and mother, who 
was a most estimable lady, her loss being deeply deplored not only by 
her husband and children, but also by many friends.  

	Throughout an active business career Mr. Dunham has engaged in 
agricultural pursuits and is now the owner of a valuable farm of three 
hundred and twenty acres, on which he has placed splendid improvements. 
He gives his attention more largely to the raising of stock than to the 
cultivation of grain and through his active and energetic efforts in 
this line he has won very desirable prosperity. In politics he is a 
Republican and he is connected with the Improved Order of Red Men. In 
friendship he is faithful, in citizenship loyal and to his family he is 
most devoted. His business affairs have ever been conducted honorably 
and he is today one who well merits the confidence and esteem in which 
he is uniformly held. Mr. Dunham is in his religious belief a free 
thinker.