J. M. Dunmire Biography


	This biography appears on pages 807-808 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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	J. M. DUNMIRE, who is one of the prominent farmers and stock growers 
of Bon Homme county, and who is serving with marked ability as a member of 
the board of county commissioners at the time of this writing, is a 
native of the fine old Buckeye state, having been born in Holmes 
county, Ohio, on the 19th of April, 1850, a son of Jacob and Rebecca 
(Snediker) Dunmire, of whose thirteen children eight are living at the 
present time. The father of the subject was born in Pennsylvania, where 
he was reared to maturity. He there learned the trade of shoemaker and 
as a young man he removed to Ohio, locating in Steubenville, as one of 
the pioneers of that section. After his marriage he removed, in 1831, 
to Holmes county, where he entered claim to eighty acres of land in the 
midst of the virgin forest, where he cleared and improved a farm. there 
retaining his residence until 1853, when he removed to Knox county, 
that state, where he purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, 
upon which he continued to reside until his death, which occurred in 
June, 1874, at which time he was seventy years of age. He was a staunch 
Democrat in politics, sincere and upright in all the relations of life, 
and he gained a position of independence through indefatigable labor as 
one of the sterling pioneers of a great commonwealth. His wife passed 
away in 1897 at the age of eighty years.  

	J. M. Dunmire, with whom this sketch has to do grew to manhood 
amidst the environments and conditions of the pioneer days in Ohio, 
early beginning to contribute his quota to the arduous work of the home 
farm and having such educational advantages as were afforded in the 
common schools of the locality. As he was the youngest of the living 
children the responsibility of caring for and aiding his parents fell 
upon his shoulders and he thus remained on the old homestead until the 
death of his honored father, conducting the farm on shares after 
attaining his twentieth year. In 1875 he sold his interest in the 
estate to his brother Isaac and came west to Iowa, remaining one year 
in Mahaska county and then removing to Jasper county, where he became 
the owner of a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres, upon which he 
continued to reside for sixteen years, developing the same into one of 
the most valuable properties in that section. In 1892 Mr. Dunmire 
disposed of this farm and removed to Dallas county, that state, where 
he acquired three hundred and twenty acres of land, to whose 
cultivation he gave his attention until 1901, when he disposed of the 
property and came to Bon Homme county, South Dakota, where he is now 
the owner of a valuable and well improved landed estate of five hundred 
and seventy-five acres, the entire tract being available for 
cultivation and of the utmost fertility. He has, however, given his 
attention more particularly to shorthorn cattle and general live stock, 
being one of the successful and extensive stock growers of this section 
and having shown marked discrimination and executive ability in his 
operations. He received only five hundred dollars from his father's 
estate, and the gratifying prosperity which he today enjoys, as one of 
the leading farmers and stock raisers of Bon Homme county, represents 
the results of his own efforts. While a resident of Jasper county, 
Iowa, Mr. Dunmire served three terms as county assessor, and for 
fourteen years he was a member of the directorate of the Farmers' 
Mutual Insurance Company, of that county, and for an equal period a 
prominent member of the agricultural society of the county. While a 
resident of Dallas county, that state, he served for six years as vice-
president of the Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company, later was one of 
the adjusters and served one year as president In the autumn of 1902 
Mr. Dunmire was elected a member of the board of county commissioners 
of Bon Homme county, in which capacity he is rendering most excellent 
service to the people of the county, being an advocate of public 
improvements and of a progressive policy in directing the affairs of 
the county. Id earlier years he was a Democrat in politics, but he, has 
ever had the courage of his convictions and has recently changed his 
political views in quite a radical way. At the time of his nomination 
for his present office the question as to his political allegiance was 
brought up, and he refused to accept the nomination unless it was 
accorded without restrictions and conditions, and his election 
testifies to the confidence reposed in him by the voters of the county, 
while his constant aim is to serve all the people, without regard to 
political affiliations. He has never been ambitious for office, and 
such preferment as he has received has come without solicitation on his 
part. He has served many years, at different times, as a member of the 
school board, and has ever shown himself to be a loyal and public-
spirited citizen. He and his wife are members of the Methodist 
Episcopal church, and he is at the present time a member of the board 
of trustees of the church in Scotland. Fraternally he is identified 
with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.  

	In November, 1873, Mr. Dunmire was united in marriage to Miss 
Hannah E. Ruby, of Knox county, Ohio, and of their six children all are 
living save one, Mary Alice, who died in infancy. George M. is a 
resident of Clark county, Iowa; Cora E. is the wife of J. E. Boot, of 
Hutchinson county, South Dakota; Rebecca is the wife of R. W. Anderson, 
of Des Moines, Iowa; Margaret, who is the wife of Walter A. Wickham, of 
Des Moines, Iowa; and Kirby M., who remains at the parental home.