Christopher G. Dunn Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1326-1327 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	CHRISTOPHER G. DUNN, of Farmer, Hanson county, was born in 
Winnebago county, Illinois, on the 3ISt of July, 1858, being a son of 
James and Elizabeth (Bigley) Dunn, of whose nine children seven are 
living, namely: Joseph, a resident of the city of Minneapolis, 
Minnesota; Christopher G., subject of this review; Mary, the wife of 
Peter Harris, of Vancouver, British Columbia; Spencer J., a resident of 
Hanson county, this state; Thomas, who resides in Helena, Montana; 
Elizabeth, the wife of Patrick Curry, of Hanson county; and Daniel, who 
is likewise a resident of this county. The father of our subject was 
born in County Meade, Ireland, in 1829, and was there reared to the age 
of sixteen years, when he came to America to seek his fortunes, locating 
in Orange county, New York, where he remained for a number of years, 
within which time he was married. He finally removed to Winnebago 
county, Illinois, where he was engaged in farming for several years, 
thence removing to Huston county, Minnesota, where he continued to make 
his home until 1884, when he came to South Dakota and purchased a 
relinquishment claim in Hanson county, three and one-half miles 
northwest of the village of Farmer, and there he continued to be engaged 
in agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred in 1891. He was 
a consistent member of the Catholic church, as was also his wife, who 
passed away in 1872. 

	Christopher C. Dunn remained at the parental home until he had 
attained his legal majority, while his educational advantages were such 
as were afforded by the public schools. At the age of twenty-one he 
inaugurated his independent career, securing work on a farm. In the 
spring of 1881 he came west to carve out a career for himself and to 
gain such a measure of success as was within his power. He located in 
Hanson county, this state, where he took up a preemption claim of one 
hundred and sixty acres, in what is now Spring Lake township, while in 
December of the same year he also took up a homestead claim in Edgerton 
township. He thereafter continued to be actively and successfully 
engaged in farming and in the breeding and raising of horses for sixteen 
years, within which time the wisdom of his choice of location had been 
amply justified. In the spring of 1899 Mr. Dunn took up his residence in 
the village of Farmer, where he engaged in the buying and shipping of 
grain, while for two years he also bought and shipped live stock upon an 
extensive scale, then abandoning this branch of the enterprise. In 1900 
he erected a modern and commodious grain elevator, which affords the 
best of facilities, and he is now one of the most extensive and 
successful grain dealers in this section of the state. In 1901 Mr. Dunn 
erected the Farmer Hotel, a substantial and well-equipped building, and 
this he leased. He is a staunch advocate of the principles of the 
Democratic party, and in 1898 he was appointed clerk of the courts, in 
which capacity he served one year, while for several years he was 
incumbent of the office of supervisor of Spring Lake township. He served 
four years as justice of the peace, having been the first to be elected 
to this position after the organization of the township mentioned. His 
religious faith is that of the Catholic church, and fraternally he is 
identified with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Ancient Order of 
United Workmen. Mr. Dunn owns a half interest in the general mercantile 
business conducted under the firm name of Dunn, White & Company, while 
he also retains possession of a half section of valuable farming land, 
located one-half mile north of the village. He is a royal and public-
spirited citizen and well merits representation in this history.