Joseph C. Dunbar Biography


	This biography is from "Memorial and biographical record; an illustrated
 	compendium of biography, containing a compendium of local biography,
	including biographical sketches of prominent old settlers and 
	representative citizens of South Dakota..." Published by G. A. Ogle & 
	Co., Chicago, 1899. Page 557

	Scan, OCR and editing by Maurice Krueger,mkrueger@iw.net, 1998. 

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JOSEPH C. DUNBAR. The one drawback to the farming interests of Brule 
county, South Dakota, is the scarcity of surface water, and on this 
account, after the raising of grain had proven unprofitable, many were 
hindered from engaging extensively in sheep or cattle raising. The 
county, however, put down several artesian wells, and water conveyed by 
a series of ditches to many farms has redeemed them for use as stock 
farms. But few of the early settlers in the poorly watered sections 
were able to keep their homes, and among the few who have remained and 
struggled through to see more prosperous conditions is the gentleman to 
whom we devote this review. He resides on section 23, in Tory Lake 
township, and is a well-known and highly respected citizen. 

Our subject was born in Carroll county, Iowa, October 16, 1855. In 1879 
he went to Illinois, where he worked for two years, and then removed to 
Iowa, remaining there until he located in Dakota in the fall of 1882. 
Having one hundred and fifty dollars he invested in a yoke of oxen and 
a breaking plow, and began breaking land at three dollars and fifty 
cents to four dollars per acre. In 1885 he purchased a relinquishment 
to his farm, and a conflicting claim afterward arose, and it was only 
after much trouble and expense that he finally secured a clear title. 
Since he has been farming in Dakota, he has raised but two good crops 
of grain, and up to 1893 it was only by the strictest economy and most 
energetic efforts that he succeeded in holding his farm. In 1893 the 
township artesian well was sunk, since which time he has started in the 
sheep business on shares, this business proving so successful that he 
has been enabled to pay his indebtedness, and is arranging to erect a 
dwelling. Our subject was married in 1885, to Miss Mary M. Brumbaugh, 
and their home has been blessed by the birth of the following children, 
namely: Roy H., Frank E., Lloyd T., Edna and Ralf. Mr. Dunbar is a 
Democrat, equal suffragist and prohibitionist.