Monte Sylvester Dunn

Here is a name that has been identified with Grant County settlement and history for three-quarters of a century. It has become honored and respected through long years of successive industry, business integrity, and Christian and moral character. Few grant County families have been longer established, and none have borne their part in community affairs with greater credit to themselves and with more practical usefulness to the community than the Dunns. Until death laid its restraining finger upon him, the late Monte S. Dunn was one of the ablest farmers and most public-spirited citizens of Jefferson Township. His widow, who belongs to the old pioneer Littler family, has taken up the burdens laid down by her husband, and has quietly and effectively performed all the offices required of the head of a family. Mrs. Dunn is a woman of fine culture, of the essential qualities of heart and mind which are associated with the old-fashioned type of womanhood, and possesses a keen intelligence and interest much beyond the usual range of people who spend their lives quietly in one community.

This history of the Dunn family begins with John Dunn, grandfather of the late Monte S. Dunn. John Dunn was born either in Pennsylvania or Virginia, in 1790, and after seventy-five years of life passed away at the home of his son, Thomas, at New Cumberland, in Grant County, on June 3, 1865. Hi was of Scotch-Irish ancestry. His occupation was that of farming, and so far as information is obtainable it is believed that he married in Virginia, Miss Cassandra Knight. She was a Virginia girl, born in 1795, and died in 1862. For several years after their marriage they lived in Virginia, then moved to Ohio, and some years later, during the early thirties, established a home in what is now Washington Township of Delaware County, where John Dunn entered one hundred and sixty acres of wild land. He and his wife lived and labored there until old age, and were pioneers who succeeded in clearing off a considerable part of the wilderness and establishing comfortable homes. They were devout members of the Primitive Baptist faith, and were active in the history of that church in the early days, both in Delaware and in Grant County. John Dunn and wife had a large family of children, and these are briefly mentioned under the following numerical heads:

Thomas, was born in 1812 in Virginia or Ohio, in young manhood entered government land in Washington Township of Delaware County, where he lived many years, and later established a mill at New Cumberland in Grant County. His declining years were spent in Grant County and he died at the old home in New Cumberland, October 17, 1881, when past sixty-nine years of age. His wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Reasoner, of one of the old families of Grant County, died on the same place, July 19, 1891, being seventy-six years and four months of age. The children of Thomas and wife were: Mrs. Anna Lewis (deceased); John, who was a soldier in the Union Army, and now lives in Mississippi; Mary, wife of Esley Stephenson, of Matthews; Benjamin R., who was killed at the battle of Chickamauga during the Civil War at the age of twenty-one; and Gehiel, who died unmarried at the age of twenty-one; Sarah J., wife of Richardson Watson, lives in Santa Paula, California; Caroline, wife of James Littler, both of whom died without issue; Mrs. Samantha, wife of Monroe Darton, of Delaware County, and the parents of one son; Thomas J., who was a miller by occupation and died leaving one son.
James Dunn, father of the late Monte S., was born probably in Virginia in 1814, and died in 1863. He married Cassandra Evans, who was born in 1824, and died in 1903. Further details concerning these parents are given in a following paragraph.
William, who was born either in Virginia or Ohio, was married on the lien between Blackford and Grant County to Sebra Reasoner, followed farming in Delaware County, until his death, and had seven children.
Harmon, who like the others adopted farming as his vocation, was also skilled in mechanical pursuits, and in early life followed wagon making. He spent practically all his life in Delaware County, where he had acquired land direct from the government, and at his death left a family of children.
Sarah, married Benjamin Lewis, a Delaware County farmer, and lived and died on the old place without children.
Mary, became the wife of Benjamin Reasoner, a well known farmer of Grant County, and they left several children.
John, the youngest of the family, was a successful Delaware County farmer, where he died, leaving five children.

James Dunn, who was born October 12, 1814, and who died at his home on section four of Jefferson Township in Grant County in 1863, was quite young when he first came to Grant County, and was a participant in the early development and history of his township, where he started his career as a farmer. After his marriage in 1847, he entered land and established his home at what is known now as the Dunn Homestead, and having been originally entered by his father, John Dunn, about 1838. Mr. Dunn was a man of vigorous personality and in the course of his lifetime, although he died when in the prime of his years, made many improvements to his farm, and made his influence felt for good in the entire community. His place was improved in various ways, good barns were erected and a fine old farm house was the home in which he passed his last years. In 1847, James Dunn married Cassandra Evans. She joined the Presbyterian Church on January 30, 1871, and died in that faith. She was a noble, whole-hearted woman, ever ready to assist in the troubles of her neighbors, and by her benevolent activities and her kindly personal character was beloved throughout the entire country side. The children of James Dunn and wife were as follows: Randolph, who died in young manhood; Almira Jane, who died also when young; Oliver Perry, who lives on and operates a large farm in Delaware County, is married, but has no children living; Montes S., who is next in order of the children; and Sarah P., a twin sister of Monte and the wife of A.T. Wright, of Marion, and the mother of three daughters and one son.

The late Monte Sylvester Dunn was born on the farm he occupied all his life in Jefferson Township, on March 10, 1857, and died at the Dunn Homestead, as it is familiarly known throughout Jefferson Township, April 23, 1913. Reared on the old place he had an education like that supplied most farmer boys in his generation, and after growing up came into the possession of the farm of one hundred and fifty-six acres, where he and his brothers and sisters had grown up. His was a very active life. He was a man of excellent judgment, and his industry and good management resulted in the addition of many improvements, besides those introduced by his father. He left a beautiful and valuable home for his widow and children. The old dwelling is a comfortable ten-room house, mostly of frame construction, and beyond the house yard are a group of outbuildings, comprising red barns and other structures, required for up-to-date farming. As a farmer and stock raiser, the late Monte s. Dunn was probably as successful and as progressive as any man in his township. His widow and her sons are still keeping up the standards set by the late Mr. Dunn, and have been no less successful in making the homestead pay regular annual dividends.

On April 26, 1888, in Hartford City, Indiana, Monte Sylvester Dunn and Miss Mary E. Littler were united in the holy bonds of matrimony by Rev. McKean, then an old and beloved Presbyterian Minister. She was born in Jefferson Township, Grant County, September 13, 1858, was liberally educated in the public schools, and was well prepared both by native character and by her early influences for the career of motherhood and social beneficence, which has been hers. Her parents were Nathan and Katherine (Whistler) Littler. Her father was born in Virginia, and her mother in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. They met and married in Ohio, and their companionship as man and wife was begun on the banks of the Mississinewa River in Jefferson Township of Grant County. Their first home was built of logs, and in spite of the crudities and hardships of such existence, they had the courage and true wisdom of patience which made those years not unhappy. Later they established a better home, and lived quiet and useful lives. Mr. Littler died there during the Civil War in 1863, being then in the prime of life, and his widow followed him in 1870. They were active Methodists in religion, and Nathan Littler took much part in church work, being possessed of a naturally beautiful voice, which he cultivated, and which he used in church and social affairs. He was also a great reader of religious and secular literature. Mrs. Dunn has one brother living, Joseph W. Littler, who now owns and runs the old Littler homestead in Jefferson Township. Joseph Littler married Elizabeth Dunn, a daughter of Harmon Dunn, and they have four daughters.

The two sons of Mrs. Dunn are: Phillip, born May 18, 1890, was graduated from the Matthews High School as one of a class of ten in 1909, and after taking a course in animal husbandry at Perdue University, has applied his practical experience and scientific training to the management of the home farm, being a very successful young agriculturist. James Homer Dunn, who was born July 13, 1896, is a member of the class of 1915 in the Matthews High School. Mrs. Dunn and her two sons are members of the Epworth Methodist Church at Matthews.

Submitted by: Gina Reasoner

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