CAPT. JAMES DUNN

            Parish Grove Township

            CAPT. JAMES DUNN is a native of  County Tipperary, Ireland, and was born April 27, 1839. His father, John Dunn, was a merchant in his native country, and married Julia Murphy. In 1841, John crossed the Atlantic, and for four years found employment in and around Chicago, as a brick and stone mason. In 1845, his family came from Ireland, and they settled in Lockport, Ill., where Mr. Dunn, Sr., died November 28, 1854. James Dunn made his home with his father’s family until his mother’s death in August, 1863. Previous to this time, he had been known as the champion shot of the Desplaines Valley.

    August 9, 1862, he enlisted in Company C, Ninetieth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was chosen First Sergeant. June 15, 1864, he was commissioned First Lieutenant, and promoted to the Captaincy of his company in September, 1864, and was mustered out June 6, 1865. Capt. Dunn was a participant in the battles of Holly Springs, Missionary Ridge, Resaca, Lookout and Kenesaw Mountains, Atlanta, in Sherman’s march to the sea, the capture of Fort McAllister, through the Carolinas, and the engagements of Bentonville, and Averysboro. He was in 27 battles and 240 skirmishes. During the memorable march to the sea, he was in command of the foragers in Hazen’s division of the Fifteenth Army Corps, and of the 84 men who composed the company only 15 were mustered out, and he was the only one not wounded.

    After the war, he went to Will County, Ill, and in connection with a brother managed their farm until 1872, when he came to Benton County, Ind., and was the first to settle on what is known as the Dunn settlement, in Parish Grove Township. He owns a fine farm of 300 acres, well improved and cultivated. He breeds fine stock, and besides forty head of hogs. Capt. Dunn is a Democrat, and one of the prominent men of the county.

    He was married, January 9, 1868, to Miss Lucy Robbins, who was born in October, 1851; is a native of Will County, Ill., and daughter of William and Margaret (Tracy) Robbins. Their union has been blessed with six children –William H., born January 30, 1869; Maggie, January 29, 1871; John F., February 10, 1874; Escy, February 25, 1877; James, July 11, 1879, and George E., February 15, 1882. Mrs. Dunn is of Irish descent and is a graduate of Notre Dame Seminary, South Bend, Ind. Capt. Dunn and wife are members of the Roman Catholic Church, and he is an honorary member of G.A.R.

Source: Counties of Warren, Benton, Jasper and Newton, Indiana by F.A. Battey & Co., 1883, page 384.