LeRay, Jefferson, NY Dunten Biography, #1 |
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LeRay, Jefferson, NY Dunten Biography, #1 |
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| THOMAS DUNTEN
Comparatively little is known of the early ancestry of the subject of this sketch. However, sufficient knowledge is given through tradition that the descendants are of English extraction, and lineal descendants of one of three brothers who emigrated from England with the Puritan and settled respectively in Massachusetts, Vermont, and the West Indies. Thomas Dunten, the earliest ancestor of which any data is accessible, was born in Sturbridge, Worcester Co., Mass., in the year 1752. He shared in common with our forefathers, the dangers and privations of the army during the revolutionary War, and subsequently settled in Bennington, Vermont. He married Joanna Howard, born in the province of Nova Scotia in the year 1749. The descendants by this union consisted of five children,--three cons and two daughters,--all of whom became adults and settled in Jefferson County, viz.: Ebenezer, Lucy, Persis, Ephraim, and Thomas. The family emigrated to Jefferson County, and first settled in the town of Watertown in the year 1800. Mr. and Mrs. Dunton subsequently moved and settled at Sanford’s Corners, in the town of Le Ray, where he died May 27, 1832, his wife preceding him Jan. 4, 1826. Thomas Dunten was born in the town of Watertown, April 11, 1811. He was a son of Ebenezer Dunten and Clarissa Adkins, daughter of John Adkins, of Guilford, New Haven Co., Conn., who settled in the town in the year 1800, when the town and county were a trackless wilderness, and are justly regarded among the first pioneers of the now prosperous town and city of Watertown. His father was born in Vermont, Feb. 2, 1777. He married Clarissa Adkins, Aug. 21, 1800, and with his father emigrated to Jefferson County the same year. Their family consisted of nine children, all of whom reached maturity, namely:
Amos M., born in the town of Watertown, June 6, 1801; married Miss Harriet Hurlbert, of Pamelia, Jefferson County, N. Y., a physician by profession, and for many years practiced medicint at Plessis, in the town of Alexandria. From there went to Oswego, N. Y., thence to Plover, and then to Beaver Dam, Wis., where he died April 24, 1867. John G., born in Watertown, Feb. 3, 1803; married Persis Austin, of Le Ray, Sept. 18, 1834; was an artist, famed as one of the best portrait-painters of his day. He studied his profession in Boston, Mass., and first painted in Portsmouth, N. H. Afterwards removed to his native town, where he painted some of the best portraits of several prominent citizens of the town and county ever before produced in Watertown. He died in Le Ray, June 28, 1839; was a Christian gentleman and an intelligent citizen, esteemed by all who knew him. Robert B. was born in the town of Watertown, Dec. 28, 1804; married Miss Cynthia A. Price, of Hammond, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y.; was a gunsmith by trade in early life; later and for many years a daguerrean artist; died at his residence in Plover, Portage Co., Sept. 7, 1874. He was for many years a resident of Port Huron, Mich. Daniel M. was born in Le Ray, March 25, 1807; married Miss Agnes McKee, of Cleveland, Ohio; a distiller in early life; later and under the appointment from the State of Ohio, served the last fifteen years of his life as canal collector in Cleveland, Ohio; died at his residence in the above city, Oct. 2, 1867.
Caroline was born in Watertown, March 16, 1809; married Silas Fairbanks, of Rutland; residence, Jamestown, Wisconsin. Thomas, the special subject of this biography - born as above. Louisa was born in Watertown, April 13, 1813; married Stephen mix, of Le Ray, Nov. 27, 1842, deceased Oct. 21, 1849; re-married John Lamphear, of Carthage; residence Sanford's Corners. Marcia was born in Watertown, April 19, 1815; married Gilbert Allen, of Hermon, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., July 9, 1833; settled in Wisconsin; Mr. Allen died Aug. 16, 1868; re-married Thomas Brittingham, of Rock Island, Illinois, May 25, 1871. William was born at Sanford's Corners, May 13, 1817; married Miss Diana A. Wright, of Rochester, Wis., May 1, 1843; by trade a joiner and bridge contractor; died at his residence in Stevens' Point, Wis., Nov. 23, 1856. The father of Thomas was a brick-maker by occupation, and first made brick wehre Winslow's block is now located, being the pioneer in the brick-making business in Jefferson County. This business the father carried on in connection with his farming interests. In the year 1817 he bought a farm of 140 acres off Mr. Le Ray in the town bearing his name, and paid for the same largely by making brick. The father, in common with all the early settlers, struggled with poverty and the obstacles coincident with the early settlement of the county, and was unable to give his children but little opportunity for procuring an education away from home; so they had to content themselves with the limited advantages of the common schools, which they attended winter seasons. These were days of a cord of wood per scholar and a pro rata tax for tuition-fee.
He was numbered among the influential men of his day; originally a Democrat, but united with the Republican party upon its formation; was an abolitionist and an advocate of temperance. Ebenezer Dunten brought to bear all that acumen and native talent, quite common in his day, upon the early training of his children, and, with the assistance of his wife, brought them up learned in all that pertains to true manhood and womanhood. He died Feb. 27, 1858, having been preceded to the grave by his wife about six years. Thomas worked with his father in the brick-yard and on the farm until he was of age, and when twenty-two years old bought a farm of 50 acres in the town of Alexandria. In 1834 he married Miss Sally Kingsbury, daughter of Clark Kingsbury, a native of Massachusetts, and grand-daughter of Tilla Kingsbury, whose ancestors were of English birth. She was born June 18, 1811, in the town of Broadline, Montgomery (now Fulton) Co., N. Y. To Mr. and Mrs. Dunten were born two children, viz.: Milton C. and Melvin A., both of whom reside at home. Mr. Dunten with his family returned to the twon of Le Ray in 1839, and after a year settled in Antwerp; but in about three years purchased the old homestead in Le Ray, upon which he has since resided; and an illustration of which, with its building, under the portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Dunten, will be found on another page in this work. The farm has been in the family since its first occupation in 1817. He united with the Christian church some fifty years ago, his wife joining the same church when she was but nineteen years old. He has been prominently identified with his church during his membership, and has contributed liberally to both church and school. In politics Mr. Dunten is a republican, having been a Democrat previous to the formation of the Republican party. Mr. Dunten and wife stand among the representative citizens of the town, and in their declining years now reside with sons. (Jefferson County History, L. H. Everts, 1878) |
Transcribed by Holice B. Young Html by Debbie December 26, 1999 |
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