James Alexander DUNN, Sr

Notes:

Also called James Frank Dunn.

In the 1905 state census, he was still living at home.

In the 1910 census, he was James Dunn, 24, who lived with his wife Kate, 23, born in Minnesota, in Chisholm with their son Archie, 4, born in Minnesota. James was a locomotive fireman. That James, however, had both parents born in Wisconsin. The couple had been married five years and Kate had had only the one child. The couple had been married for 5 years and it was the first marriage for both.

in his draft registration of September 14, 1918, he was James Alexander Dunn, born 15 Sep 1885. He was a fireman for the village of Chisholm, Minnesota. He gave as his nearest relative Eliza Dunn of his address (417 Pine Street) in Chisholm. He was described as short and stout with blue eyes and dark brown hair.

In the 1920 census, he and his wife Jessie lived in Chisholm, Minnesota. James’s mother Elizabeth lived with them. James was a fireman for the city.

In the 1930 census, he and his family lived in Detroit. James was an electrician in the construction industry.

In the 1940 census, he and his family lived in Redford Twp, Wayne County, Michigan. He was an electrician in the automotive industry. All of the children were still at home. James had had an eighth-grade education. His wife had been educated through the sixth grade.

His obit said that he was the dear father of Mrs. Vivian Severson, Mrs. Virginia Lane, Mrs. Nancy Plunkett. Arch, Harry, Calvin and James Dunn.

James married Catherine (Kate) BRICK on 15 Sep 1905 in Ramsey County, Minnesota, and was divorced. Catherine was born about 1889 in Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Archie W DUNN was born on 23 Jan 1906 in Eden Valley, Minnesota.

James married Jessie LOWELL on 10 Sep 1919 in St. Louis County, Minnesota, and was divorced on 6 Mar 1944 in Wayne County, Michigan. Jessie was born on 11 May 1901 in Barron County, Wisconsin; died on 7 Feb 1969 in Barron County, Wisconsin. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
MOMS, as James A Dunn and Jessie Lowell

1. Harry James DUNN was born on 16 Dec 1921 in St. Louis County, Minnesota; died on 21 Oct 2009 in Michigan; was buried in Point Pleasant Cemetery, Paris Landing, Henry County, Tennessee.
2. Calvin O DUNN was born on 16 Aug 1923 in St. Louis County, Minnesota; died on 21 Feb 1998 in Michigan.
3. Vivian Jessie DUNN was born on 21 Jan 1926 in Michigan; died on 20 May 2006 in Barron County, Wisconsin.
4. Virginia Muriel DUNN was born in 1927 in Michigan; died on 7 Mar 2015 in Rockford, Winnebago County, Illinois.
5. James Alexander DUNN, Jr was born on 27 May 1935 in Wayne County, Michigan; died on 11 Aug 2012 in Wayne County, Michigan.
6. Nancy Joyce DUNN was born on 12 Jul 1937 in Michigan; died on 3 Dec 2020 in St. Croix County, Wisconsin.

Notes:

In the 1860 census, when his family lives in Pepin, Frank’s father, James A Dunn, was born in New York and his mother, Harriett, was born in Pennsylvania.

In the 1895 state census, he is a river man. He and his family live in Reads Landing, Wabasha County, Minnesota.

In the 1900 census he is a logging laborer. In that census, he and his family live in Wabasha. Both of his parents were born in Pennsylvania.

In the 1905 state census, he works in lumbering. All five of his children are still single and living at home.

In the 1910 census, there is some question as to whether he is still living with his wife. He appears to be listed as an afterthought for the Wabasha census entry in which his wife is shown as the head of household. Kate and Archie are then listed, followed by Frank, “husband”, a laborer doing general work.

In the 1920 census, a Frank Dunn, age 73 and a widower, lived in East Mahoning Twp, Indiana County, Pennsylvania. He was a boarder with the Simpson family and is a laborer. Both of this Frank’s parents were born in Ireland.

From the History of Chippewa Valley, published ine 1891-2:

Frank S. Dunn, lumberman, Pepin, was born May 12, 1847, at Greenville, Pa., and is a son of J. A. and Harried (Cossett) Dunn. In 1855 the family immigrated to Pepin county, where they still reside, and where Frank received his early education. He is the eldest of six children born to his parents and was active in assisting his father in the management of the farm.

Mr. Dunn has been an extensive traveler, having spent several years in Colorado, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada and California.

November 5, 1882, he was united in marriage with Mrs. Eliza Young, a native of Jefferson county, Pa. Her parents were pioneer settlers in Pepin county, having arrived here in 1855. The father, James Fleming, died May 17, 1877, of dropsy. He was born in Clarion county, Pa., August 31, 1816. Of his seven children three died of croup within a week of each other. Mrs. Dunn's mother, Susan A. Fleming, is still living. Mr. Dunn and wife are the parents of four children: Ada M., James, Archie and Jessie.

Politically Mr. Dunn is a believer in the principles of the democratic party. 

The Dunn Family Tree on Ancestry claims that Frank died in Minnesota on 16 Sep 1932. That death is not listed in the MHS Death Certificate Index, however.
 

Birth:
ginny1952 says 2 May 1847 in Georgetown, Beaver County, Pennsylvania

Died:
according to ginny1952

Frank married Eliza Ann FLEMING in Nov 1882. Eliza (daughter of James Clinton FLEMING and Susannah PENCE) was born on 19 Jun 1847 in Pennsylvania; died on 25 Nov 1923 in Wabasha County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Minnesota Death Certificate: 1923-MN-016150

Notes:

Eliza Young was a 32 year-old new widow, and pregnant, heading up her household in Pepin in the 1880 census. She and her family lived a few houses away from, and very near, the August Engel family. Living with her were her children Mary E., 14, Albert C., 11, Caroline S., 9, Anna R., 7, Frederick W., 5, Clara B., 3, and Julietta 1. Also living with her were her step-sons George Young, 19, and John Young, 18. The father of all of her children and step-children was born in Bremen. The mother of John and George was also born in Bremen.

In the 1900 census, she and Frank and family are living in Wabasha. She is shown to have had 15 children, 12 still living. Living with her and Frank are Etta, 16, James, 13, Jessie, 12, Archie, 11, and Cathy, 7.

In the 1910 census, she is shown to have had 15 children, 12 still living. Archie and Kate are still living at home.

By September of 1918, she was living with her son James in Chisholm.

In the 1920 census, she was living with her son James and his wife in Chisholm, Minnesota.

It seems likely that Eliza is buried at Oakwood Cemetery. However, Find A Grave’s listing of the burials in that cemetery do not include her.

Notes:

From "History of the Chippewa Valley Wisconsin" published by A. Warner, Publisher, Chicago, Illinois, 1891-2:

JAMES FLEMING was born at Kittanning, Amstrong County, Pa., August 31, 1816, and died at Pepin, May 14, 1887. His parents' names were John and Sarah (Everett) Fleming. the Flemings are of Irish descent. James received but little education, and at nineteen years of age began life as a pilot ofn a lumber raft, running on the Allegheny and Ohio rivers. In 1837 he made a trip as far as New Orleans. He was married December 27, 1838, to Miss Susan, daughter of Henry and Betsy (Gumbert) Pence. She was born March 31, 1820. Seven children blessed their union, namely: John, born March 23, 1840, Nancy J. November 6, 1841, died December 7, 1845; Elizabeth, December 14, 1842, died December 1, 1845; Milton, April 6, 1846, Eliza A (Mrs. F. Dunn) June 19, 1847; Sarah E., February 27, 1849, died February 2, 1890. Mr. Fleming worked at carpenter work, in a distillery and at farming until 1848, when he removed to Jefferson county, Pa., and bought a farm and engaged in lumbering. In 1854, he made a trip to Pepin and decided to move thither with his family. The following year he loaded his goods and family into a wagon and started to drive to Wisconsin. One horse became lame and he then shipped his outfit on a steamboat from Pittsburgh, paying all his ready money for their fare to Dubuque, Iowa. On the route he was seized with cholera and they were unable to proceed by team. Riding the horses out a few miles they were met and befriended by a farmer who kindly entertained the family, gave Mr. Fleming medicine, which soon caused him to recover, and advanced a small sum of money. The balance of his wagon having arrived in the meantime, the proceeds of which the journey was continued to Guttenburg, Iowa. Here he took passage by steamer to Read's Landing, Minn., agreeing to leave the goods as security for a portion of their fare, which was advanced by a merchant at Read's on their arriveal, who took security on the goods. Crossing to Pepin, Mr. Fleming began teaming, redeemed his goods, and the following year, 1856, made a claim on section seventeen, township twenty-three, range fourteen, built a log house, and continued to make improvements until his death. Mr. Fleming was a member of the Protestant Methodist church, and an active, enterprising man, respected by all who knew him.

Source: Curtiss-Edge, Franklyn. History of Buffalo and Pepin Counties, Wis. Winona: H.C. Cooper Jr., and Company. 1919 pages 783-785

James Fleming: A pioneer of Pepin township, Pepin County, in his day widely known and respected, but now deceased, was born at Kittanning, Armstrong Co., Pennsylvania, August 31, 1816, and died at Pepin, May 14, 1887. He was of Irish descent, his parents being John and Sarah (Everett) Fleming. After acquiring a limited education, James Fleming, at 19 years of age, began life as a pilot of a lumber raft running on the Allegheny and Ohio rivers. In 1837, he made a trip as far as New Orleans. He was married December 27, 1838 to Susan, daughter of Henry and Betsy (Gumbert) pence. She was born March 31, 1820.

Mr. Fleming worked as a carpenter, as an employee in a distillery, and at farming until 1848, when he removed to Jefferson County, PA., where he bought a farm and also engaged in lumbering. In 1854, he made a trip to Pepin and decided to locate here with his family. The following year he loaded his goods and family into a wagon and started to drive to Wisconsin. One horse became lame, and he then shipped his outfit on a steamboat form Pittsburgh, paying all his ready money for their fare to Dubuque, Iowa. On the route, he was seized with cholera and landed penniless at Davenport. A part of the wagon had been miscarried, so they were unable to proceed by team. Riding the hourses out a few miles, they were met and befriended by a farmer, who kindly entertained the family, gave Mr. Fleming medicine, which soon caused him to recover, and advanced him a small sum of money. The balance of his wagon having arrived in the meanwhile, the family drove to Le 'Claire, Iowa, where Mr. Fleming got work teaming, with the proceeds of which the journey was continued to Guttenburg, Iowa. Here he took passage by steamer to Reed's Landing, Minnesota, agreeing to leave the goods as security for a portion of their fare, which was advanced by a merchant at Reed's on their arrival, who took security of the goods.

Crossing to Pepin, Mr. Fleming began teaming, redeeming his goods, and the following year, 1856, made a claim on Section 17, Township 23, Range 14. Here he built a log cabin and began the work of developing a farm, continueing to make improvements until his death.

He was an active and enterprising man, a member of the Protestant Methodist Church, and respected by all who knew him. His wife died about 1894.

Died:
of dropsy according to an article about his son-in-law, Frank Dunn

James married Susannah PENCE on 27 Dec 1838 in Kittanning, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. Susannah (daughter of Henry PENCE and Maria Elizabeth (Betsy) GUMBERT) was born on 31 Mar 1820 in Pennsylvania; died in Jun 1897 in Pepin County, Wisconsin; was buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Pepin, Pepin County, Wisconsin. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Died:
the Dunn Family tree says June 20th

John married Sarah EVERETT. Sarah (daughter of Abel Johnson EVERETT and Bridget MCMURTRY) was born on 6 Jun 1786 in Pennsylvania; died on 22 Jul 1856 in Pennsylvania. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Henry married Maria Elizabeth (Betsy) GUMBERT. Maria (daughter of Christian GUMBER and Margaretha GRESS) was born in 1786 in Pennsylvania; died in 1850 in Pennsylvania. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]