Dunn's in Coles County ILL, Indiana, Pennsylvania
I am posting my Great Grandfathers Walter Dunn's Obituary.I understand he was quite a "colorful" character and I am trying to unearth his lineage.From what I have found, I believe that his father was Joseph Dunn and his mother's name was Herminia. I got this info from the 1880 census.Which told me that his father Joseph was born in Indiana but his parents came from Pennsylvania.The censes said his mother was born in Kentucky.This is all the info I have.If anyone can help it would be most appreciated. I don't know where to begin looking for birth certificates, marriage certificates, etc.
Thank You, Patti Dunn Lundie
Below is the Obit:
WALTER DUNN, FAMOUS HORSEMAN, IS DEAD
Special to the Journal-Gazette
Charleston, ILL, Sept 30 Walter Dunn 73, famous as a breeder and trainer of race horses, having owned at times horses which held a word's record, for one of which he refused $20,000 died this morning at his home at 654 West Madison Street, after three years of illness which became serious a week ago.
Funeral services are to be held Sunday afternoon at two o'clock at the home, with burial in Mound Cemetery.
Mr. Dunn was a resident of Coles County for about forty-five years, thirty-six of which he resided in Charleston.Mrs. Dunn, who was injured during the tornado of 1917, when Mr. Dunn lost every building on his farm of 200 acres and eight fine horses, died March 13, 1923.
Mr. and Mrs. Dunn had four children, Mrs. Frank Huffman, Stanley Dunn, Mrs. Harry Fitzpatrick, and George Dunn all of Charleston.Mr. Dunn had two brothers, William Dunn of Mattoon and James Dunn of Jacksonville.
Mr. Dunn was born in Grandview in 1854.He married Miss Jennie Moore, a sister of "Sheriff Moore of Coles County.
Mr. Dunn was engaged in breeding and training racehorses for thirty-nine years.He drove his first race in 1889 in Sullivan and won.The horse at that time was Argot Wilkes, which later became the greatest sire this section of the country ever had.On one occasion, he refused $20,000 for the animal.On another, he refused $6,000 acre farm.He drove his last race at the Coles County fair grounds course and, as on the first occasion, he won.
Directum J. was one of the famous horses owned by Mr. Dunn.He sold this horse in 1917 and in 1918, it won purses totaling $14,000.Argot Patch was another famous Dunn horse.In 1910, it broke the world's record on the Charleston Fair Ground Course when it made a mile in 2:14½.The horse held the record for several years. Mr. Dunn refused $10,000 for him.
Mr. Dunn had the reputation of never taking a drink of liquor and never smoking.He is said to have never used profane language.(Note from P. Lundie, all of this, of course, is a joke)
More Replies:
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Re: Dunn's in Coles County ILL, Indiana, Pennsylvania
Linda Clark 6/04/04
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Re: Dunn's in Coles County ILL, Indiana, Pennsylvania
Linda Clark 6/04/04