My Genealogy Hound

Joseph Brittain Dunn, Sr., is a resident of Calhoun County, Eye post-office, Polk Township, and was born in Dallas County, Ala., August 10, 1824, the sixth child born to John and Martha Dunn, natives of Virginia and Georgia, respectively. His parents resided in Alabama, and moved from there to Arkansas, in 1843, settling in Ouachita County, where they resided until the organization of Calhoun County; they then resided in Calhoun County until their death, in 1863 and 1850. At the age of eighteen years our subject began doing for himself; he commenced farming in 1846, and has since continued in that occupation. In January, 1863, Mr. Dunn enlisted as private in the late war, and served for two years, under Capt. Everhart, in the Fourth Arkansas Regiment. He participated in the battles Chickamauga, Dalton and Atlanta, through which he passed without being wounded. Early in 1865 he received a furlough, and returned home, obtained a physician’s certificate, and did not return to the army anymore. Mr. Dunn was married August 10, 1848, wedding Miss Mary A. R. Graves, a native of Alabama. Her father, Davenport Graves, moved to Arkansas in 1843, settling in Union County, and after the organization of Calhoun County, moved to this county, where he continued to reside until his death in 1862. The mother, Nancy Graves, died in Alabama, in 1840. The fruits of this union were fourteen children, viz.: Sarah A. E., Martha R., Ezekiel P., Joseph B., John, Davenport, Hiram, Waters, Robert E. L., Mary E., Minnie, Hattie, George G., and another unnamed. Ezekiel, Davenport, John, Hiram, and the youngest child, an infant, are dead. The surviving children, with the exception of George G., are married, and reside in the county. Mr. Dunn is a member of the Masonic fraternity, which he joined in 1852. Both he and wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church since 1861; most of his children are also members of this church. Mr. Dunn is a Democrat of the old stamp, believing in free trade, sailors’ rights, and the unlimited coinage of silver, but does not take an active part in the politics of his county. He is a liberal supporter of all worthy public enterprises.