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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Pike County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1890.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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James P. Dunn. The interests of Pike County would be incomplete without the mention of Mr. Dunn, one of its prominent planters. He was born in Greene County, Ala., June 3, 1847, one of a family of fourteen children born to the union of Wesley and Martha (Horton) Dunn, natives of North Carolina, born in 1814 and 1820, respectively. Their children were as follows: Albert W., Bolen H. (deceased), Lucy M. (deceased), Julius C, Mattie A. (deceased), Wiley P. (deceased), James P., Sidney F., Samuel W., Martha, and four children who died in infancy. The father was a very successful agriculturist, who emigrated from North Carolina to Alabama in 1837, locating in Greene County, where he lived until 1859, when he emigrated to Arkansas, settling in Dallas County, and resided here until his death in 1871; his widow followed him in 1887. Mr. Dunn was an ardent Democrat, and took an active part in the politics of his county, serving several terms as constable; he also took an active interest in the building up of churches, schools and society. Both he and wife were worthy members of the Missionary Baptist Church. The subject of this sketch received his education in the private schools of Dallas County, Ark. After finishing his education he engaged in farming, also teaching schools for three seasons. On December 24, 1874, he was united in marriage to Miss Mollie E. Cooper, a native of Georgia, and to this union have been born six children, viz.: Carlos W., Cora J., Sterling P. (deceased), Roscoe H. (deceased), Claude W. (deceased) and Fred S. Mr. Dunn has always continued in his chosen avocation, farming, in which he has been unusually successful. He now owns about 280 acres of land, with 114 acres under cultivation; also a town lot. He takes an active interest in the politics of his county, voting the Union Labor ticket. He has held the office of justice of the peace, and in 1887 and 1889 represented this county in the General Assembly. Both he and wife are earnest members of the Christian Church. Mr. Dunn belongs to the Masonic fraternity, a member of Manchester Lodge No. 16.

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This family biography is one of 71 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Pike County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Pike County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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