James Dunn
James Dunn, farmer, P. O. Garrettsville, whose portrait appears in this volume, was born October 11, 1822, in Hartford, Windsor Co., Vermont. His father, James Dunn, was a native of Massachusetts, and early engaged in brick making. When over thirty years old he went to Vermont, where he was employed in the manufacture of brick for a Mr. Udall, and while there was married to Mary Udall, a niece of his employer, and with her, in 1832, moved to this county, settling on the farm where their son, our subject, now resides, and there remained until their death. The father died in 1858 and the mother in 1864. He (the father) had some reverses financially before his marriage, having lost the first $500 which be had saved by economy, but such vicissitudes only served to make them more ambitious, and prosperity was the outcome of their efforts. They had seven children: William, a resident of Troy, Ohio; Mary, married to Albert Gage (they reside in Freedom Township, this county); Belinda, married to Benjamin Baker (they reside in Crawford
County, Penn.); James; Amanda, married to James M. Bowman; Cosmo L. (deceased), and Rachel (deceased). Our subject was taken from the summer schools when ten years old to assist his father in farm duties, and was permitted to attend school during winter terms until 1844-45, during which period be was a student in the Troy, Ohio, schools. He was the only son to remain closely associated with his parents in their farm labors, and was given the greater portion of their property in return for his labor and care of them in their old age, and to this he has added until he now ranks among the well to-do men of this county, having 180 acres of well-improved land lying part within and part adjacent to the village of Garrettsville. He also owns a good share in the old bank building and the livery stable where Truesdall now conducts a general livery business, Mr. Dunn being partial owner of the stock. At one time he was interested in banking. During bis farming and business career he has been fortunate, scarcely meeting any reverses. On his beautiful farm he has some fine Holstein cattle. October 14, 1846, Mr. Dunn was married to Armona S. Reed, who died March 31, 1873, and to this union were born the following children: Elma E., married to Charles Truesdall; Mary A., married to James VanHorn, and George J., recent graduate of the Garrettsville High School. Our subject was married, February 3, 1874, on second occasion, to Cordelia S., widow of Dr. O. Manley. Garrettsville has been an incorporated village for twenty years, and as an appreciation of Mr. Dunn's ability and judgment, the citizens have retained him as a member of the Council for eighteen years; be has also been interested in the public schools, and is a member of the School Board. In politics be is a Republican. Mr. Dunn, in his lifetime, has experienced some miraculous escapes from sudden death or serious injury. About the year 1860 he was driving an ambitious borso attached to a sulky, and while moving at a rapid rate by the farm of Zeb. Rudolph, the father of Mrs. James A. Garfield, the animal became frightened at a load of straw, and made a sudden bound to one side, breaking the axle and throwing Mr. Dunn with such force against the fence or ground as to render him unconscious from that time, 3 o'clock P. M. , till 4 o'clock A. M. the next day. Within ten days be was back to bis farm duties. At another time he was clearing debris from his farm well, and the bucket, in which the dirt, etc., were drawn up, became detached from the rope when about twenty feet above him, and descended with tremendous force, just glancing off his head and inflicting an ugly incision, fracturing the frontal bone in three directions. In three weeks he was himself again. In October, 1883, our subject was engaged inserting blinds in a cupola of his barn, and by a misstep he fell down a three-eighth pitch roof with rafters about sixteen feet long, and to the ground, a distance of twenty-seven feet from the eave, and eleven feet from the sill. It was nearly one hour before his hired hand fovmd him in an unconscious condition, covered with blood, and leaning against a trough about eleven feet from where he struck the ground. The depression in the earth showed that he struck on his toes and head, within eighteen inches apart. It was the spring in his toes which saved his head from utter destruction, and it appears as an act of Providence he received no serious injury. The bones in one foot were broken, which was his only hurt, and he is now hale and hearty.
From History of Portage County, Ohio, Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, 1885