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1890 Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Story County, Iowa

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Page 315 of 460

zens of Story County, who have become prominent in their different callings, stands the name of John Dunahoo, who is one of the progressive and substantial farmers of his portion of the county. Born in Augusta County, W. Va., October 5, 1829, he is the son of William Dunahoo, a native of Virginia, and Sarah (Sheets) Dunahoo, also a native of the Old Dominion, whose ancestors were from Pennsylvania. Mr. Dunahoo was of Irish descent, his father being a native of the Emerald Isle, born November 16, 1803, and Grandfather Sheets was of German descent. William Dunahoo followed agricultural pursuits in West Virginia until 1837, and then moved to Indiana, locating in Marion County, where he tilled the soil. In 1854 he moved to Story County, Iowa, near where our subject now resides, and continued his former pursuit until his death, which occurred on January 7, 1874. He held a number of local positions and was a representative citizen. His wife is still living, and in the enjoyment of fairly good health for an old lady seventy-nine years of age. Their family consisted of four sons and four daughters, all of whom grew to mature years and became heads of families. Two sisters are now deceased. John Dunahoo grew to manhood in Indiana, and was married in Marion County in 1851, to Miss Rachel Ray, a native of Indiana, and sister of Judiah and Jacob Ray, of Nevada. After his marriage Mr. Dunahoo farmed for four years, and then in 1855 moved to Iowa, locating in Story County on September 17 of that year. At that time there was not a house east for eight miles, and his farm was all prairie land. He first bought a small place, but added to this from time to time until he is at present the owner of 120 acres, now carried on by his son. He had the misfortune to lose his wife, his faithful and devoted companion for thirty years, on March 28, 1880. They reared a family of five children: W. S. (born in Indiana and now on the farm), M. R. (in Shelby County), Martha A. (born in Indiana and the wife of Jake McCord of Story County), John F. (married and resides in the county), and Mary Ella (wife of Albert Whitinger of Story County). Mr. Dunahoo is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, but his wife was a member of the Evangelical Church. He is a Master Mason and an Odd Fellow. In his political views he • affiliates with the Republican party, and has served as township trustee for a number of years, also as a member of the school board.

Andrew Dunahoo, farmer and stock-raiser, Iowa Centre, Iowa. Of that sturdy and independent class, the farmers of Iowa, none are possessed of more genuine merit and a stronger character than he whose name stands at the head of this sketch. He has risen to more than an ordinary degree of success in his calling as an agriculturist and stockman, and wherever known he is conceded to be an energetic and progressive tiller of the soil, imbued with all those qualities of go-ahead-ativeness which have characterized his ancestors. His birth occurred in Marion County, Ind., August 30, 1838, and he is the son of William Dunahoo, a native of Virginia, and Mrs. Sarah (Sheets) Dunahoo, also of Virginia birth. The elder Dunahoo moved from Virginia to Indiana at a very early day; when Indianapolis was but a village, and began clearing a farm. In 1850 he sold this and moved to Iowa, where he was among the first settlers of Story County. The whole country was a wilderness, and everything, groceries, provisions, etc., had to be hauled from Burlington. Mr. Dunahoo helped raise the first building in Nevada, improved a good farm, and here his death occurred on January 9, 1876. His widow still survives him and is in her eighty-first year.

Page 315 of 460

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