Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 453 - 454

SYLVANUS DUNKIN, County Clerk of Sedgwick County, and an esteemed and influential resident of Wichita, is a native of Indiana, born in Cass County, March 27, 1851. His father, Benjamin Dunkin, was born in Pennsylvania, but removed with his parents to Indiana when a youth, they being pioneers of Cass County, where they took up a claim of land and improved a good farm there from. In due time he was married to Miss Elizabeth Peyton, a native of Kentucky, and settled on his father's homestead where he still lives, successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits. The mother of our subject died in 1851, leaving two children: William H. and our subject, then an infant. His father subsequently married for his second wife Jane Rhine, and of this union five daughters and one son have been born.

            The subject of this sketch was but three weeks old when his mother died, and he was reared by his paternal grandparents, the parents of his mother taking charge of his brother. When our subject was fourteen years old his grandparents died, and he returned to the home of his father, where he assisted on the farm and completed his education, which was obtained at the district school. At the age of twenty years, our subject being an ambitious youth, with well matured plans for making a living, came to Kansas. Emporia was then the terminus of the railway, and not having money enough to pay his stage fare, he walked from there to Wichita, his brother having preceded him one year. They took up claims under the homestead act in March, 1871, the subject of this sketch locating on section 6 of Salem Township. He was one of the first settlers of that township, and that spring built a shanty and broke up the prairie land, and in the fall, when too late for farming, he secured employment in herding cattle on the ranges.

            In the winter Mr. Dunkin came to Wichita and worked at any honorable employment he could find, getting small wages, and frequently receiving nothing but his board for his services. Realizing that a farmer, of all men, needs a wife's encouragement and assistance in his toils, he went back to Indiana in April, 1872, and soon after was united in marriage with Miss Salome Sence, who was born near Dayton, Ohio, Feb. 11, 1850. Her parents, Samuel and Elizabeth Sence, were pioneers of Cass County, Ind., where they were occupied in farming. Soon after marriage Mr. Dunkin and his estimable helpmeet returned to Kansas and located on his homestead, where he remained several years laboring hard, and by energetic industry and skill in management he brought his farm under a good state of cultivation.

           During the winter seasons, for a period of eight years, Mr. Dunkin engaged in teaching, thus bringing in some ready money in that part of the year when, he could not farm to advantage. After he had his land all broken our subject engaged in a mercantile business at Haysville, which he successfully pursued until 1886. Then, being favorably impressed with Wichita's growing importance as a commercial center, and thinking it a desirable place in which to permanently establish himself, he came here, and for a short time was employed as a clerk. Subsequently he opened a store and carried on a prosperous grocery trade. In November, 1887, Mr. Dunkin, whose integrity and ability are appreciated by his fellow-citizens, was elected to his present office for a term of two years, and entered upon his duties Jan. 9, 1888. He has been successful in life, and he can well be considered one of the substantial citizens of Wichita.

             Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Dunkin there have been born four children, namely: May, Daisy, Earl and Mabel.

             Politically our subject is a firm adherent of the Republican party, and an active supporter of its principles. While living in Salem Township he served as Township Trustee. Socially he is a member of the I. O. O F.

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