Samuel Dunham

SAMUEL DUNHAM,* a prominent and representative farmer of Montana township, Labette county, Kansas, was born near Harper's Ferry, Berkeley county, West Virginia, April 8, 1821. His parents were Hiram and Mary (Ganner) Dunham, both natives of New Jersey. They belonged to that sturdy class of citizens, who have done so much to develop the farming interests and have helped to place the United States in the front rank of agricultural nations.

Samuel Dunham left home when he was nine years old, and moved with his parents to Christian county, Illinois. In 1865, he came to Labette county, Kansas, and secured a homestead claim in Montana township, entering it at the land office in Humboldt; on this property he has lived, and has improved and developed it to its present high state of cultivation. Mr. Dunham has a keen appreciation of the fact that our farming population is the very bone and sinew of the nation, and he has shaped his daily life with the aim always in view of being of the utmost value to himself, his neighbors, and his county.

Mr. Dunham was the eldest in a family of three children. He has been twice married. His first wife was Mary Jane Harry, who is deceased. A few years after the death of his first wife, he married his present wife, who was Mary Slunan, a native of Marion county, Indiana. She was born in 1845. Ten children were the result of this union, as follows: A, J., who is at home; Mary; Lano, now Mrs. Barkis, living in Montana township, Labette county, Kansas; E. D. and Walter, who are at home; Lee, who resides in Montana township; Robert and Harvey, who are at home; Albert and Ida, deceased.

Mr. Dunham is a Democrat, but liberal in his opinion on all subjects which draw out party discussion. He has served as a member of the school board in his township, and is a member of the Anti-Horsethief Association.