Sarah Elizabeth (Ellison) Dunn (1847 - 1918)

Born 11 Oct 1847 in Hawkerville, Franklin Co., Tennessee, USA

Ancestors

Wife of Michael Dunn — married 15 Dec 1863 in Hawkerville, Franklin county, Tennessee, USA

Descendants

Died 24 Sep 1918 at age 70 in Seven Bridges, Allegany township, Potter Co., Pennsylvania, USA

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Biography

Sarah was born in 1847 to Zachariah John Ellison and Mary Henley Ellison. For some reason, her father did not live with her mother, at least at the time census records were taken. In the 1850 Census and the 1860 Census records Zachariah, though still living, was not listed as head of the house. Mary seemed to be running the household. On December 15, 1863 Sarah married Michael Dunn. Sarah and Michael stood before Peter Wiley, the Justice of the Peace in Hawkerville about eight miles East of Decherd. Her mother, Mary Henley Ellison, and brother were there as witnesses, as she said “I do.” After Michael was severely wounded in the Battle of New Hope Church, north of Atlanta, Sarah moved to her husband's farm in Potter County, Pennsylvania and waited for his return from the hospital.

Michael Dunn was discharged from the hospital in New York on August 17, 1865, and he returned to northern Pennsylvania, to Potter County and to Sarah, who would care for him the rest of his life.

Family tradition says Sarah was waiting for Michael at the train station in Shongo with a pair of horses and a wagon. She discovered he'd made the trip from New York city riding in a barrel stuffed with cotton. With help, she got him loaded into the wagon, and turned the team south, for the 12 mile journey home.

Once Michael began getting his pension, he had gone to Coudersport and on February 19, 1866, renounced "all allegiance and fidelity" to the Queen of Great Britain, and became an American citizen.

The following June, Sarah gave birth to a son: George William. Five more children followed. Stanton in 1869, Margaret in 1872, Minnie in 1873, Glencora in 1875 and Edith May in 1876.

Michael finally succumbed to his wounds and died October 23, 1877. Like her mother, Sarah was left to run the household. The strain was too much and for a time she was forced to place some of her children in an orphanage, Minnie Dunn was one of those children.

22 June 1870: Allegany Township, Potter, Pennsylvania; Occupation of Michael: Farmer; Michael Dunn 35 Canada; Sarah Dunn 23 Tennessee; William Dunn 2 Pennsylvania; Stanton Dunn 6/12 Pennsylvania; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZT9-W5Z

10 June 1880: Allegheny, Potter, Pennsylvania; Sarah E Dunn, Wife, Self 33 Tennessee/Tennessee/Tennessee; G William Dunn Son 12 Pennsylvania/Canada/Tennessee; Stanton Dunn Son 10 Pennsylvania/Canada/Tennessee; Margaret Dunn Dau 8 Pennsylvania/Canada/Tennessee; Minnie Dunn Dau 6 Pennsylvania/Canada/Tennessee; G Cora Dunn Dau 4 Pennsylvania/Canada/Tennessee; E May Dunn Dau 3 Pennsylvania/Canada/Tenessee; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MWJM-NS6

Sarah passed away in 1918.

Find A Grave: Memorial #27988889 Sarah Elizabeth Ellison

Pennsylvania, County Marriages, 1845-1963 Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1924 U.S., Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934 1860 United States Federal Census 1870 United States Federal Census 1880 United States Federal Census 1900 United States Federal Census

SECONDARY SOURCE: Family Tree https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/9ZSY-3F9