Abner Dunlap (1808 - 1897)

Born 14 Mar 1808 in Frederick, Augusta County, Virginia

Husband of Elizabeth (Sample) Dunlap — married 30 May 1836 in Frederick, Virginia

Descendants

Died Oct 1897 at age 89 in Preble County, Ohio

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Biography

The following obituary for Abner Dunlap appeared in the Eaton Democrat on October 9, 1897:

Abner Dunlap was born in Old Virginia, March 14, 1808. His parents (William and Flora Ann (McMullen) Dunlap) emigrated from Ireland about 1800, having braved the perils of an ocean voyage, in the hope of landing on free soil, and obtaining a home, as a result of honest endeavor. The subject of this memoir was of a large family of children most of whom attained a great age. He was brought from a farm in Frederick County, Virginia near Winchester. On May 30, 1836 he was married to Elizabeth Sample, and soon in the company of several friends, came overland to Ohio with all of his possessions, one horse and seventy five dollars. He and his wife stopped in Green County a few weeks and then pushed on to Preble County, Lanier Township. With this small sum he purchased a 2 acre tract of land and began what became a successful career. Abner soon added to his estate and next purchased an 8 acre tract of land. In company with his brother-in-law he established a cooper shop. This vocation gave a wider range for his capabilities and was the foundation of his fortune in life. The trade was fully mastered, he was workman and proprietor, doing all the work, from the felling of the oak, riving the staves, drying and shaping the same, making the barrels and hauling the product by wagon to Hamilton, Ohio, before the railroads were built.

Following these small successes, came the desire to enlarge his estate for his then large family. This prompted the purchase of an 80 acre and then a 126 acre farm on the Dayton pike, where was established the Two-Mile House, famous for its unbounded hospitality and good cheer in the early days. No weary, foot sore traveler was ever turned away as long as there remained a vacant space in the house, before the great fireplace. These possessions denoted his establishment and with the aid of mother, five strong, vigorous girls who dared for parents’ sake to work in the field and house, and four boys, he carried on family.

Abner was early identified with the Dayton Turnpike Company and served 34 years as its President. In 1870 he removed with his now small family to Eaton, Ohio. In the organization of the Farmers and Citizens Bank, 1864, he was made its President, in which capacity he served until he retired from active business in 1892, enforced by sickness and old age.

Source: [1]

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Abner and his wife Elizabeth would have 12 children including the following:

Catherine Eveline (Dunlap) Aten (1833 - 1897)

Susan V. (Dunlap) Darragh (1834–1888)

Melissa V. (Dunlap) Alexander (1836–1906)

William C. Dunlap (1843- )

Flora A. Dunlap (1845- )

Frank O. Dunlap (1846–1921)

Warren B. Dunlap (1848–1903)

Samuel J. Dunlap (1851–1875)

Alice Dunlap (1853-1949)

Sources

• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "Ancestral File," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/2:1:MCCH-JJ7 : accessed 23 February 2019)

• Geni Profile for Abner Dunlap: [2]

• Ancestry Profile: [3]

• "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MX79-8F1 : 12 April 2016), Abner Dunlap, Twin, Preble, Ohio, United States; citing family 816, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

• "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCLZ-DWL : 13 December 2017), Abner Dunlap, 1860.

• "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6LV-986 : 12 April 2016), Abner Dunlap in household of Warren Dunlap, Ohio, United States; citing p. 42, family 336, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 552,758.

• Abner Dunlap's Obituary: [4]

• Find A Grave Memorial: [5]