DUNKIN-Allen L. - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

Allen L. Dunkin, farmer, Attica. His father, Joshua Dunkin, born in Pennsylvania, came here from Ohio in the early settlement of this township The exact year cannot be ascertained, but it is certain that he was here in 1830. He was twice married. His second wife, Mercy Keeler before marriage, a Connecticut woman, came here from Huron county, Ohio, in 1838, the consort of Daniel Perkins. The latter dying, she married Mr. Dunkin, and said subject of this biography was the eldest issue of the union, and was born December 21, 1842. His father died in 1849. His mother had two sons and one daughter by her first marriage. Only the sons, Albert K. and Frederick A. are living. Mr. Dunkin obtained a fair English education. He was fourteen months at the State Normal School of Pennsylvania, located at Millersville, Lancaster county, in 1861 and 1862, and took a short term in ornamental penmanship and pencil-drawing. He became an expert with the pen, and writes forty different plain and ornamental hands. From 1862 to 1867 he taught school and farmed; but the requirements of the latter business obliged him to throw up teaching, which he has great natural taste and liking, as proved by his good success. He took two premiums at the Attica county fair for the best penmanship, and at the last exhibition had to encounter nearly thirty lady competitors. He also took a like premium at the Covington fair. He was married June 19, 1878, to Martha Ann, daughter of Dr. William and Mary Jane (Wright) Wade, of West Point. Their two children are Thomas Raymond, born June19, 1879, and Mary Mercy, October 24, 1880. Mrs. Dunkin was born September 3, 1861. She is a member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Dunkin belongs to the Baptist church, and is a democrat. He owns 128 acres of land and under cultivation, except thirty-three acres of timber. He has been township trustee one term of two years, and was a candidate for reelection, but was defeated by only six votes.