DUNN, Williamson
Christmas Day, 1781, a baby entered into this world in Mercer County, Kentucky. This little fellow would become quite important to Hanover and Crawfordsville, Indiana. Growing up in the wilds of an early Kentucky, it doesn’t seem he had a great deal of proper education but he loved learning (probably more self-taught, but he did give land for Hanover college when he lived there and was a co-founder of it and same with Wabash College, as well as a Theological Seminary) and made sure his own children had the best of educations. He could be put up with John Beard in early Indiana education. He was also (Memoir of William McKee Dunn) “a zealous patron and friend of the state university at Bloomington.”
The Indiana Magazine of History in June 1941 noted that “he is described as a man of striking figure,” almost 5’11”, very strong, muscular and fair of complexion with piercing Irish blue eyes.” He owned a cheerful, hopeful disposition enjoyed excellent health as he advanced in years and on his 72nd birthday he was hale, hearty and happy, hearing slightly impaired but perfect eyes and otherwise in good health.” However, a torturous summer of 1854 sent heat while he was out superintending a plank road and the exposure gave him a round of partial paralysis. He realized immediately that he was heading to his end. “His life was his preparation for his death, as he held fast the profession of his faith without waver and now found Him faithful that promised.” He passed Nov 11, 1854 and was buried in Crawfordsville but later with his wife (Miriam Wilson) who had died in 1827 (leaving him with 11 children passing with their last) were later moved to Hanover. He and Miriam had married 25 Sept 1806 at her grandfather’s home (Col. William McKee) in Garrard County, Kentucky. Three years later they went to the Indiana Territory and built a cabin where Hanover is now. April 13, 1813 he was commissioned as Captain of one of the four companies of Rangers that were to protect early Indiana settlers. His company’s “line of block houses covered the territory of what is today Switzerland, Jefferson and Scott counties.” When he was sent to Delaware Indian towns (White River) he left his wife and children in a well-guarded stockade. He mustered out March 23, 1814.
FindAGrave memorial #8936 notes that he was a circuit judge from 1814-1816; member of the House of Representatives 1816-1820 and while such was Speaker of the house. He was in the state Senate from 1837-1838 and as probate judge from 1846-52. Most of the Dunns lived to a good age, his sister Mary passing in her 102nd year. The son of Samuel and Ellenor Brewster Dunn, he being born in County Down, Ireland and Ellenor’s family hailing from County Londonderry with her father.
Dunn was the Register in the Terre Haute Land office in 1820 then came on up to Crawfordsville for the same appointment. His was one of the first of a few (about five) homes in the heart of the city. He and Major Ambrose Whitlock laid-out the town. Chester Holbrook had taught Dunn’s children when they lived at Hanover and Williamson persuaded him to join them in Crawfordsville thus he started the first school here.
A strong Presbyterian, his name was the first of the original 23 of the Hanover Church in 1823. In the first school there, the first “academy was an old weaving room, cleaned out by Dunn’s friend John Finley Crowe (who with Williamson gave the land for Hanover) with six boys as the first pupils, three of whom became ministers and the others doctors. The number quickly grew. His beliefs were reflected in 1832 when he ran for Senate. He was strongly disliked because he was against carrying the mails on Sundays and he was strong in the Temperance Cause. Dunn “was the first of a considerable colony (letter from Dr WA Millis 11 May 1938 to the Sec of the Synod of Indiana) of Scotch-Irish Presbyterians who came over from Kentucky.”
Some of his children were impressive as well and stood for the beliefs they were taught by their father. William McKee Dunn (his memoir p 109) attended the “state seminary at Bloomington” and his elder brothers, James, Samuel and John were already attending there. Almost all remained staunch Presbyterians. Samuel was a trustee in Johnson County as well as a banker. One (Mary) married a renowned doctor. William McKee Dunn looked a great deal like Williamson and was a General in the Civil War; Philander was a civil engineer and later studied medicine and became a physician; David Maxwell attended Hanover as did several of the boys, was a director for the Logansport and Pacific Railroad and trustee of the Wabash & Erie Canal. He was in the 1st Regiment of the Indiana Volunteers in the Mexican war, promoted to 2nd Lt and during the Civil War he was in the 9th Regiment serving as a Lt. Colonel. Nancy Jane died at the young age of 25 and married a minister, having three children to whom Williamson remained close. Thomas Searle served as a private in the Mexican War, He organized a company during the Civil War and tallied the rank of Captain (12th US Infantry) Later on during the war he reached the rank of Major. He remained in the service afterwards and moved to Santa Monica, California where he passed after appendicitis surgery. Amanda the daughter who was born at her mother’s death (Crawfordsville) married Mark Tilton, who was also a Dr. They are buried in Madison, Indiana. His son-in-law described Williamson Dunn as “Strong and vigorous in body, courageous in action and fearing only God!” -- written by Karen Bazzani Zach