Page 646

 

J. T. DUNLAP

 

J. T. Dunlap is numbered among the prominent, progressive and successful citizens of Taylor county, who, throughout his residence in Iowa, has improved various farming properties and through his labors has assisted materially in the work of the general development and advancement.  He was born in Adams county, Ohio, May 1, 1859, and is a son of James R. and Mary C. (Taylor) Dunlap, natives of Pennsylvania and Adams county, Ohio, respectively.  At an early date the father left the Keystone State and with his parents went to Ohio, where he was reared and married.  He followed the occupation of farming for some years in Ohio and then in 1863 enlisted as a soldier in the Civil war, becoming a member of the Second Ohio Heavy Artillery.  He served throughout the remainder of the war and was honorably discharged, after which he returned to Adams county, Ohio.  Subsequently he removed to Mercer county, Illinois, where he operated a rolling and flour mill for about three years, when he sold out and purchased a farm, upon which he resided until 1881.  In that year he removed to Lenox, Iowa, where his remaining days were passed.  The subject of this review is the eldest in a family of six sons born unto Mr.. and Mrs. James R. Dunlap, the others being: John N.; George P.; Robert S., deceased; Charles E., and an infant deceased.  With exception of our subject all reside in California.

 

J. T. Dunlap was a lad of ten years when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Illinois, and on his father's farm he spent the years of his boyhood and youth.  He acquired his preliminary education in the common schools of Mercer county and later supplemented this training by a good academic course.  Shortly after laying aside his text-books he accompanied his parents on their removal to Adams county, Iowa, where the family took up its abode on a farm which the father purchased about four miles north of Lenox.  There Mr. Dunlap remained with his father and mother until their removal to Lenox, after which he took charge of the home farm and conducted it successfully for two years.  He then went to Kansas, where he took up a homestead claim, upon which he resided for two years.  At the expiration of that period he traded the farm for land in Adams county, Iowa, upon which he located and to the further cultivation and improvement of which he directed his efforts for some time.  Later he sold that property and removed to California, engaging in prospecting in that state for one year.

 

After his return to Iowa Mr. Dunlap bought a farm in Grant township, Taylor county, near Clearfield, but soon afterward sold it and purchased land in Adams county.  This property consisted of one hundred and sixty acres located (page 647) north of Lenox.  He put many modern improvements upon the place, erected good barns and outbuildings and continued to reside thereon until 1902, in which year he sold it at a great advance over the purchase price.  He then invested in two hundred and forty acres on section 5, Platte township, Taylor county, where he now resides and which he has brought under an excellent state of cultivation.  The soil is naturally rich and fertile and under his careful management is yielding abundant crops annually.  He erected a large two-story residence upon the place and also two big barns and substantial outbuildings, and the farm lacks none of those modern conveniences and accessories for facilitating farm labor.  In connection with general farming, he engages extensively in the stock-raising business, breeding, feeding and shipping cattle, hogs and sheep.  He also makes a specialty of breeding pure blooded Shire horses, in which connection he has raised and sold some very high priced colts.  He is the owner of a fine imported English Shire stallion for breeding purposes.  By close application to his various interests, and by constant exertion combined with good judgment, he has gained a place among the substantial citizens of Taylor county, and the gratifying degree of prosperity to which he has attained clearly indicates the business ability which he has displayed.

 

On the 20th of May, 1884, in Adams county, Iowa, Mr. Dunlap was united in marriage to Miss Hattie E. Fulton, a native of Benton county, Iowa, where she was reared.  She received good educational advantages and is a graduate of the Lenox high school.  Unto this union were born three children, namely: William K., who is married and carries on general farming in Taylor county; Eula B., the wife of Earl Rogers, a farmer of Adams county; and James L., still under the parental roof.

 

Mr. Dunlap's religious faith is indicated in his membership in the United Presbyterian church, while his political allegiance is given to the republican party.  During his residence in Adams county he served as township trustee and assessor and is now filling the office of president of the school board, the cause of education finding in him a warm friend.  He is thoroughly identified with the interests of Taylor county, his influence at all times being upon the side of progress, reform and improvement.  His life has been actuated by a laudable ambition to attain success and as the years have passed he has achieved a measure of prosperity which has come to him as the reward of persistent and earnest labor, so that he has gained a place among the representative agriculturists and stock dealers of his community.  Moreover, the standard of life that he set up for himself has been one that has commanded for him the confidence and respect of his fellow citizens.