Dr. Samuel Dunn

b. 18 February 1805, d. 27 November 1888
FatherWilliam Dunn1,2,3 d. 1819
MotherLydia Musgrave1,3 d. aft 1819
Birth18 Feb 1805 Dr. Samuel Dunn was born on 18 Feb 1805 in Washington County, Virginia.4,5 
Devisee14 Jan 1819 Samuel was two days shy of his 14th birthday when his father died. William's will left Samuel a share of his real and personal estate, to include the land on which the family lived. Samuel also participated in the distribution of his father's slaves.2 
Occupation1827 Samuel started practicing medicine in Washington County about 1827 and continued for 61 years.6 
Marriage16 Apr 1829 He married Jane Beattie Ryburn Edmiston, daughter of Thomas Edmiston and Margaret Buchanan, on 16 Apr 1829 in Washington County, Virginia.7,8 
Land-Sell23 Sep 1843  In September 1843 Samuel and Jane sold their interest in the land Samuel inherited from his father.9 
  Samuel's brother William had lived on the land for some years, but migrated west to Missouri that fall. Three of Samuel's siblings (or their heirs) also sold their interest which was purchased by Jonas Smyth who married Samuel's youngest sister Lydia in 1832. 
Residence Samuel and Jane lived in the old log house off Forest Hills Drive (route 751) just north of Glade Springs. The land had originally belonged to Jane's mother Margaret Buchanan Edmiston but had been left in part to Jane and her sister Eliza in the will of their father as mentioned above. Samuel purchased Eliza's share from she and her husband John Campbell for $610 in 1834 but the deed clarifies that Samuel [and Jane] were living on the land at the time.10,11,12 
Cens-18506 Aug 1850  There they were recorded on the 1850 census with their children: Florence (19), Thomas (17), Margaret (15), Emily (13), William (11), Sarah (9), Robert (5) and Catherine (2). Samuel was recorded on the census as "Dr. Dunn" and his occupation was listed as "physician."13 
Cens-1860- Slave10 Jun 1860 Besides practicing medicine Samuel was also a farmer. The 1860 census lists him as the owner of 17 slaves and states that there were 4 slave houses on his property.14 
Cens-1860- Agric12 Jun 1860  His farm consisted of 220 improved acres and 122 unimproved acres. On it Samuel kept 9 horses, 8 milch cows, 18 cattle, 47 sheep and 8 pigs. The land produced 180 bushels of wheat, 1,500 bushels of Indian corn, 200 bushels of oats, 100 bushels of Irish potatoes, 300 pounds of butter and 6 tons of hay. The farm, valued at $7,000, was larger and more productive than most of his neighbors.15 
Cens-1880Jun 1880 Samuel was also enumerated on the 1880 census. He was widowed and living with three of his adult children.16 
Death27 Nov 1888 Samuel died of kidney disease on 27 Nov 1888 in Washington County, Virginia, at age 83.1,5 
Burial He was buried at Old Glade Spring Cemetery in Washington County, Virginia.4 

Research Comment:

Researchers sometimes refer to Samuel as Samuel Logan Dunn but I can find no document that uses a middle name - Logan, or otherwise. Please contact me if you have further information.

Related Links and Images:

Click here to see photos and read more about Samuel and Jane's home
Samuel's headstone
Other interments in Old Glade Spring Cemetery
The 1850 Washington Co., Virginia census listed Samuel as the head of household number 308. Follow the link to see who lived nearby.

Family

Jane Beattie Ryburn Edmiston b. 24 Aug 1807, d. 23 May 1861
Children
Last Edited12 Oct 2013

Citations

  1. [S86] Fridley, "Washington Co., VA Deaths 1886-1896" online database, <www.Ancestry.com>, Dr. Samuel Dunn, d. 27 Nov. 1888 of kidney disease at 83y 9m 9d; parents William and Lydia Dunn.
  2. [S131] William Dunn will (1819), Washington Co., Virginia, Will Book 4: 284. Will mentions wife Lydia, daughter Elizabeth Logan, wife of Wm S. Logan, daughters Rebecca, Polly, Jane and Lydia Dunn and sons Samuel, John and William Dunn; also grandson William D. Logan.
  3. [S1542] Lineage application worksheet of Virginia Dunn Beatie, Daughters of the American Revolution (William Dunn), dated 1974-76. Virginia was Samuel's granddaughter.
  4. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 179. Samuel Dunn M.D., 18 Feb 1805-27 Nov. 1888.
  5. [S1542] Lineage application worksheet of Virginia Dunn Beatie, Daughters of the American Revolution (William Dunn), dated 1974-76. Virginia was Samuel's granddaughter; provides date and location.
  6. [S30] Audrey Honegger, "Dunn Physicians," e-mail to Diana Powell, 3 Aug. 2000. Referenced in Dunn reunion book, but source not stated.
  7. [S4] D.E. Brown, Marriages of Washington Co., VA 1781-1853, p. 17. Record reported to read: Samuel Dunn and Jane B.R. Edmondson, marr 16 Apr. 1829 by G.M. Crawford.
  8. [S65] Emily Dunn Bible.
  9. [S2524] Jack Hockett, Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book 16, 1842-1844, abstracting WCV Deed Bk 16: 386.
  10. [S16] See Glade Spring property platting project by Ford and Powell.
  11. [S52] Letter, Carolyn Ryburn to Diana Powell, 28 Oct. 2000, 15 Nov. 2000; also sheet titled "Log House and Dunn Farm Chronology" dated Sept. 2000.
  12. [S1148] Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book 12: 31-32. John M. and Eliza Campell to Samuel Dunn for $610: one undivided interest in tract of land on which Dunn now lives; dated 28 Jul 1834 and recorded 15 Oct. 1834.
  13. [S367] Dr. Dunn household, 1850 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., 67th District, p. 88b (stamped), dwelling 308, family 308, viewed online at Ancestry.com, May 2003, image 42 of 289. Dr. Dunn 43, physician, owns real estate valued at $3,420; cont p. 89: Jane Dunn 40; Florence 19; Thomas 17; Margaret 15; Emily 13; William 11; Sarah 9; Robert 5 and Catherine 2; all b. VA.
  14. [S1308] Samuel Dunn, owner, 1860 U.S. census, Washington Co., Virginia, slave schedule, p. 457 (stamped), line 26, viewed online at Ancestry.com. 17 slaves listed (only 3 adults); also 4 slave houses.
  15. [S1311] Samuel Dunn landowner, 1860 U.S. census, Washington Co., Virginia, agricultural sched., Saltville Post Office, p. 3, line 12.
  16. [S165] Samuel Dunn household, 1880 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Glade Spring District, ED 94, page 21 (63A stamped), dwelling 180, family 181, viewed online at www.Ancestry.com, April 2003, image 21 of 54. Samuel Dunn, 75, wid, father b. Ireland, mother b. PA; Florence V., 50, dau; Emily J., 44, dau; Robert C., 34, son; Flora Clark, 32, servant; Robert Clark, 3; Elizabeth, 1; all b. VA.
  17. [S1542] Lineage application worksheet of Virginia Dunn Beatie, Daughters of the American Revolution (William Dunn), dated 1974-76. Virginia was the daughter of Samuel Dunn.