Robert Campbell Dunn1

b. 21 August 1845, d. 4 March 1907
FatherDr. Samuel Dunn2 b. 18 Feb 1805, d. 27 Nov 1888
MotherJane Beattie Ryburn Edmiston2 b. 24 Aug 1807, d. 23 May 1861
Birth21 Aug 1845 Robert Campbell Dunn was born on 21 Aug 1845.2 
Childhood Robert grew up in the log house on Forest Hill Drive just outside of Glade Spring in Washington County.3 
Description  At the age of 18 Robert stood 5' 5" tall and had light hair and gray eyes.4 
Military During the Civil War he fought with the Confederate forces, serving as a private in Company C of the 21st Virginia Cavalry.5,4 
Military13 Sep 1864 He was captured on 13 Sep 1864 by the First Brigade of the Third Cavalry of General Sherman's Union forces near Opequan Creek (near Winchester, Virginia). He was briefly held at Harper's Ferry and was then sent to a prisoner's camp at Camp Chase, Ohio.4 
Cens-1880Jun 1880 After the war Robert returned to the family home. With his father's death in 1888 he became the head of the household, which included his unmarried sisters, Florence and Emily, (and a servant) and remained so until his own marriage in late 1897.6 
Marriage26 Oct 1897 He married Nancy Eliza Martin, daughter of John Henry Martin and Nancy Eliza Hagy, on 26 Oct 1897 in Washington County, Virginia.7 
Cens-19009 Jun 1900 Two years later, Robert, age 54, and Nannie, age 37, were enumerated in their own household as part of the 1900 census enumeration. There were no children listed with them.8 
Will31 Dec 1906 Robert wrote his will on Dec. 31, 1906. In it he remembered his wife Nannie and a variety of family members and organizations. He left money to the Orphan's home at Fredericksburg, King College in Bristol, the Stonewall Jackson Institute in Abingdon and the Thornwell Orphanage in Clinton, South Carolina. He also left money to Old Glade Spring Church for the maintanence of family graves and to aid "poor worthy young men in their efforts to acquire an education for the Presbyterian ministry" and for the benefit of "old and worn out Presbyterian ministers and their wives."9 
Death4 Mar 1907 Robert died on 4 Mar 1907 at age 61.10 
Will-Recd4 Apr 1907 The will was recorded in court on 4 Apr 1907 in Washington County, Virginia, with Nannie Dunn posting a bond in the amount of $5,000 as executrix.9 
Burial He was buried at Old Glade Spring Cemetery in Washington County, Virginia.10 

Related Links and Images:

Robert's birth entry in the Bible of his sister Emily (3rd image)11
Click here for photos and more information on the old Dunn log house where Robert grew up
Robert's headstone
Other interments in Old Glade Spring Cemetery
Last Edited16 Apr 2010

Citations

  1. [S55] Carolyn C. Ryburn, "Samuel Dunn-Jane Beattie Ryburn Edmiston family group sheet". Full name recorded as Robert Campbell Dunn.
  2. [S65] Emily Dunn Bible.
  3. [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.
  4. [S1343] Muster roll cards; Robert C. Dunn Compiled Service Record, Civil War; Record Group 109; NARA. He appears alternately as R.C. Dunn and Robert C. Dunn; some cards indicate his rank as private and others as sergt.
  5. [S958] James L. Douthat, Civil War Records of Washington Co., Virginia, p. 57.
  6. [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.
  7. [S8] Hockett and Hunt, 1891-1902 Marriages of Washington Co. VA, p. 31. R.C. Dunn, 45, single, s/o Dr. Saml & Jane Dunn, farmer & Nannie Martin, 30, single, d/o John & Nannie Martin; 26 Oct. 1897.
  8. [S574] Robert Dunn household, 1900 U.S. cens., Washington Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Glade Spring District, ED 108, sheet 8B, dwelling 139, family 144, viewed online at Genealogy.com, April 2003, image 16 of 70. Robert Dunn, 54, b. Aug. 1845, marr 2 yrs, farmer, owns home; Nannie, 37, b. May 1863, marr 2 yrs, no children; also servant; all born in VA.
  9. [S536] Robert C. Dunn will (1907), Washington Co., Virginia, Will Book 29: 277. Will names: wife Nannie Dunn, sisters Florence V. and Emily J. Dunn, nieces Edith D. Love, Lizzie Dunn Rector, Anna Rogers Hutton (inferred that Anna has an heir but he/she is not named), Sarah Agnes Jones, dau of S.A. and Nannie E. Jones of Waynesville N.C., Lura Virginia Steffner, dau of Frank and Lura Steffner of Chattanooga TN. An additional statement wills mother's needlework to niece Edith Love Wilbur Washington then to Anna Rogers Hutton, then to Lizzie S. Dunn. It also wills rifle to Minter Dunn, trunk and jewelry to Walter Dunn, as well as father's razor with admonition to take good care of it.
  10. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 179. Robert C. Dunn, 21 Aug 1845-4 Mar 1907.
  11. [S1376] Bible images courtesy of Carolyn Ryburn.