Theophilus Dunn1

b. 29 July 1836, d. 15 December 1916
FatherJohn Dunn1 b. 1 Mar 1795, d. 22 Aug 1845
MotherMary McCulloch1 b. 12 Jun 1805, d. 17 Mar 1891
Birth29 Jul 1836 Theophilus Dunn was born on 29 Jul 1836 in Washington County, Virginia.2,1 
Fath-Death22 Aug 1845  He was the 3rd child and first son in a family of 6 children. John Dunn died in 1845 when Theophilus was nine. Mary Dunn outlived her husband by another 46 years. 
Cens-18609 Jun 1860  Theophilus made his home with his mother until his own marriage. Mary's 1860 household included Theophilus and his brothers Robert and John, as well as 56 year old James McCullock. Theophilus was employed as a cabinetmaker, a profession he would practice his entire life.3 
Military22 Apr 1861  At the outbreak of the Civil War Theophilus joined the 37th Virginia Infantry. A Theophilus Dunn enlisted in Company K at Abingdon on April 22, 1861 for a term of 1 year. He suffered a severe gunshot wound at Winchester on May 25, 1862 [First Battle of Winchester] and was admitted to a Confederate Hospital at Mt. Jackson, Virginia. The company muster roll for July through Dec. 1862 noted that he was absent with leave due to his wounds.4,5 
Marriage27 Jan 1863 He married Mary Deida Ward on 27 Jan 1863 in Washington County, Virginia.6 
Military18 Jul 1863  Less than 6 months later (on 18 June 1863) Theophilus enlisted in Company C of the 22nd Virginia Cavalry. He held the rank of Second Lieutenant. His younger brothers Robert and John had enlisted in the same company in May. However Theophilus was captured at Jonesboro, Tennessee in September, 1863 and held briefly at the Union Army's military prison at Louisville, Kentucky before he was transferred to Camp Douglas at Chicago. He was released on 13 June 1865.7 
Cens-187022 Aug 1870 Following the war Theophilus and Mary settled in the town of Abingdon where Theophilus established his cabinetry business. They were enumerated in the summer of 1870 with 2 children: William (6) and John (3).8 
27 Mar 1866  A third child had been born nine months after Theophilus returned home from the war, but died at birth. Son Arthur was born a month after the 1870 census enumerator visited the family. Son John died in 1875 at age 7. 
Widowed8 Aug 1877  Theophilus was widowed when Mary died on 8 Aug 1877. 
Cens-188021 Jun 1880  In 1880 Theophilus was again recorded living in Abingdon. The household included his 3 surviving children: William (16), Arthur (9) and Robert (6).9 
Marriage15 Oct 1884 He married second Emily A. Fleenor on 15 Oct 1884 in Washington County.10 
Widowed30 Oct 1896  Theophilus and Emily had 2 daughters together, although Mary, their firstborn, only lived a few months. Theophilus was widowed a second time when Emily died in the fall of 1896. 
Cens-19006 Jun 1900  Theophilus remained in Abingdon a few more years where his cabinetry business had grown to include his son Arthur.11 
  However his eldest son William had moved west some years earlier, settling in the town of Gilman in Harrison County, Missouri where he opened a dry goods establishment. By 1900 William's younger brother Robert was also in Gilman and employed in the dry goods business. Two of Theophilus's brothers had settled in the nearby community of Bethany around 1870. They too were employed in the mercantile business. 
Migration1904  In 1904 Theophilus, with son Arthur and daughter Florence, left Virginia and joined the rest of the family in Missouri.12 
Cens-191015 Apr 1910  By 1910 both Arthur and Florence had joined the family business in Gilman.13 
Death15 Dec 1916 Theophilus died from chronic nephritis and heart trouble on 15 Dec 1916 in Gilman, Harrison County, Missouri, at age 80.1,2 
Burial His body was returned to Virginia where he was buried at McCullock-Cuddy Cemetery in Washington County.2 

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Family 1

Mary Deida Ward b. 24 Jun 1841, d. 8 Oct 1877
Children

Family 2

Emily A. Fleenor b. 10 Dec 1847, d. 30 Oct 1896
Children
Last Edited2 May 2011

Citations

  1. [S1727] Theophilus Dunn, Missouri state death certificate no. 40795 (1916). W.T. Dunn, informant.
  2. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 52. Stone reads: Theophilus Dunn, 29 Jul 1836-15 Dec. 1916.
  3. [S234] Mary Dunn household, 1860 U.S. cens, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Western district, p. 395 (added script), dwelling 206, family 206, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Sept. 2010. Household includes: Mary Dunn, 54, owns land worth $1,500 and pers. prop of $300; Theophilus, 23, cabinetmaker; Robert, 18, farmer; John, 16; James McCullok, 56, owns land worth $1,500; all b. VA; Jane McIntyre, 18, washerwoman, b. NC.
  4. [S2425] "Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Belonging to Units From Virginia," digital images, Footnote.com (http://www.footnote.com : viewed Oct. 2010); Theophilus P. Dunn, private., Co. K, 37th Virginia Infantry.
  5. [S2521] George Wanamaker, History of Harrison Co., Missouri, digitized images, Internet Archive (http://archive.org : accessed Oct. 2010), page 332; biographical article abt William McCulloch Dunn states that brother Theophilus was a soldier of the 37th VA Infantry during the war and was wounded at the Battle of Kernstown, under Stonewall Jackson.
  6. [S6] Thomas Colley, Washington Co. VA Marriages 1853-1880, p. 98. Theophilus Dunn, 26y, sgl, b. & resid WCV, cabinet maker, s/o John & Mary Dunn AND Mary Deida Ward, 21y, sgl, b. & resid WCV, d/o Ota H. & Susannah Ward; 27 Jan 1863.
  7. [S2425] "Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Belonging to Units From Virginia," digital images, Footnote.com (http://www.footnote.com : viewed Sept. 2010); Theophilus Dunn, 2nd Lieut., Co. C, 22nd Virginia Cavalry (Bowen's Regiment Virginia Mounted Riflemen). Some entries in his military record say Theophilus was captured Sept. 4th, 1863 and some say the 13th.
  8. [S635] Theophilus Dunn household, 1870 U.S. cens, Washington Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Abingdon, p. 7 (stamped), dwelling 85, family 90, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Sept. 2010. Household includes: Theophilus Dunn, 24, cabinet maker, owns personal property worth $24; Mary, 29; William, 6; John, 3; Maggie Ward, 21; attending school; all b. VA.
  9. [S156] Theophilus Dunn household, 1880 U.S. Cens., Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Abingdon, ED 92, p. 21A (stamped), dwelling 276, family 309. Sept. 2010. Household includes: Theophilus Dunn, 43, cabinet maker; William, 16, son; Arthur, 9, son; Robert, 6, son; all b. VA.
  10. [S123] William R. Wheeler, Washington Co., VA Marriage Licenses 1881-1890, p. 30, 34. Dunn, Theophilus, 48, wid, b. & resid Washington Co. VA, manufacturer, s/o John & Mary Dunn AND Emily A. Fleenor, 36, sgl, b. & resid WCV, d/o W.G. & Eliza Fleenor; 15 Oct. 1884.
  11. [S634] Theophilus Dunn household, 1900 U.S. cens., Washington Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Abingdon, ED 107, sheet 5A (51 stamped), dwelling 91, family 94, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Sept. 2010. Household includes: Theophilus Dunn, 63, b. Jul 1836, cabinet maker, married 36 years, owns home; Arthur, son, 25, b. Jan 1875, cabinet maker; Florence, dau, 12, b. Aug. 1887; all b. VA.
  12. [S2521] George Wanamaker, History of Harrison Co., Missouri, digitized images, Internet Archive (http://archive.org : accessed Oct. 2010), page 332; biographical article abt William McCulloch Dunn.
  13. [S2498] William T. Dunn household, 1910 U.S. cens., Harrison Co., Missouri, pop. sched., Gilman, ED 110, sheet 1B, dwelling 21, family 21, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Sept. 2010. Household includes: William T. Dunn, 45, marr 9 yrs, b. VA/VA/VA, dry goods merchant, owns home; Rose M., wife, 35, marr 9 yrs, mother of 3 children, all are living, b. WVa; Theophilus, son, 8, b. MO; William, son, 5, b. MO; Filbert [?], son, 2, b. MO; Theophilus, father, 73, wid, b. VA, own income; Florence A., sister, 21, b. VA, salesman in dry goods store.
  14. [S87] "Dunn Family Reunion Booklet," compiled for the 3rd Dunn Family Reunion, 7 Aug. 1988 by Eva Dunn Counts, Knoxville, TN, p. 19. Family group sheet for Theophilus Dunn Mary Deida Ward.
  15. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 52. Stone reads: Dunn, infant of Theo & Mary D. Dunn, b. & d. 27 Mar 1866.
  16. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 52. Stone reads: Johnnie Dunn, s/o Theo & Mary D. Dunn, 14 May 1867-20 Jan 1875.
  17. [S87] "Dunn Family Reunion Booklet," compiled for the 3rd Dunn Family Reunion, 7 Aug. 1988 by Eva Dunn Counts, Knoxville, TN, p. 17. Family group sheet for John F. Dunn and Mary McCullock.
  18. [S1727] Robert H. Dunn, Missouri state death certificate no. 19499 (1933).
  19. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 52. Stone reads: Mary Alice Dunn, d/o Theo & Emily A. Dunn, 11 Mar to 29 Aug. 1886.