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Kinyon Digital Library

History of Adair
County, Iowa, 1915.

Biographical.  Volume 2.

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D. L. Dunlap.

D. L. Dunlap, conducting business under the name of Dunlap Grain Company at Fontanelle, is regarded as one of the foremost representatives of commercial interests in his town.  It is true that he entered upon a business already established but in that connection he received thorough training and gained the experience and knowledge that have enabled him to successfully continue in business on his own account since entering into his present relations.

Mr. Dunlap is a native of Illinois, his birth having occurred in Warrensburg, on the 28th of May, 1876, his parents being Daniel N. and Mary (Shannon) Dunlap.  The father was born in Sangamon county, Illinois, and was of Scotch descent.  His father, Tennessee Dunlap, was named for the state in which he was born and with his parents went to Illinois some time prior to 1830, the family settling in Sangamon county on Fancy creek.  Tennessee Dunlap was united in marriage to Elizabeth Cartright, who was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, and was of English lineage.  Daniel N. Dunlap was reared in his native county and is indebted to the public-school system for the educational advantages which he enjoyed.  In early manhood he engaged in farming but after the outbreak of the Civil war he put aside all business and personal consideration and in August, 1862, enlisted in response to the country's call for troops as a member of Company B, One Hundred and Thirtieth Illinois Infantry.  With his regiment he participated in the battles of Grand Gulf, Port Gibson, Champion's Hill and Black River Bridge.  He also took part in the siege of Vicksburg and on every occasion displayed a spirit of valor and loyalty most commendable, his name being placed on the roll of honor.  After Vicksburg was captured he took part in the siege of Jackson, Mississippi, and later he was detailed to the recruiting service and went to New Orleans, where he assisted in recruiting the first New Orleans regiment, in which he was mustered in as second lieutenant of Company B.  He continued to serve with that command until June, 1866.  At different times during his military experience he was with the commands of Generals Banks, Sherman, Canby and Sheridan.  His regiment was the last white regiment mustered out of the service.  He was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant and later was commissioned captain of his company.  His own loyalty and courage inspired the men who served under him and his military record was at all times most commendable.

After receiving an honorable discharge Mr. Dunlap returned home and took up the occupation of farming, which he followed until 1873, when he became a grain merchant of Warrensburg, Illinois.  There he lived for eight years and in 1881 came to Fontanelle, where he again engage in the grain trade, with which he was prominently identified until 1913, when he retired from active business.  He had also been connected with the lumber business of Fontanelle for ten years and his activities and interests constituted an important element in the material advancement of the community in which he lived.  Aside from his trade interests he acquired extensive holdings of farm lands in Adair county, having at the time of his death fourteen hundred acres, which still forms part of his estate.  His business career was most honorable, laudable ambition and intelligently directed energy leading him to success, while at all times his efforts were of a character that contributed to public prosperity as well as to individual accomplishment.  In Masonic circles Mr. Dunlap was well known, having attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite, while as a member of Kaaba Temple of the Mystic Shrine of Davenport he crossed the sands of the desert.  He died in December, 1914, honored and respected by all who knew him.  His widow survives and occupies the old home at Fontanelle.

D. L. Dunlap attended school in Fontanelle and supplemented his high-school course by study in Northwestern University at Evanston, Illinois.  Prior to entering upon his college course, however, he pursued a commercial course in the Gem City Business College at Quincy, Illinois.  When his studies were completed he returned home and went to work in his father's office, thus receiving the initial business training which has well qualified him for his later responsibilities and duties.

In 1898 Mr. Dunlap was united in marriage to Miss Mable Freeman, of Fontanelle, and soon afterward they removed to his father's farm, where they lived for a year.  On the expiration of that time, however, they returned to town and Mr. Dunlap was again in his father's office and later engaged in the live-stock business, with which he has now been prominently identified for the past sixteen years.  He handles a large number of cattle annually, making extensive shipments to the city markets, and being an excellent judge of stock is enabled to make judicious purchases and profitable sales.  In 1912, in connection with his brother-in-law, F. O. Welch, he organized the Dunlap Grain Company, a partnership concern, now controlling one of the leading enterprises of Fontanelle.  As in the live-stock business, he has built up an undertaking of large proportions.

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Dunlap has been blessed with a daughter, Dorothy M.  Fraternally, Mr. Dunlap is connected with Fontanelle Lodge, No. 138, F. & A. M., St. John's Chapter, No. 73, R. A. M., Des Moines Valley Consistory, No. 8, A. & A. S. R., and Za-Ga-Zig Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Des Moines.  Both Mr. and Mrs. Dunlap are identified with the Order of the Eastern Star and he is likewise a member of Fontanelle Lodge, No. 350, I. O. O. F.  Mrs. Dunlap belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church and he contributes generously to its support.  In politics he is a democrat but without aspiration for office.  Much of his life has been passed in Fontanelle and through the capable conduct of legitimate business enterprises he was worked his way steadily upward and is today one of the active and honored representatives of commercial interests in Adair county.  His plans are carefully formulated and promptly executed.  He has strong will power, joined to everyday common sense and a genius for devising the right thing at the right time.

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