David Vine Dunning

Among the most progressive, representative and deservedly successful native sons of Allamakee county is numbered David Vine Dunning, who owns and operates a fine property in Franklin township, constituting the farm upon which he was born on the 17th of January, 1864. His name has long been an honored one in this community, his parents, William H. H. and Emeline (Jemison) Dunning, having come to this part of Iowa in pioneer times. The father was born at Ashtabula, Ohio, on the 25th of October, 1840, and went with his parents to Wisconsin about 1851. A few years later he came to Iowa, settling in Allamakee county about the year 1854, and here he grew to manhood, becoming afterward an extensive landowner and a prosperous farmer in Franklin township. He continued active in the development of his property in this vicinity until 1880 and then moved into Clayton county, near Luana, where he continued until 1891, going in that year to Oklahoma. He purchased a farm in that state and continued to reside upon it until 1911, when he retired from active life, moving into Guymon, Oklahoma, where he passed away February 27, 1913. His wife, who was a native of Pennsylvania, born October 20, 1844, now makes her home in Enid, Oklahoma. To their union were born six children, of whom the subject of this review is the eldest in order of birth.

David V. Dunning attended district school No. 4, Franklin township, and afterward took a commercial course in a business college at Fayette. After laying aside his books he remained with his parents until he was twenty-one years of age, acquiring by practical experience upon his father’s farm a comprehensive knowledge of the best agricultural methods. After he had attained his majority he rented the Oathout farm and developed it for two years, after which he purchased the home place, upon which he has since resided, having added to the property until it now comprises one hundred and twenty acres, practically all under cultivation. Substantial improvements have been made upon it, excellent buildings erected and modern machinery installed, and it is today one of the best equipped farms in this part of Iowa, Mr. Dunning standing in the front ranks of progressive agriculturists. He is a stockholder in the Farmers Cooperative Shipping Company of Luana and also in the Creamery Company there and in business circles is known as a resourceful, far-sighted and discriminating business man.

On the 17th of February, 1886, Mr. Dunning was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Jane Lytle, who was born in Clayton county, a few miles southeast of Luana, on the 16th of September, 1866. She is a daughter of Mathew S. and Josephine (Oathout) Lytle, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of New York. The father, who during his entire active life engaged in farming came west when a young man and became an extensive landowner in Clayton county, continuing active in the management of his holding until his death, which occurred in 1904. His wife survives him and resides upon the Lytle homestead. Mr. and Mrs. Dunning became the parents of two children: Roy Lytle, who was born January 29, 1891, and who is assisting his father with the work of the homestead; and Jessie Vine, who was born September 12, 1896, and who is now attending school in Waukon.

Mr. Dunning is a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal church and fraternally is connected with the Modern Brotherhood of America. He gives his political allegiance to the republican party and has served as township trustee and school director, doing able and constructive work in both capacities. He never, however, aspires to public office, preferring to concentrate his attention upon the development of his excellent farm. He is highly esteemed and respected in his native township and in the course of years has made many substantial contributions to its agricultural development.

-source: Past & Present of Allamakee County; by Ellery M. Hancock; S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.; 1913
-transcribed by Diana Diedrich

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