As Published by
Chapman Publishing Co. in Chicago
MRS. MARY MINERVA (HILL) DUNN, of Ashland, is the widow of the late Patrick Dunn, a pioneer of prominence, and a much esteemed citizen, whose death, July 29, 1901 was a cause of general regret. A daughter of Isaac Hill, Mrs. Dunn was born in Sweetwater, Monroe county, Tenn. She comes of Revolutionary stock, her great grandfather, Abner Hill, who was of English ancestry, having served as an officer in the Revolutionary war. Her grandfather Joab Hill, a native of Virginai, was colonel of a regiment in the War of 1812, and afterwards settled in Tennessee, where he owned and managed a large plantation. Going from there to Missouri, he located near the town of Athens, and there spent his remaining days.
Born and reared in old Virginia, Isaac
Hill moved with his parents to eastern Tennessee, later going to Missouri,
residing there about a year. Removing from there to Iowa, his home
was near Dubuque for about two years. Subsequently, with a brother
from Missouri, and his mother, he came with ox-teams across the plains
to Oregon, arriving in Clatsop county, Ore., in the fall of 1849.
The following winter he built a mill on Clatsop plains, which he operated
for a few months. Crossing the mountains to California in the spring
of 1850, he was engaged in mining in Yreka and Humbug, remaining in Siskiyou
county about one year. Starting east for his family in 1851, he went
through the Rogue River valley, where he was attracted by a fertile tract
of land that he decided to take up at a later time, but when he returned
to the valley he found it had been taken by Patrick Dunn, whom his daughter
afterwards married. Leaving Tennessee with his family February 14,
1852, Mr. Hill proceeded by water to Alexander, Mo., and thence to near
to Oskaloosa, Iowa, where he purchased a traveling outfit, including three
wagons, and about fifteen yoke of oxen. Subsequently buying one hundred
head of cattle in Iowa, he started across the plains April 14, 1852, for
Oregon, taking the old Oregon trail. With great foresight he had
previously secured from an eminent physician of St. Louis a medicine chest,
and a prescription for cholera, which proved so effectual in curing incipient
cases of the dread disease on the journey that he was called by the company
Dr. Hill. Arriving in Marion county October 14, he spent the winter
in Salem and in the spring of 1853 came to the Rogue River valley by the
Indian trail. Taking up a donation claim, he improved a farm, and
embarked in the dairy business. During the first summer, he milked
forty cows, made cheese and butter, receiving for the latter $1 a pound,
while salt sold in 1851 and 1852 for $16 a pound. During the Indian
war that followed, he served as captain of a company, and was twice obliged
to keep his family at Fort Wagner, the refuge of the settlers at that time
whenever the Indians became hostile. He had a large ranch of six
hundred and forty acres, and was actively engaged in its management until
his death, from cholera, in 1864. He was the first man in the Rogue
River valley to raise tobacco. On his original claim is located the
Hill Soda spring, and the Hill Butte. He was a Democrat in politics,
served as justice of the peace many years, and was a member of the Baptist
Church,
Mr. Hill Married Elizabeth Fine, who
was born on the French Broad river, in North Carolina, September 11,1806,
and died in Ashland, Ore., at the age of seventy-three years. She
was a daughter of John and Mary (Lee) Fine, and a cousin of Gen. Robert
E. Lee. Both Mr. and Mrs. Lee were natives of Virginia, and Mr. Lee
was a soldier in the war of 1812. Mr. and Mrs. Hill became the parents
of six children, namely: La Grande, who came to California with the forty-niners,
and died, in 1886 in Ashland, Ore.; John who was accidentally drowned in
the Misouri river, at Omaha, in 1852; Cicero, a merchant who died in December
1902 in Portland; Mrs Martha Gillette, of Ashland; Mary Minerva, now Mrs.
Dunn; and Ann Haseltine Russell of Ashland.
February 23, 1854, on the Isaac Hill
donation claim Mary M. Hill was united in marriage with Patrick Dunn, one
of the early settlers of Ashland. Born in County Wexford, Ireland,
March 24, 1824, Mr. Dunn came with his parents to America and was educated
in Philadelphia, Pa. His parents, Patrick Sr., and Jane (Toole) Dunn,
removed with their seven children, of whom Patrick was the youngest child,
from Philadelphia to Illinois, and settled on a farm near Edwardsville,
where both spent their remaining years. In 1850 Patrick Dunn, excited by
the wonderful stories regarding the gold discovery in California, started
for the Pacific coast. Joining the miners on the Salmon river, he
nearly lost his life from starvation and exposure the following winter,
the campers being snowed in, and for many weeks cut off from all supplies.
As early in the spring as he could possibly get over the mountains, Mr.
Dunn came to Oregon, locating in Jackson county. Taking up a donation
claim of four hundred and eighty acres, about four miles south of Ashland,
he improved one of the finest and most productive farms in this part of
the state. With his neighbors he took part in the Rogue River Indian wars,
and on one occasion while going with a party to interview a few Indians
commanded by Sambo, of "Old Jo's" band, in order to make a treaty if possible,
he received a severe wound in the shoulder, from the effects of which he
never fully recovered. Mr. Dunn was very successful in his business
operations, acquiring a handsome property. In addition to his home
ranch he also owned five hundred acres of land just above his homestead,
and a large interest in the Jackson County Land Company, and he also owned
an extensive ranch near Lakeview.
Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Dunn
five children were born, namely: Mrs. Elizabeth Van Sant, of Ashland; Mrs
Amy Willetts, whose death occurred in Jackson county in 1883; Ottilla,
wife of Stewart Caldwell of Ashland; George W., living on the home farm;
and Mrs Ella D. Rice of Ashland. Politically Mr. Dunn was a steadfast
Republican, and filled many places of responsibility and trust with credit
to himself, and to the honor of his constituents. In 1854 and 1855
he was a representative in the territorial legislatre; in 1864 he was county
assessor; in 1872 he was elected county clerk; and he also served as county
commissioner. Fraternally he was a Mason, belonging to the Blue Lodge
and the Royal Arch Chapter. He was buried in the Ashland cemetery
with Masonic honors, the services at the grave being conducted by Ashland
Lodge, of which he was a member. Mrs. Dunn belongs to the Jackson
County Pioneer Association, and the Oregon Pioneer Association, and is
a member of the Presbyterian Church. Like her husband, she is a strong
advocate of the principles of the Republican party.
Last updated by William P. Russell onSaturday, 08-Sep-2018 09:40:11 MDT