I2163: Mary "Polly" ALVIS (1790

Notes

Bio: WILLIAM FRANKLIN DUNNICA.

That intelligent industry and frugality, united with upright conduct, cannot fail to bring abundant success in life, is forcibly illustrated by the career of W. F. DUNNICA, one of the founders of the city of Glasgow, and now a retired banker and an eminently respected citizen of the place.

He commenced his business career at the age of seventeen, in 1824, as a clerk in a general store, and, practically, without a dollar. In 1881, at the age of seventy-four, he retired from all the active duties and cares of life – with an abundant competence for himself and those who are to succeed to his estate, and with a name widely known in business and social life, and universally respected wherever known. The sketch of such a career will repay careful perusal.

William F. DUNNICA was born in Woodford county Ky., September 2, 1807. He is of Irish and German ancestry. His mother, before her marriage, was a Miss HARPER, a member of the well-known family of the name in Kentucky. His grandfather, on his father's side, came over from Ireland at an early day, and settled in Kentucky. His father, William H., was a soldier under General HARRISON, in the northwestern expedition, and was wounded in the battle of Tippecanoe. Subsequently, he returned to Kentucky and organized a volunteer company, of which he was made captain. After the conclusion of the troubles in the northwest (the fall of 1817), he laid in a stock of goods, in Kentucky, suited to the pioneer trade of the west, and, loading them into a keel-boat, brought them down the Ohio, and up the Mississippi
and Missouri rivers to Cote Sans Dessien, an early French village in what is now Callaway county, where he arrived in the spring of 1818, after a journey of the greatest difficulty and hardships. Arrived at his destination, he opened his goods within the pickets put up to protect the inhabitants against the Indians, and there commenced merchandising. Young Wm. F. accompanied his father on this trip. In such a school of enterprise and hardships was he brought up. The father continued to merchandise at Cote Sans Dessien until his death, which occurred in 1822. However, prior to that, he had brought his family out from Kentucky, and,
in the meantime, had also been engaged to some extent in surveying and dealing in land.

During his father's lifetime, in Cote Sans Dessien, William F. attended the local schools of the village, and after his father's death, returned to Kentucky, in order to have the advantages afforded by more advanced schools. By close application and hard study, in his native state, he soon acquired an excellent education, and, in 1824, came back to the home of his adoption, in Missouri, and at once began his active career in life, by entering as a clerk for Anson G. BENNETT. In this position he continued until 1826, when the question of the location of the state capital became an exciting issue in public affairs. He then went to Jefferson City, and, in conjunction with Calvin GUNN, established the Jeffersonian, the first paper ever published in that place, in which the claims of the present capital – for the location—were able argued, and, as the result proved, with great success. Eighteen months after he went to Jefferson, he was offered a clerkship in the state auditor's office, which he accepted and retained until 1831. While engaged in this office, he transacted considerable business as land agent, and, in this business, became acquainted with many prominent men throughout the state. Among the many with whom he had business relations was Mr. George COLLIER, a leading citizen of St. Louis, who became interested in young DUNNICA, on account of his well-known business qualifications and his strict integrity and sobriety. Through Mr. Collier's influence, he was appointed to a clerkship in the branch bank, at St. Louis, of the United States bank. He held this position with great credit to himself, and to the entire satisfaction of the officers of the bank, until the United States bank act lapsed, by the veto of President Jackson, in 1833. On the dissolution of the bank, a co-partnership was formed between Messrs. DUNNICA and COLLIER, in the mercantile business, the house being located at Old Chariton, at the mouth of the Chariton river, which was then a promising business point, the business being conducted by Mr. DUNNICA, who, for nearly twenty years afterwards, engaged in various mercantile pursuits at Chartion and Glasgow. However, in 1836, he, with thirteen others. Bought the land
and laid off and established the town of Glasgow, where he how lives. During this time, he also became largely interested in the tobacco business, with Mr. W. D. SWINNEY. In 1858, a branch of the Exchange bank, of St. Louis, was organized at Glasgow, by the prominent citizens of the latter place, and Mr. DUNNICA was, of course, chosen one of its officers, and, afterwards, its cashier. In this position he remained until the unsettled condition of the country, during the war, necessitated the removal of the bank to St. Louis, which was done in 1864.
But, during the same year, he and Mr. THOMSON organized a private bank, under the firm name of THOMSON & DUNNICA, having also connections with other banks, which continued until it was merged with the Howard county bank, of Glasgow, in 1877, and in this Mr. D. became cashier, a position which he held until he retired from business, in 1881. However, he is now a member of the banking house of CORDELL & DUNNICA, but takes no active part in its business.

Aside from his private interests, Mr. D. has been an enterprising and public-spirited citizen, and has contributed very materially to the general prosperity of Glasgow and surrounding country. He has never sought or desired office, although he has several times been induced to accept minor official positions that did not interfere with his business. His desire has been, so far as public affairs are concerned, to make himself a useful factor in the material development of the county with which he is identified.

He has been twice married: First, in 1836, to Miss Martha J., daughter of Judge SHACKELFORD, of Saline county. She died, in 1858, leaving him three children – two sons and a daughter. He was again married, in 1860, Miss Leona H., daughter of John HARDEMAN, becoming his second wife. Three children also have been born of this union – all daughters. Mr. and Mrs. DUNNICA are both members of the M. E. church south.

Notes

Aka: Thomas Speaks. "From the Speakes family association web page:
EARLY HISTORY
Over three centuries ago colonial settler Thomas Speake and his wife, Elizabeth Bowling started their family in St. Mary's County--now a part of Charles County, Maryland.
As the family Grew, subsequent generations spilled into Virginia and were soon joining pioneer trail blazers in the westward migrations to Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, and southward into the Carolinas, Georgia, and Alabama.

Now three thundered years later descendants of the immigrant settler have joined together --The Speak/e/s Family Association--in an attempt to trace all the different branches of the family and publish a genealogy of the Speak/e/s family.

The name Speke is of English origin, but, over the years in this country many variations have been used--Speke, Spake, Speak, Speake, Speakes, Speaks, Speek and Speeks. The Speak/e/s Family Association believe that most people in the United States who can trace their Speak/e/s line back to 1850 are probably descendants of the English immigrant settler Thomas Speake who settled in that part of St Mary's County; Maryland which is now in Charles County.

By researching early colonial records, we know that Thomas Speake settled in St. Mary's about 1660. He married Elizabeth Bowling. Thus began the history of our family.

Thomas and Elizabeth were the parents of two sons--John and Bowling--who are the progenitors of many different branches of the Speak/e/s name.

John, the first born, married Winifred Wheeler. To them were born five children. Bowling, the second son of Thomas and Elizabeth, married Mary Benson. They had four children of whom we know."

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6 AUG 1681 Will, SMC, MD

My Southern Family

Mary "Polly" ALVIS

1790 - AFT 1850

ID Number: I2163

Sources

Mary BROWNE

1682 - 5 Oct 1735

ID Number: I87948

Notes

Sources

Julius CLARKSON

ABT 1760 - ____

ID Number: I41515

Sources

FREDERIC de DONJON

ABT 1085 - ____

ID Number: I95185

Sources

William F. DUNNICA

2 Sep 1807 - ____

ID Number: I80211

Notes

Sources

Mary Towers DUPUY

1 Oct 1842 - 7 Apr 1922

ID Number: I32232

Notes

Sources

Ann HURST

ABT 1742 - ABT 1781

ID Number: I105172

Sources

Tilman LEWIS

ABT 1780 - ____

ID Number: I39969

Sources

Ann Harrison MOSBY

22 Apr 1802 - ____

ID Number: I101851

Notes

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Phillip Singletary RICHARDSON

Thomas SPEAKE "the Immigrant"

1 Jan 1633 - BEF 6 Aug 1681

ID Number: I78665

Notes

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Thomas Hales STEGER

15 Apr 1772 - 1839

ID Number: I82581

Notes

Sources

WEATHERFORD