Patrick Dunn

March 17, 2024

My great grandfather is Patrick Dunn.  He was born in Co. Carlow in 1825 and emigrated to America in 1850.  His parents may have been Thomas Dunn and Judith Grumly.  His siblings may have been William b. 1822, John b. 1824, Catherine b. 1826 and Mary b. 1828.  He may have been baptised March 20, 1836, Clogrennan Parish, (church name?) with Patrick Hughes and Mary Dunn as godparents. 

Patrick served in the U.S. Civil War.  He enlisted in the Union Army August 30, 1862 in Joliet, Illinois with Company F Illinois 100th Infantry Regiment.  He was mustered out as a Private on  June 22, 1865 in Nashville, Tennessee.  I believe he was engaged in a battle in Franklin, Tennessee. I believe Patrick was injured at some point during the War, but evidently not bad enough to be discharged.  Patrick served the rest of the War.  He returned to Joliet, Illinois (via train?) and resumed his farm planning in Lockport.

After the Civil War,Patrick built a 2-story house along with barns and sheds on his farm, which eventually totaled 160 acres.  The wood timbers that were used for building were cut from the timber on the south side of his property.  He had dairy cows, sheep, geese, chickens, and crops of corn, soybeans and wheat, along with a large vegetable garden including grapes for wine, gooseberries, black and red raspberries, currants, and had apple and pear groves.    

At some point between 1865 and 1868, Patrick returned to Ireland and brought Johanna Duggan back to America with him.   I believe they were married in 1868 in Joliet, Illinois (civil ceremony?).  [I do not know if Patrick and Johanna knew one another before Patrick's immigration to U.S.]  Johanna was b. January 1, 1839 County Tipperary and resided in Ballyhane.  Johanna was baptized February 1, 1841 Cappawhite. I believe Johanna's parents are Denis Duggan and Johanna Ryan.  Johanna died September 2, 1913.  Both Patrick and Johanna are buried at Calvary Cemetery, Lockport, Will Co., Illinois.  I believe they attended St. Dennis Catholic Church in Lockport.  They had two children:  William Curtis b. Feb. 1, 1869  d.August 29, 1936 from diabetes and  Mary Ann Cecilia (Dunn) Wagner b. November 13, 1871, d.June 17, 1943, married Martin Wagner July 31, 1917.  [Mary and Martin were married only a few days when Martin committed suicide by hanging August 3, 1917.]  Both Mary and Martin are buried at Dunn plot at Calvary Cemetery, Lockport, Illinois.

William Curtis married Martha Rose Stief April __, 1911 in the kitchen in the Dunn farmhouse by a priest from St. Joseph Church in Lockport, Illinois, I believe.  Martha was born in Lockport November __, 1890  d. _____, 1970.  Besides running the farm, William raised Percheron Horses, toured with them via train and won some award ribbons.  While gone, farmhands were employed to maintain daily farm chores.  William and Martha had seven children:  Margaret Johanna b.7-22-1911, Clara Elizabeth b.1912 , William J. b. 1915, Edward b. 1916, Grace Irene b. 1918, Donald b. 1925 and Franklin b.1933.  The girls attended school through high school, to the best of my knowledge, the boys attended the one-room schoolhouse through 8th grade since they were needed for farm work. 

 

Submitted by Barbara Nolan, great granddaughter of Patrick and Johanna Dunn   blnolan3@comcast.net