Descendents of Hermann August(?Arthur) Rudolf Baumann :Information about Pleasant Dunn
Pleasant Dunn (b. 1826, d. Abt. 1881)
Notes for Pleasant Dunn:
The following biography was written by Dorthy V. /Dunn/ Westphal.
The biography was dated August 20, 1968... Dorthy was Mr. Dunn's
Great-Grand-Daughter.Her father's name was Willis Bickner Dunn. Her
grandfather's name was Elias Dunn.
.....PLEASANT DUNN..............1826
Pleasant Dunn was a wagoner; owner of an express line of covered
wagons drawn by oxen...hauling, both, freight and people across the
country...about 1848...
"Ples" as he was affectionally called by all who knew him, was a
Confederate Soldier during the Civil war, enlisting at the age of
thirty-four(34)...
Pleasant Dunn (or has most knew him_Ples) was born 1826, in
Mississippi, and his wife, Emiline (from Georgia) were married about
1848... Emiline was born in 1828.It is not known who her parents
were.There is reason to believe the parents of Pleasant Dunn were:
Thomas Dunn and wife, Nancy.Not a proven fact...but a logical
fact...
In the 1850 Carrollton, Carroll County, Mississippi Census Record
(p.224) it lists Pleasant Dunn, age 26 as a Farmer born in
Mississippi, and lists his wife Emiline, age 22, housewife, born in
Georgia.And a baby son, James, age 1 year, born in Mississippi.
THE CIVIL WAR_Pleasant Dunn, Private_Confederate Soldier, was a
member of the 29th. Infantry C.S.A. serving in Company "B" of this
regiment..
[A complete copy of the civil war record in Dorthy Dunn's file of
Research was obtained from the General Services
Administration_National Archives_Washington, D. C.]
The Civil War record of Pleasant Dunn _ shows his, mustering in
date as: March 24, 1862_ in Grenada, Tallahatchie County, Mississippi
at the age of 34 years.As a Private in Company "B"_29th. regiment in
the Mississippi Volunteers, under the command of Capt. Robson.He was
left in Glasgow_in the hospital sick_taken a prisoner of war and
paroled in September 1862.
The next record shows of receipt for clothing at Blackie Hospital
in Augusta, Georgia_issued October 27, 1864...The record shows him
fighting in 1862-1863_up to October 20, 1863_where he was hospitalized
by the order of the Brig. Surgeon.It show his residence
as:Tallahatchie County, Mississippi in May 1865.
The record shows: Roll of Prisoners of War, of detailed men_Post
of Grenada, Mississippi Confederate States_Army Commanded by (not
filled in) surrendered at Citronelle, Alahama...by Lieut. General R.
Taylor C.S.A_to General E. RS. Canby, U.S.A._May 4, 1865, and paroled
at Grenada Mississippi May 19, 1865.In January 23, 1865_he appears
on a list of exchanged prisoners sent to their Commands under Capt. L.
H. Campbell.
On March 24, 1865_he is listed on the Register of Way Hospital in
Meriden, Miss. (complaint asthma)_furloughed.He appears on a list of
Paroled Confederate Prisoners_captured and paroled by the U.S. Forces
in Kentucky in Sept., Oct., and Nov._Last, who have reported to Genral
Bragg_ and were placed in camp at Chattanooga, Tennessee.Declared
exchanged by Col. Robt Quld_by telegram to Major Fairbanks A.A.I.G.
January 11, 1865.
Pleasant served in the Civil War for three(3) long hard years_as
a Confederate Soldier...hand to hand fighting; many times sick,
hungry, and cold...and lonely for home and those that he loved.
Imprisoned in so many dirty prisoner of war camps...foot-soldiering
and marching over rough terrain in many unfamiliar states...fighting
for what he believed to be a just cause.
The 1870 Charleston, Tallahatchie County, Mississippi Census
records show:Pleasant Dunn age 55 (Should be 44) Farmer- Waggoner
born Mississippi, and his wife Emiline age 40(should be 42) house-wife
born in Georgia.(also lists eight children).
1850 Andrew Jackson 18,
1854 Isiac P(Pleasant) 16,
1855 Hiram 14.
1856 Elias 13.
1858 Cisero 12.
1860 John S 10.
1864 Monroe 6.
1868 Curtis 2
All eight were born in Mississippi.
Their first child, James, is not listed in the 1870 Census_he probably
was married and no longer lived at home:He would have been 21 in
1870?
Pleasant Dunn owned and operated an express line of covered
wagons_drawn by oxen.He hauled both freight, as well as, people
across a wilderness of mostly untamed country, wild animals, and
hostile indians...not to mention slow moving, stubborn oxen.
The Census also stated that Pleasant was a farmer_now, in those
days boys and girls were taught to work.All through the census
records one will find boys 12 years old_hired out as day laborers. So
with nine healthy, strong boys you can well imagine how a lot of the
farming was carried on.
The following story was related to Dorthy V. Dunn Westphal by a
cousin she visited in Fort Worth, Texas, Ira Floyd Dunn in 1964.
He said that Pleasant and Emiline Dunn were very religious church
going christians of the old fashioned "Southern Baptist" stock, some
of the family say they were "Camelites"??
Pleasant Dunn was a good christian man, too; and he was not a
drinking man...but, he bought a galon of whiskey each year, which was
kept hidden in a big barrel in the barn, as Emiline set her foot down
about keeping it in the house, and besides she did not want the
example in front of the boys!He kept the brown jug mostly for
medical purposes, but occassionally for a little socializing if a
friend dropped in, who felt inclined, then_he would either raise the
ole' brown jug and shoulder it around, or pour and pass it around,
always in the barn.
One day Pleasant had to be away from home, supposedly for the
day...and Emiline was involved in a new quilt she had in the frames.
The little Dunn boys had sneaked into the barn unnoticed on serveral
occasions, and were aware of what was going on, they had been eagerly
awaiting this golden opportunity.They decided among themselves today
was the day...to tip the ole' jug on one shoulder _ just like a man!
After successfully making it to the barn unnoticed.The big
problem was how to get the big jug out of the barrel, even the biggest
boy couldn't quite reach it.Well,they had an idea!They helped
Joe Curtis into the barrel (he was the youngest of the boys)... and he
passed out the drinks...and were they ever having fun doing a little
socializing of their own!That is until the father returned home
quite unexpectedly...and was standing in the door way with his hands
on his hips, looking very mad...while the little boys staggered, and
ran out of the barn_leaving the helpless little one, stuck in the
barrel to suffer the consequences.It must have turned out just fine
for five of the boys later became preachers.
The 1880 Tallahatchie County, Mississippi Census shows Pleasant
Dunn and[Sarah] as his wife, with only Monroe and Curtis still
living at home_ plus two step sons_Jeff Likard and Phelix Jones.
Emiline died between 1868 and 1880_Pleasant Dunn married a second
time.
Pleasant Dunn lived most all of his life in Mississippi, except
for the Civil War years when he wandered into Georgia, Alabama,
Kentucky, and Tennessee.Family members have indicated that he almost
left Mississippi at one time to go to McKinney, Collin County, Texas
where some of his sons had moved...he had bought his ticket and was on
the train...he decided to get off and stay there?
Family has also indicated that Pleasant's death was caused by a
team of oxen running away with him_as he was hauling cotton... shortly
after his marriage to Sarah...about 1881.If this is true_ he would
have been about 57 at the time of his death.
The next paragraph is a statement by Dorthy V. Dunn Westphal
describing her research of Pleasant Dunn...
I did not have anything to go on, when I started my search of
this great man, except I knew he came from Mississippi, and that he
served in the Civil War.I did not even know his name!Upon visiting
eight of his living grand-children they did not know his name, nor
much about him.In the south first names were not spoken in front of
the children, it was considered very improper and disrespectful to
older piers to do so.And he lived in Mississippi and most of his
grand children grew up in Texas.Consequently,an awfull lot of
research as been done to bring you proven facts, as well as help from
wonderful family membrs to who I shall be eternally greatful.So I
could present to each of you the life of so great a man.
.....Writen from the pen of_Dorthy V. (Dunn)_ Westphal
A Great Grand Daughter of_Pleasant Dunn_1868............
[ A copy of the original document as recorded above was provided to
me(Darwin Baumann) by Mr. Tommy Dunn, who resides at 213 Redwood
Street in Levelland, Texas.I have added this biography to my Dunn
Family Data Base so that it can be preserved,printed, and
distributed to other members of the Dunn family to read and enjoy.
To Ms. Dorthy V. Dunn /Westphal/, for her outstanding work,and Tommy
Dunn (a first cousin) , who shared it with me, I am grateful; Signed :
Darwin D. Baumann, 6717 Rochelle Lane, Amarillo, Texas 79109
More About Pleasant Dunn:
Date born 2: Abt. 1826, Lawrence or Yazoo Cty, Miss.
Died 2: 1881, Tallahatchie, MS, USA.29
More About Pleasant Dunn and Emiline Roden Dunn:
Marriage: 15 Feb 1848, Fulton, Itawamba Co., Miss..
More About Pleasant Dunn and Mrs. Sarah Dunn:
Marriage: Abt. 1878, Tallahatchie Co., Miss.
Children of Pleasant Dunn and Emiline Roden Dunn are:
- William Dunn, d. date unknown.
- Simeon Dunn, d. date unknown.
- Maggie Day Dunn, d. date unknown.
- Breckenridge Dunn, d. date unknown.
- James A. Dunn, b. Feb 1848, Carroll Co., Miss., d. 1860.
- +Andrew Jackson Dunn, b. 01 Jan 1850, Carroll, MS, USA29, d. 18 Mar 1928, Lindsay, Tulare County, California30.
- Isaac Pleasant Dunn, b. Abt. 1854, Carroll Co., Miss, d. date unknown.
- Hiram Dunn, b. Abt. 1855, Carroll Co., Miss., d. date unknown.
- +Elias Dunn, b. 21 May 1856, Carroll Co., Miss, d. 28 Sep 1905.
- +Cisero Dunn, b. 1858, Carroll Co., Miss., d. date unknown.
- John S. Dunn, b. 1860, Carroll Co., Miss., d. date unknown.
- Monroe Dunn, b. 1864, Carroll, Co., Miss, d. date unknown.
- Joe Curtis Dunn, b. 25 Jan 1869, Charleston, Tallahatchie Co., Miss, d. 21 Dec 1935.