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CHARLES
DUNN, JR., representative of an old
and honored family of the State of Maine, has never
completed his education, for the reason that, since leaving
academic institutions, he has never ceased in his endeavor
to vigorously school himself by close study of, and
thoughtful reaction on as many subjects as it has been
possible for him to pursue, outside of his ordinary
business. As a result he is a man of not only culture
and refinement, but with a broad understanding of human
beings, their shortcomings and infinite possibilities, which
makes him especially well fit to assume the responsibilities
attached to the position which he now holds as
superintendent of the State Reform School for Boys.
Many years ago the Dunn family settled in
Maine, and there are records of several of its members who
achieved distinction and prominence in their respective
communities.
(I) Jonah Dunn was selectman during 1806
08-09-15, in Cornish, York county, Maine, where he lived for
some time. During the winter of 1826 he removed with
his family to Houlton, undertaking a hazardous journey up
the frozen Baskehegan river to its source and thence through
a Maine woods with nothing there to guide them but the
trees. He was a Quaker of great strength of character,
familiarly addressed as "Squire," having been a justice of
the peace, whose legal services were frequently sought.
Through his influence and activities, aroused by the
offensive bullying attitude of certain British military
authorities at Houlton, a petition was drawn up and many
signatures attached thereto asking Congress to create a
military post and establish a garrison there, in order to
insure the comfort and safety of settlers. The
petition was passed upon and the post established. The
wife of Jonah Dunn, Lydia (Trafton)
Dunn, died in Houlton, and he died later in Augusta,
Maine.
(II) Charles Dunn, the youngest child of
Jonah and Lydia (Trafton) Dunn, was born in Cornish,
Dec. 13, 1813. He was noted as a skilled horseman, and
for twenty-eight years carried mails from Houlton to points
north, incidently introducing a large express business and
passenger service, continuing until 1868, when upon being
underbid by another for carrying the mail, sold his outfit
and retired from active life. His Democratic
convictions did not keep him from enthusiastically
supporting the measures of the Government during the Civil
War. In 1859 he married Lydia Cloudman,
born in St. David's Parish, New Brunswick, 1833, and died in
Houlton, June 20, 1861. Her father, James
Cloudman, of Wakefield, New Hampshire, was the son of
Gilman Cloudman. Her mother, Hannah
(Foster) Cloudman, was the daughter of
George and Cynthia (Chase) Foster. Her great-grand
father, Colonel Benjamin Foster,
received military distinction for his action with
Pepperell's army in the capture of Louisburg, and as the
companion of O'Brien in the capture of the
Margaretta at Machias, at an early period in the
Revolutionary War. James Cloudman was a
suc cessful farmer and stock-raiser. To Charles and Lydia
(Cloudman) Dunn was born one child, Charles, Jr.,
of whom further.
(III) Charles (2) Dunn, son of Charles (l)
and Lydia (Cloudman) Dunn, was born in Houlton, Maine,
June 9, 1861. He attended the public schools there and
later the Ricker Institute, where he received his
preparation for college. At the age of twenty-two
years he began the study of law in the office of General
Charles P. Mattocks, and in 1855 was admitted to the
Cumberland county bar. For the four following years he
practiced his profession in Portland, after which he entered
into the street sprinkling business for a period of four
years. In about the year 1892, owing to a prolonged
illness, he was more or less occupied in out-of-door work.
For two years he served as a member of the City Council of
Portland, and in 1901 received the appointment as sheriff,
which office he filled for two years. Following this
he became associated with the Press and Sunday
Times of Portland. He was also employed for a
while as special agent of the Equitable Life Insurance
Company, of New York. In 1911 Mr. Dunn became
superintendent of the State Reform School for Boys. In
this responsible capacity he has been remarkably successful.
The institution is a model one, situated about five miles
outside of Portland. Mr. Dunn is a great
student and as such has made a specialty of collecting
books. As a result his is a very fine library.
He is a past master of Portland Lodge, No. 1, Free and
Accepted Masons; a member of Greenleaf Chapter, No. 13,
Royal Arch Masons, of which he has been an officer; and of
Portland Council, Royal and Select Masters. He is
vice-president of the Farmers' Club, and a member of the
Baptist church.
Mr. Dunn married in Portland, Nov. 21, 1888,
Grace Elizabeth Walton, born in Portland,
Nov. 2, 1862, daughter of Mark and Elizabeth (Pole)
Walton. Mr. Walton before his death was a
designer of furniture, and for over thirty years was
associated with the firm of Walter Corey as
such. He died in 1864, and his wife died in 1905.
Mr. and Mrs. Dunn have one child, Esther
Cloudman, born May 6, 1891. She was graduated from
Cornell College with the class of 1913, and at present is a
teacher of English in Bryn Mawr College.
Source; Maine, A History -
Vol. 5 - Published 1919 - Page 150 |
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CHARLES J. DUNN
was born in Houghton county, Michigan, July 14, 1872.
He was brought to Maine when a child, and since has lived in
this State. He was educated by tutors and at Blue Hill
(Maine) Academy. He read law with the Honorable
Edward E. Chase, at Blue Hill and with Messrs. Hale &
Hamlin, at Ellsworth, and commenced practice at Orono,
Mar. 17, 1892. Mr. Dunn has been a member of
the Legislature; judge of the Oldtown Municipal Court,
1903-1911; delegate-at-large to the Republican National
Convention, 1908-1916; appointed justice of the Supreme
Judicial Court, Feb. 6, 1918; member of the Maine Bar
Association and of the American Bar Association; director of
the Merrill Trust Company, Oldtown Trust company, Maine Real
Estate Title Company; trustee of the Eastern Maine General
Hospital; and treasurer of the University of Maine.
Mr. Dunn married Alice Isabel Ring, Dec.
16, 1896, and two children were born of this marriage:
Barbara, and Lillian Ring.
Source; Maine, A History
- Vol. 5 - Published 1919 - Page 188 |
