Benjamin F. Dunn was a member of the firm of B. F. Dunn & Co., of Bentonville, Ark., and real estate agent. A native of Giles County, Virginia, Dunn was born in 1841, son of Martin and Mary (Pine) Dunn. Martin Dunn was born in Virginia in 1793, was of Irish origin and a farmer by occupation. In 1846, he immigrated to Buchanan County, Missouri, where he died one year later. Mary (Pine) Dunn was born in Virginia in 1795 and died in 1848. They were the parents of ten children, Benjamin F. being the only one living as of 1911.
Benjamin was the youngest child in the family and was only six years old when his father died, and seven when his mother died. At the age of ten, he was taken in by B. A. Dickson, with whom he lived until he was twenty-one years of age. He received a limited education in the district schools, and at the breaking out of the Civil War, he enlisted in Company A, First Missouri Cavalry, Confederate army, and was in the battles of Carthage, Wilson's Creek, Dry Wood, Lexington, Champion Hill, and the siege of Vicksburg. In October, 1862, he was captured at home and held a prisoner at St. Louis until February of the next year, when he was exchanged. He was afterward captured at Vicksburg and taken to Indianapolis, where he was retained eleven months. He was then discharged and returned home. He was slightly wounded three different times.
In 1865 he went to Richardson County, Neb., and there remained until 1870, when he became a citizen of Benton County, Arkansas, and began clerking in a store in the western part of the county. In 1872, he began teaching and followed this profession for one term. In January, 1873, he was appointed deputy sheriff and served three years. In the same year, he married Miss Mary J. Smith, who was born in 1845 in Benton County, Arkansas, and who was the daughter of H. C. Smith.
In 1876, Mr. Dunn was elected treasurer of Benton County and re-elected in 1878. In 1880, he was elected clerk of the circuit court and ex-officio recorder. He was re-elected in 1882, and in 1884 was again elected to the same position. He was in office continuously for ten years and filled the official position with credit and ability. He was a lifelong Democrat in politics, was a Royal Arch Mason, a member of the I. O. O. F., and he and his wife were members of the Christian Church. Mr. Dunn was the secretary of the Benton County Emigration Bureau and was a stockholder in the People's Bank at Bentonville.
Goodspeed - History of Benton County 1899
Benjamin was the youngest child in the family and was only six years old when his father died, and seven when his mother died. At the age of ten, he was taken in by B. A. Dickson, with whom he lived until he was twenty-one years of age. He received a limited education in the district schools, and at the breaking out of the Civil War, he enlisted in Company A, First Missouri Cavalry, Confederate army, and was in the battles of Carthage, Wilson's Creek, Dry Wood, Lexington, Champion Hill, and the siege of Vicksburg. In October, 1862, he was captured at home and held a prisoner at St. Louis until February of the next year, when he was exchanged. He was afterward captured at Vicksburg and taken to Indianapolis, where he was retained eleven months. He was then discharged and returned home. He was slightly wounded three different times.
In 1865 he went to Richardson County, Neb., and there remained until 1870, when he became a citizen of Benton County, Arkansas, and began clerking in a store in the western part of the county. In 1872, he began teaching and followed this profession for one term. In January, 1873, he was appointed deputy sheriff and served three years. In the same year, he married Miss Mary J. Smith, who was born in 1845 in Benton County, Arkansas, and who was the daughter of H. C. Smith.
In 1876, Mr. Dunn was elected treasurer of Benton County and re-elected in 1878. In 1880, he was elected clerk of the circuit court and ex-officio recorder. He was re-elected in 1882, and in 1884 was again elected to the same position. He was in office continuously for ten years and filled the official position with credit and ability. He was a lifelong Democrat in politics, was a Royal Arch Mason, a member of the I. O. O. F., and he and his wife were members of the Christian Church. Mr. Dunn was the secretary of the Benton County Emigration Bureau and was a stockholder in the People's Bank at Bentonville.
Goodspeed - History of Benton County 1899