Pictorial and Genealogical Record
of Greene County, Missouri • 1893

Together with Bibliographies of Prominent Men of Other Portions of the State, Both Living and Dead


DANIEL DUNKLIN, M. D. The medical profession of Springfield, Mo., is represented by a number of skillful practitioners, who have an extended knowledge of therapeutics, skill in their use, and enviable reputations as physicians of ability. Prominent among them is Dr. Dunklin, who was born in Jefferson County, Mo., April 15, 1851, a descendent of William Dunklin, a resident of Wales, but of English descent. He was the founder of the family in America, settling near Charleston, S. C. He met and formed the acquaintance of his wife while on board the vessel bound to this country, her maiden name being Hillary Sullivan, a native of Ireland, who was coming to this country with her parents. She and Mr. Dunklin reared a large family of boys. Daniel Dunklin, the grandfather of Dr. Dunklin, was born in Greenville District, S. C., in 1790, where he remained until seventeen years of age, then went to Kentucky, and in 1810 settled in Potosi, Washington County, Mo., where he was elected sheriff. He was a member of the convention that founded the first constitution of the State, at St. Charles, Mo., which was then the seat of government. In 1878 he was elected to the responsible position of governor, and again, in 1832, but resigned the position in 1836, a few months before the expiration of his term, to accept the position of surveyor general of public lands in Missouri and Illinois, to which position lie was appointed by President Jackson, and held until 1839, when he resigned to attend to his own private business affairs. He made a wise and able governor, notwithstanding the fact that his early educational advantages were limited to the common schools of South Carolina. Through his own efforts be became a good English scholar and a fine mathematician. He was much interested in the common-school system and did more and labored harder to establish them on a sound basis than any other man in the State during his time, and it may be truly said that he was the father of the public-school system of Missouri. He removed to Jefferson County, Mo., in 1840, where he died four years later at the age of fifty-four years and was buried on a bluff of the Mississippi River, a spot noted for its beauty. He served in the Black Hawk War under Gen. Henry Dodge, and throughout life was a strong Democrat, in his political proclivities, of the Jacksonian school. He was connected with the Presbyterian Church and throughout life endeavored to follow the teachings of the golden rule. He was married to a Miss Hicks, a native of Missouri, and to them five children were born, as follows: James L., the father of the immediate subject of this sketch; Mary, who became the wife of Dr. Kannon, of Jackson, Mo.; Emily, the wife of Falkland Martin, at one time secretary of State of Missouri; Eliza, who was the wife of Rev. James Cheeney, of Dover, Mo., and Jenny, who married Capt. Boarman, of Kansas City, Mo., who won his title while serving in the Confederate Army. Of this family only James L. and Emily, who is now the wife of Mr. Mackebane, are living. James L. Dunklin was born at Potosi, Mo., August 15, 1821, received his initiatory training in the public schools and finished his education in the Christian Brothers' College at St. Louis, Mo., graduating from the classical course when about twenty-one years of age. Being possessed of some means, he purchased a tract of land and finally bought the old home of his father, and on quite an extensive scale engaged in farming. He lived on this place until within a few years, when he sold it and bought him a home at West Point, Miss. During his life he has quietly pursued the " even tenor of his way," and although he has ever been keenly alive to the issues of the day, he has never been an office-seeker, the political arena possessing no charms for him. He was married about 1844 to Miss Cassandra A. Anderson, a native of Nashville, Tenn., of which State her people were among the very earliest settlers, her father being the owner and operator of a saw-mill on the Missouri River at Glasgow until his death, which occurred some time in the thirties. Mrs. Dunklin was one of his four children, the other members being Alfonzo, Dewitt and Volney S. The eldest son was a merchant in Mexico and made considerable money while there. Being a thorough Spanish scholar, be acted as interpreter for Gen.__________ in the City of Mexico, and after the war he went to Gaudalaxara, where he later died of cholera. Dewitt went to New Orleans after attaining manhood and was never afterward beard from. Volney is a prominent attorney of Hailey City, and is a graduate of Yale College. Mrs. Dunklin has been a lifelong member of the Christian Church, and in that faith has endeavored to rear her children, whose names are as follows: Mary A., the wife of Capt. C. B. Tilden, a river captain; she is living in Jefferson County, Mo., and has a family of four children, Mary A., Harry D., Alfonzo and Charles B. Emily taught in the public schools of St. Louis and at West Point, Miss., where she died September 10, 1890; she was an earnest member of the Presbyterian Church and was loved by all who know her. Alice is the wife of B. R. Pegran, a commission merchant of Now York city, by whom she has two sons --Lawrence D. and Rush. Daniel, who was named after his grandfather, the early governor of Missouri. Louis L., who died in Texas, of consumption, was an express messenger by occupation; he died in the spring of 1892, leaving three children Edna, Anna and Byron. Alfonzo L. is living in St. Charles, Mo., but formerly lived in Mississippi with his father; he has a family of two small children. Charles T. was a clerk on a Government fleet at Kansas City and was drowned by being blown overboard one stormy night in August, 1888, while trying to save the fleet, and James L., who is living at St. Louis, an express messenger on the Iron Mountain Railroad from St. Louis to Memphis. The father and mother of these children are now living in retirement at West Point, Miss., surrounded by everything to make life comfortable and enjoyable. Dr. Daniel Dunklin was first employed after leaving home, in 1870, as agent and operator on the Iron Mountain Railroad at Mineral Point, and during this time he began the study of medicine. In 1875 he entered the Missouri Medical College at St. Louis, from which he graduated three years later, entering upon the practice of his profession in Tazewell County, Ill. Eight months later be removed to Mineral Point, Mo., and in March, 1882, went to Bonne Terre, of which place he became one of the most prominent and successful physicians. In October, 1873, be was married to Ella, daughter of Alexander and Sarah L. (Daniels) Hunn. She was born in St. Louis, Mo., in 1855, and of the four children she has borne her husband only two are living--Ella Lucile and Stella T. Mrs. Dunklin is a member of the Baptist Church and in politics the Doctor is a Democrat. While living at Bonne Terre he was chairman of the County Central Committee. He is a Select Knight of the A. O. U. W., and is a member of the K. of P. He has been medical examiner for the New York Mutual Life Insurance Company. He has been a resident of Springfield since 1889 and has a nice home at 431 South Jefferson Street and an office at 328 South Street. He is a member of the Springfield Medical Society and the Southwest Missouri District Medical Society, in both of which he is considered one of its foremost members. He keeps thoroughly abreast of the times in his profession, takes considerable medical literature and is especially skillful in his treatment of the diseases of women, although he is remarkably successful in all branches of his profession. He is an acquisition to the city and one of its most public-spirited citizens.

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