Joe J Dunham

Memoirs of Georgia, Volume II

Published by the Southern Historical Assn, 1895.   

Marion County Sketches

Pages 483-492 

Original viewable on Google Books.

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Joe J Dunham, county ordinary, Buena Vista, Marion County, GA, son of J H and M E (Wood) Dunham, was

born in Marion County in 1859.  Mr Dunham's grandfather on his father's side was William Dunham.  He was a

native North Carolinian, migrated to Georgia and settled, first, in Savannah; afterward went to Liberty county,

where he made a permanent home.  He owned a large plantation and many slaves, and was very wealthy.  He

was a soldier in the war of 1812.  Mr Dunham's father was born in Liberty county in 1819, received a good

education, and was prepared for college by Prof. Pinchen.  He then entered the university of Georgia, at

Athens, and after his graduation taught school two years at Longstreet, Pulaski Co, GA.  He next taught in

Twiggs county a number of years, whence he went to Houston County and taught until 1848, when he removed

to Buena Vista and taught until impaired health caused him to abandon the profession and retire to the farm. 

At the end of twelve years he resumed teaching, and taught a number of years.  He served as a justice of the

inferior court a number of terms, and also in the state militia, or home guard, during the late war.  He was a

very prominent man in the county, and took a deep and active interest in its development, and died in 1885. 

Mr Dunham's grandparents, on his mother's side, were Elijah and Elizabeth (Burgen) Wood.  He was an

attorney at law and went early in life to Milledgeville, and was private secretary for Gov George M Troup. 

Mr Dunham was reared on the farm, and received a limited education - in the old log school-house.  He

started in life working on the farm; he then bought cotton and read law, and commenced the practice in 1892,

with Butt &Lumpkin - a partnership dating from the time he entered upon study.  In 1889 he was elected

ordinary of the county and was re-elected in 1893, for a second term.  He has been a member of the city council

for ten years, and is at this writing a candidate for the general assembly.  In the congressional election two years

ago he was defeated by Congressman Charles Moses.  Mr Dunham has large landed interests, and is much

respected.

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