Person:Elston Dunn (1)

Rev. Elston M. Dunn, pastor of the Seventh Day Baptist Church of Milton, Wis., was born in Plainfield, N.J., on the 9th day of September, 1832, and is a son of William and Hannah M. (Marsh) Dunn. Their family numbered seven children, five sons and two daughters, four of whom are yet living. Elston M. was the first in order of birth; Edward L., the second, is now deceased; Alexander M., who resides in New York City, is a salesman in a large wholesale house; Margaret became the wife of John H. Cuthbert, but is now deceased; Mulford M., residing in Boston, Mass., is engaged in the manufacture of agricultural implements; Agnes W., wife of Mr. Harry Parks, is a teacher of elocution in the Art Conservatory of Chicago; William H., who makes his home in New York City, is a salesman for the house of Brokaw Bros., dealers in clothing.
Our subject spent the larger part of his boyhood days in his native State, and received his education there and at the Academy at De Ruyter, N.Y., and at Alfred University, N.Y., and finally in Union College of Schenectady, N.Y., from which institution he should have graduated in the class of 1857. Owing to illness, Mr. Dunn was obliged to leave college before he had completed his senior year, but received the degree of A.M. from the college afterwards. Not being able to enter the theological seminary at that time, as he had purposed to do, and advised by his physician not to continue his studies, he entered upon mercantile pursuits. In 1861 he was appointed postmaster of his native city, which position he held for eight years; also was U. S. deputy collector of internal revenue for ten years, which position he resigned and entered the Baptist Theological Seminary of Chicago, where he completed the course in two years. In July, 1876, while still in the seminary, he was called to supply the pulpit of the Seventh Day Baptist Church of Milton; was soon after called to the pastorate of the church, and was ordained a minister of the gospel. From that time he has remained in charge of the church at Milton, covering a period for almost thirteen consecutive years. He has also occupied the position of professor of Greek and mental and moral philosophy for three years in Milton College, and is at present a member of its board of trustees.
Rev. Mr. Dunn has preached a great deal during his long and only pastorate at Milton, for the various first-day churches in Janesville, Ft. Atkinson, and in all the neighboring villages, and is at the present time supplying two Congregational churches in the county.
In 1857 Mr. Dunn was united in marriage with Miss Helen E. Clarke, a daughter of Ephraim and Angeline L. Clarke, the former deceased and the latter a resident of Walworth County, Wis. Three children have been born of the union of this worthy couple. Clara D., the eldest is the wife of J. Nelson Humphrey, professor of Latin in the Normal School at Whitewater, Wis., and to them has been born one child, Heywood Cuthbert; Alexander C., who is residing in Minneapolis, is city agent of the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railroad, having served in that position for two years; Jennie, the youngest of the family is still with her parents. The two older children are graduates of the college at Milton, and Miss Jennie expects to complete the course in June, 1890. Mr. Dunn is a worthy and valued citizen of Rock County, where he has made many friends and is well and favorably known throughout the county. He is greatly beloved by his church, with whom he has been for so many years, and his work has been greatly blessed of God in the conversion of souls and the edification of the church.

Rev. Elston Marsh Dunn was born in Plainfield, Union Co., New Jersey, Sept 9, 1832. He was the oldest child of William and Hannah Marsh Dunn. His ancestors, the Dunns, had been Seventh-day Baptists for some generations, and on his mother's side the Marshes had been Quakers. They thus represented two strong and persistent types of religious life. As a boy, Mr Dunn was earnest and thoughtful beyond his years, industrious and alert in both physical and mental characteristics. After preparatory work in the public and private schools of Plainfield, he studied at De Ruyter Institute, Alfred University, and Union College, at Schenectady, New York, receiving the degree of A. M. from the latter institution. Although looking towards the ministry, he was induced to abandon his studies, through medical advice, and for twenty years gave himself to business and public life. He was Postmaster at Plainfield for a number of years, and Deputy Collector of Internal Revenues for Northern New Jersey. Though successful in business, he endured a constant struggle between ambition for political preferment and worldly success and his convictions of duty with reference to the Sabbath and the ministry - he ceased to observe the Sabbath for several years. Out of this unrest his conscience brought him triumphantly, and, with great whole-heartedness and joy, he returned to the observance of the Sabbath, and to consequent peace of mind. He entered the Baptist Seminar, in Chicago, and in July, 1876, while yet a student, he was called to supply the pulpit of the Seventh-day Baptist church at Milton, Wisconsin, where he was ordained soon afterwards. For nearly 20 years he continued to fill that position, and in so doing he performed the principal and enduring work of his life. He found great delight in this work, and the church, the college, and the community found corresponding help and uplift under his influence. As an administrator, he was cautious and conservative; as a preacher, he was clear, incisive and comprehensive. He had excellent social qualities, and endeared himself to those with whom he associated.
On May 25, 1857, he was married to Miss Helen E. Clarke of Walworth, Wis. more...