Franklin S. Dunham. One of the extensive farms of township 149, range 67, in Eddy County, is owned and ably operated by the subject of this review. Mr. Dunham is one of the pioneer settlers of North Dakota, and has been identified with the farming interests of Eddy County since taking up his residence there, and is now the fortunate possessor of sixteen hundred acres of land, and is successfully conducting diversified farming thereon. He is a man of honest purpose and true citizenship, and is highly esteemed throughout that locality where he is well known and has been associated with the people in various important public offices.
Our subject was born in Wyoming County, New York, March 23. 1854. The Dunham family came to America from England about 1808, and the mother's family was also of English descent. The father of our subject, George H. Dunham, was a farmer by occupation and also superintendent of schools of Wyoming County, New York for six years, and during the last twenty years of his life he was engaged in the insurance business, and has made his home at Johnsonsburgh, New York. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Louise Virgin, and was born and raised in eastern New York state. Our subject's brother, Fred Dunham, is an attorney at law in Batavia, New York.
Franklin S. Dunham was the second in a family of three children and was reared on a farm and given a common-school education, and later attended an academy. After attaining his Majority he rented a farm in western New York state and followed farming thereon eight years and in 1883 went to North Dakota and entered claim to government land in Eddy county, upon which he erected a claim shanty 16x16 feet. He had a limited start, and had only sod barns, and for the first two years farmed with oxen. His crops were fair but cut too soon, and his wheat shrunk and was almost worthless, but his crop of oats was good. He was elected county treasurer on the Republican ticket in 1892, and the following year removed to New Rockford, and was re-elected in 1894, and in 1896 was elected county auditor, making, his public service as a county officer extend over a period of six years. He also conducted his farm while in the city, and in the spring of 1899 returned to the same to reside. He has about one thousand acres of his land under cultivation and has all necessary machinery, and a complete set of good farm buildings, and six acres of cottonwood trees, plenty of good water and a finely developed farm in every particular, and is known as one of the substantial farmers of the community.
Our subject was married in 1876, to Miss Clara North, who was born and raised in Genesee County, New York. Mrs. Dunham is of English descent, and her father, Noah North, was a farmer by occupation. Mrs. Dunham is a lady of excellent education, and was a teacher in her native state at the time of her marriage. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Dunham, as follows: George H., Fred Harrison, and Clara Louise, all of whom were born in Dakota. Mr. Dunham is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and Modern Woodmen of America. Politically he is a Republican, and is a man who stands firm for his convictions.
Source: Compendium and History of North Dakota 1900 Page 196