Margaret Ann Reedy and John Dunn

their story

Margaret Ann Reedy was the first child of John Reedy and Eliza Desmond. According to the 1860 census she was born in 1856 in California. Her marriage to John Dunn is noted in the History of Stanislaus County printed in 1881 by Stanislaus County, page 202:

...John Dunn is one of the large and successful sheep-raisers of Stanislaus county, keeping at this date a band of six thousand sheep, which he manages with profit and success. He came to Stanislaus county in 1869, from the Genesee valley, New York, leaving Boston by vessel by the Isthmus route making the trip in twenty-four days and reaching San Francisco October 24, 1867. He was married in 1876 to Miss Maggie Reedy a native of California, and they have two children, James and Arthur Dunn. The family live in Modesto where he has a neat cottage on the corner of Eighth and J streets, a picture of which is among our illustrations of Modesto...

John Dunn was a wealthy and successful sheep rancher. He is mentioned a number of times in the book Gold Field to Grazing Fields by Franklin Beard. In the 1910 Polk Husted Stanislaus County Directory he is listed as the County Supervisor for the 3rd District living with his children at 930 7th Street in Modesto. Interestingly, wives were not listed but adult children were!

 

The Dunns were prominent in the establishment of the St. Stanislaus Catholic Church which originally was built on 8th Street between J and K Streets. The present church is at 7th and J Streets (across from the Dunn home). Not only did John and Maggie Dunn provide a home for her brother John during his school years, they also took in his daughters after the 1900 death of John Reedy's wife, Anna Marie Horn Reedy. Maggie's widowed mother Eliza also lived with the Dunns for a time until her death in 1900.

The Dunns had five children:
James E., born in 1878, married Jessie McDonnell;
children James E., Jr. and John M.; died 21 October 1946,

 

John Arthur, born 7 August 1879, never married, died 2 October 1936,

 

Agnes Helen, born 29 November 1881, never married, died 12 August 1955,

 

George A., born 1 January 1884, never married, died 7 December 1908,

 

Stephen E., born 1892, married Bernice, children Richard and Margaret Helen, died in 1980. Stephen is identified in a photograph of the Seventh Grade in Modesto Grammar School, 1902 or 1903 appearing on page 93 in One Hundred Years by Jeannette Gould Maino. Family stories say he worked in the film industry and won an Academy Award for a Bing Crosby movie. His son is said to have been a State Patrol Officer living in Stateline, Nevada.

 

All the Dunn children are buried in the Dunn family plot in the St. Stanislaus Catholic Cemetery in Modesto along with their parents.

 

John Dunn died 13 June 1912. His obituary in the Modesto Morning Herald took a prominent place on the front page with his photograph. Unfortunately the copy from the microfilm is not clear enough to print. Because the text is so interesting it is reproduced here:

President Dunn of Supervisors is Dead One of the Best Known Citizens in Stanislaus County Among the County's Early Settlers

It has often been said that when one man dies there are plenty of others to take his place. This assertion may be true to a certain extent, but if there was ever an exception to this rule it is the death of John Dunn, one of the best known residents of Stanislaus county, who died at his residence at the corner of Seventh and J streets at 2:35 Thursday afternoon.

Mr. Dunn probably had more friends in this county than any other resident as a result of his being identified with the progress of Stanislaus almost since the county was formed. Years of endeavor, in which he promoted unselfishly any project that tended to increase the advancement of the county, were finally crowned by his election as chairman of the board of supervisors, the highest honor that could be conferred upon him, which position he occupied until death intervened.

A sincere friend to everybody who was worthy of his friendship, his loss to the community will be keenly felt by not only those who came in contact with him in a business way but by hundreds of others who have cause to remember his charitable instincts and who have profited by his help and good advice.

In the death of John Dunn Stanislaus county has sustained a loss which can hardly be replaced.

Although nearly 74 years of age, Mr. Dunn had always enjoyed excellent health until about a month ago when his heart weakened. Although realizing his condition to a certain extent, he refused to give up until a week ago when he was forced to take to his bed. From that time until his death he gradually became weaker and his demise was not unexpected by the family and relatives.

He is survived, in addition to the widow, by four children; James F. Dunn of Salida, John A. Dunn, Stephen E. Dunn and Agnes H. Dunn, all residents of Modesto. The funeral will be held from the St. Stanislaus Catholic church of which Mr. Dunn was a member, at 10 o'clock Saturday morning, Rev. Father Giles officiating. Interment will be made in the Citizens' cemetery.

On October 22, 1876, Mr. Dunn was married to Margaret A. Reedy, daughter of John Reedy, then county clerk when the county seat was located at La Grange. Their marriage took place in San Francisco.

John Dunn was a native of county Mayo, Ireland. He was born August 15, 1838, and spent his boyhood in Ireland. Upon coming of age he emigrated to America, landing in Boston, where, for the following eight years he was engaged in various pursuits. He came to California, via the Isthmus, in 1867, the trip taking three months. Landing in San Francisco he later went to Sacramento, then one of the most important cities of the state. From Sacramento he removed to Stockton and in 1868 he settled in Stanislaus county, where for 44 years he has been one of this county's active citizens.

In the summer of 1869 John Dunn, in partnership with Levi Jones, a former well known rancher, started in the sheep business with about 2,500 sheep, ranging on government land. Commencing to purchase land soon after his arrival and continuing for 30 years, he acquired 8,000 acres at the junction of Mariposa, Tuolumne and Stanislaus counties, the land lying partly in each. This has been for many years one of the best known stock ranches in the valley. This ranch was sold about a year ago to James Bloss of Merced, the sale marking one of the largest realty transactions ever consummated in this county.

About 15 years ago he served the people of Stanislaus as one of the county supervisors and five years ago he was appointed by the governor of the state to fill a vacancy and was serving in this capacity when elected again. Soon after this election he was made chairman of the board, which position he held until his death.

As a public official, Chairman Dunn has used the same good judgment in the direction of county affairs as he used in the conduct of his private interests. He has always borne a reputation for honesty and loyalty that won for him many friends and a success which is achieved by but few.

Loyal to his friends, tolerant toward those who differed with him, he was one of the few men that could honestly claim the friendship of those who opposed his beliefs, principally because he was always open to person and frankly stated his attitude on any question without quibble, fear or favor.

The death of John Dunn is a distinct loss to the city and to the county, which he has ably represented for so many years.

When Margaret Dunn died in 1935 her obituary was printed on page 9 of the Modesto Bee on Wednesday 17 July:

Margaret A. Dunn, Native of County, Succumbs At Home

Mrs. Margaret A. Dunn, 79, one of the first children born in La Grange, died at her home, 730 Seventh Street, Tuesday. She had resided at the Seventh Street home for fifty-six years.

Her father was Stanislaus County treasurer when the county seat was at Knights Ferry. She was the widow of John Dunn, who was county supervisor for many years. They were married in 1876.

Mrs. Dunn was a member of the St. Stanislaus parish and was a charter member of the Catholic Ladies Aid Society.

She leaves four children, James, John and Agnes Dunn of Modesto and Stephen Dunn of Hollywood. She also leaves four grandchildren and one great-grandchild. She was a sister of the late John Reedy and Elizabeth Kiernan.

 

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