H. A. Dunham was born on September 18, 1846, in Newark, New Jersey, to S. H. and Dianthe (Alden) Dunham. After his family relocated to Indiana and later Illinois, Dunham left home at fourteen to become a sailor, visiting various foreign ports. He later worked as a cooper in Yankton, South Dakota, before marrying Jane Grant in 1867. The couple settled on a homestead in Yankton County, where Dunham focused on agriculture and livestock farming. They had five children. Dunham’s wife passed away in 1893, leaving a significant impact on their family and community.
H. A. Dunham.—A native of Newark, New Jersey, the subject of this review was born on the 18th of September, 1846, and is a son of S. H. and Dianthe (Alden) Dunham. The father was the owner of a rubber factory in the East and when his son was but six years of age he removed from New Jersey to Indiana, where he remained for six years. At the end of that time, he went to Illinois, where he entered land from the government and began farming, carrying on agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred in 1885. He had five children: Albur, who was killed at Bowling Green, Kentucky, during the Civil War; Eugene, who is a veterinary surgeon; C. L., who was also a soldier of the Union army and now resides in Iowa; and Hersey, who is the wife of Ed. Alden, of Cleveland, Ohio.
H. A. Dunham continued under the parental roof until fourteen years of age, when he left home and became a sailor, following the sea for five years, during which time he visited many foreign ports. Within that period he also gained a knowledge of the coopering business and followed that pursuit for two years in Yankton, South Dakota. He was married in 1867 to Mrs. Jane Grant, of Randeau County, and the following year came to this state. He secured a homestead in Yankton County, on which he still resides, and his time and energies have been devoted successfully to agricultural pursuits. His wife had been previously married and by the first union had a daughter, who is now the wife of James Ewing, a prominent farmer of Yankton County. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Dunham have been born four daughters and a son: Hersey, who is the wife of Ezra Willis and resides in the Black Hills; Cora, the wife of William McNichols, a farmer of Yankton County; Anna, who lives at home; Hiram, who is married and is engaged in farming; and Grace, the wife of Nels Anderson, a resident farmer of this county. In 1893 the family were called upon to mourn the loss of the wife and mother, who was a most estimable lady, her loss being deeply deplored not only by her husband and children, but also by many friends.
Throughout an active business career Mr. Dunham has engaged in agricultural pursuits and is now the owner of a valuable farm of three hundred and twenty acres, on which he has placed splendid improvements. He gives his attention more largely to the raising of stock than to the cultivation of grain, and through his active and energetic efforts in this line he has won very desirable prosperity. In politics he is a Republican and he is connected with the Improved Order of Red Men. In friendship he is faithful, in citizenship loyal, and to his family he is most devoted. His business affairs have ever been conducted honorably and he is today one who well merits the confidence and esteem in which he is uniformly held. Mr. Dunham is, in his religious belief, a free thinker.
Source: Robinson, Doane, History of South Dakota: together with mention of Citizens of South Dakota, [Logansport? IN] : B. F. Bowen, 1904.