William Dunlap

Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Peoria County, 1902
Transcribed by John Melton

DUNLAP, WILLIAM K.; Retired Farmer, Resident of Dunlap; was born in Radnor Township March 28, 1840, and received a common-school education. He is a descendant of William and Eleanor (Delong) Dunlap, who were the parents of Smith Dunlap, born in Montgomery County, New York, Mary 2, 1783, died March 13, 1856, and Eleanor Lane (Dunlap), born in Montgomery County, New York, December 17, 1781, died March 25, 1858. Their son, Alva Dunlap, born October 26, 1805, in Montgomery County, New York, died January 2, 1889, married Mary Knight, daughter of Jesse and Anna (Dean) Knight, born September 10, 1806, died April 2, 1880. Alva Dunlap came to Radnor Township in 1837 and built a house. The following year he went back to Oswego, New York, and returned with his father, Smith Dunlap, and his family. Alva Dunlap owned eight hundred and fifty acres of land at his death. He laid out and named the town of Dunlap. He was the most prominent citizen of Radnor Township in his day, as well as a leading citizen of the county. He had a large and well selected library, which, in size and quality, was second to none in Peoria County. He served as Supervisor for twenty years; was one of the body which established the Workhouse in Peoria and one of its Directors until his death, and was one of the promoters of the Rock Island & Peoria Railroad. Previous to his death he erected a granite monument about twenty-five feet in height in the family plot on the old homestead. It is surmounted by a marble statue of a woman. Here four generations of Dunlaps are buried. Alva and Mary Dunlap were the parents of seven sons and four daughters. Of these Burleigh was born May 29, 1830; Byron W. born June 13, 1832; Marshall Ney, born February 11, 1834; all born in Sandy Creek, Oswego County, New York; Francis Maria was born, September 2, 1835, and Gilbert Lane, August 24, 1837, died July 19, 1845--both born at Richland, Oswego County; Wm K. Dunlap, born March 28, 1840; Hortense Isabel, born January 3, 1842; Andrew Jackson, born February 7, 1844; Mary Elizabeth, July 13, 1846; Gilbert Lane, June 19, 1849; Mary Eleanor, born December 20, 1841--the last six being in born in Illinois and the five last named in Radnor Township, Peoria County. Frances was the first Postmistress in Dunlap. Hortense married Harrison E. Wiley, who at the time of his death, February 19, 1877, was in business in Peoria. She has three children, Ella Knight, Harry Dunlap (a physician practicing in Chicago) and Walter Hoyt. Ella is the wife of John McEwan, a telegraph operator in Iowa. She is the mother of one child, Arthur Wiley McEwan. Marshall and Andrew Dunlap were soldiers in the war of the Rebellion, and Andrew died in the service. Of the eleven children of Alva and Mary Dunlap, only four are living; Byron W., Gilbert L., William K. and Hortense I. Alva Dunlap was a kind man, possessed of fine judgment, and his counsel and advice were sought by many, and all who came received a cordial reception. He died esteemed by all who knew him. William K. Dunlap owns two hundred and forty acres of land well stocked, and has always been a farmer. He lives on the old home farm, in a handsome brick house which succeeded the original brick dwelling built by Alva Dunlap and surrounded by a fine grove. He also has the library his father collected. Alva Dunlap was a Republican, as is also W. K., and the rest of his descendants.

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