IVAN C. DUNLAP. Every line of business is being successfully prosecuted at Elwood, for it is a community of sufficient importance to command a large trade from the surrounding country, and the people who make it their market demand the best of goods and service. One of the leading business men of this place is Ivan C. Dunlap, proprietor of the handsome jewelry establishment located in the Milligan Block, Mr. Dunlap was born at Arrowsmith, McLean County, Illinois, September 20, 1881, and is a son of Theodore F. and Eliza E. (Green) Dunlap.
The paternal grandfather of Mr. Dunlap, Calvin Dunlap, was born in Ohio, and was there married to Catherine A. Jones, a native of the Keystone State. At an early day they migrated to McLean County, Illinois, there dying when some years past middle age, They were the parents of six children Theodore F., Byron, Lilly, Belle, Jane and Charles. Mr. Dunlap’s maternal grandparents were Gilbert and Mary (Finch) Green, natives of New York, and early settlers of McLean County, Illinois, where he passed away, Mrs. On,’ being nearly ninety years of age at the time of her demise in Indiana, her husband dying when some years younger, They had one child Eliza E. Mr. Green had contracted a former marriage, by which he had four children: Marshall, Benoni S., Lydia and Eunice, Theodore F. Dunlap was born in Ohio, and was about nine years of age when he accompanied his parents to McLean County, Illinois, settling south of the town of Ellsworth, where he grew to manhood, His first employment was as a country school teacher, but later he turned his attention to the hardware business and for some years worked in a store at Arrowsmith, Returning to the homestead south of Ellsworth, he was engaged in farming there for a number of years, and then purchased a large farm in Jasper County which he still owns, but he and his wife are now living retired, and make their home in Elwood, During his residence in McLean County, Mr. Dunlap took some interest in matters of a political nature, and served his Township as road commissioner for a period of twelve years. Both he and his wife have long been faithful members of the Methodist Church, in the faith of which they have raised their family. They have had four children, namely: Charles B., who is a resident of Elwood; Claude M., who now lives in Syracuse, New York; Ivan C., Elwood, Ind,; and Orville G., of Bloomington, Illinois.
Ivan C. Dunlap was reared on his father’s farm in McLean County, Illinois, and like other farmers’ sons of his day received his education in the district schools, which he attended during the winter terms, his summers being spent in the work of the home farm. Later, he attended the Illinois Wesleyan University, at Bloomington, and after leaving that institution took a trip through the West, looking for a suitable place in which to settle, Eventually he settled in Attica, Indiana, where he began to learn watchmaking, and on thoroughly mastering this delicate science located in Bedford, Indiana, where for two and one-half years he acted in the capacity of head watchmaker for R. E. Dale, He first came to Elwood as manager for Fred W. Green, jeweler, whose stock he subsequently purchased, and moved it to his present quarters on South Anderson street, in the Milligan Block. Here he has a beautiful show room, arranged to tastefully and advantageously display his elegant stock of watches, rings and other fine jewelry. His trade has shown a healthy and gratifying increase, and among the business men of the city he is recognized as a substantial man of affairs.
On February 26, 1903, Mr. Dunlap was married to Mrs. Ora V. Kenton, who was born near Rensselaer, Indiana, daughter of William and Serepha (Hemphill) Kenton, natives of the Hoosier-State, the former of whom resides at Mitchell, South Dakota, where Mrs. Kenton died at the age of fifty-five years, There were thirteen children in the Kenton family: Mason, Frank, El, Fannie, Laura, Clara, Evelyn, Blanche, Ora, Simon, Elizabeth and two others. Mr. and Mrs. Dunlap have had four children: Kenton, Helen, Max and Janice, They are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and liberally support its movements, and Mr. Dunlap holds membership in the Elks and the college fraternity of Sigma Chi, His political faith is that of the new Progressive party.