Huntsville Alabama

Biography of Pines R. Dunn

Pines R. Dunn was born on October 20, 1836, in Huntsville, Alabama. His family moved to Indiana and then to Versailles, Missouri, where he was educated. At seventeen, he began clerking and later became a partner in a mercantile business. After a raid in 1861 destroyed his business, he relocated to Daviess County. He engaged in grain trading and served as deputy county clerk before becoming clerk of Daviess County in 1878. He married Mary V. Anderson in 1857 and had five children.

Slave Narrative of Clara C. Young

Clara C. Young, a 95-year-old ex-slave from Monroe County, Mississippi, shares her life experiences, recalling her early years and the hardships of slavery. Born in Huntsville, Alabama, she was sold at auction and worked on plantations, where she faced harsh labor and cruelty from overseers. Despite these challenges, she found joy in community gatherings and religious meetings. After the Civil War, Young remained with her former masters for a time, only to later marry and raise a family, reflecting on her life with nostalgia and a sense of loss.

Biography of R. D. C. Griffin

R. D. C. Griffin, born August 31, 1828, in Huntsville, Alabama, became a prominent figure in Searcy County, Arkansas. His family, known for their integrity, moved to the area in 1846, with his father being a significant Methodist minister. R. D. C. served in both the Mexican War and the Confederate Army, subsequently thriving as a farmer and businessman. He owned extensive land and engaged in merchandising and milling. Married twice, he had numerous children and was an active member of the Methodist Church and local Democratic politics, contributing to the community’s development.

Biography of John H. Moores

John H. Moores, born in 1821 in Alabama, emigrated to Oregon in 1852, joining his adventurous father, Colonel I.B. Moores, a notable pioneer. Settling in Salem, he became a successful merchant and later a significant political figure, serving as mayor, treasurer, and state senator. Moores contributed actively to various civic initiatives, including education and sanitation, and was involved in establishing state institutions. He was remembered as a devoted family man and a respected community leader, committed to public service until his death in 1880.

Biography of Henry Bennett

Henry Bennett, born in Chicago on June 15, 1841, served valiantly in the Union Army, notably with the Chicago Board of Trade Battery, during the Civil War. After the war, he became a prominent contractor in Chicago before moving to Kansas in 1876. Bennett contributed significantly to the construction of key buildings in Topeka and across the state, including state structures and hotels. A dedicated community member, he remained active in business into his seventies, supported by his sons, while maintaining ties to his military roots and civic organizations.

Biography of Earl M. Robinson

Earl M. Robinson, born on December 25, 1875, in Huntsville, Alabama, is a prominent businessman known for establishing the successful Robinson greenhouses in Emporia, Kansas. Descended from a distinguished Virginia family, his father, Maj. J. M. Robinson, was a notable Confederate soldier and lawyer. After various ventures in the grocery business, Earl devoted himself to floriculture, creating a significant enterprise in Emporia that serves a broad region. He is active in local civic organizations and married Susie R. Martin in 1907.

Biography of James M. Drake

James M. Drake, born April 12, 1837, in Louisville, Kentucky, is a distinguished businessman and treasurer of Riverside, California. After serving commendably as a lieutenant in the Confederate army during the Civil War, he rebuilt his life by becoming a bookseller and stationer in Riverside, establishing the city’s first bookstore. A proactive community member, Drake also engaged in agriculture. Elected city treasurer in 1886, his honest administration earned him reelection. He married Maria A. Jones and had one surviving child, John R. Drake, who continues the family legacy in ranching.