James A. Dunning, chief of the fire department of Wheeling, has been a resident of the city since 1856. His parents were Thomas A. and Sarah (Lee) Dunning, the former of whom was a native of Scotland and the latter of New York state. They were married at New York city, and then settled on a farm in Armstrong county, Penn. In 1836 they removed to Steubenville, Ohio, where he followed his trade of weaving, having been a silk weaver during his residence in Scotland. He died in July, 1863, in his fifty-seventh year, and his wife died in March, 1873, aged seventy-four years. Their son, J. A. Dunning, was reared in Steubenville, and there learned the trade of a machinist, which he followed for a number of years after coming to Wheeling. From 1861 to 1863 he was employed at the Fort Pitt Cannon works at Pittsburgh, but with that exception he has resided continuously at Wheeling. In December, 1865, he became one of the organizers of the Wheeling Hinge company, of which he was the manager until 1882, when in December, he was elected by the council chief of the fire department, a position he has since held. He was at that time a member of the city council, to which he was first elected in 1872, for the Fourth ward, to the first branch, for a term af four years. At the January election, of 1881 he was elected for the Fourth ward to the second branch, for two years. As chief of the fire department, he has proven to be the most efficient officer the city ever had in that post, and under his management the department has attained a degree of proficiency surpassed by but few of the large cities. His administration has given universal satisfaction. Mr. Dunning was married November 5, 1867, to Eliza Robinson, of North Wheeling. She is a daughter of Robert Robinson, deceased, formerly a well-known citizen of the First ward. To this marriage nine children have been born, seven of whom survive. Mr. Dunning is a member of Franklin lodge, I. O. O. F. and Ohio lodge, F. & A. M. He is a member of the Zane Street Methodist Episcopal church, and is now president and was for a number of years secretary of the board of trustees of that church.
James A. Dunning, chief of the fire department of Wheeling, has been a resident of the city since 1856. His parents were Thomas A. and Sarah (Lee) Dunning, the former of whom was a native of Scotland and the latter of New York state. They were married at New York city, and then settled on a farm in Armstrong county, Penn. In 1836 they removed to Steubenville, Ohio, where he followed his trade of weaving, having been a silk weaver during his residence in Scotland. He died in July, 1863, in his fifty-seventh year, and his wife died in March, 1873, aged seventy-four years. Their son, J. A. Dunning, was reared in Steubenville, and there learned the trade of a machinist, which he followed for a number of years after coming to Wheeling. From 1861 to 1863 he was employed at the Fort Pitt Cannon works at Pittsburgh, but with that exception he has resided continuously at Wheeling. In December, 1865, he became one of the organizers of the Wheeling Hinge company, of which he was the manager until 1882, when in December, he was elected by the council chief of the fire department, a position he has since held. He was at that time a member of the city council, to which he was first elected in 1872, for the Fourth ward, to the first branch, for a term af four years. At the January election, of 1881 he was elected for the Fourth ward to the second branch, for two years. As chief of the fire department, he has proven to be the most efficient officer the city ever had in that post, and under his management the department has attained a degree of proficiency surpassed by but few of the large cities. His administration has given universal satisfaction. Mr. Dunning was married November 5, 1867, to Eliza Robinson, of North Wheeling. She is a daughter of Robert Robinson, deceased, formerly a well-known citizen of the First ward. To this marriage nine children have been born, seven of whom survive. Mr. Dunning is a member of Franklin lodge, I. O. O. F. and Ohio lodge, F. & A. M. He is a member of the Zane Street Methodist Episcopal church, and is now president and was for a number of years secretary of the board of trustees of that church.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
