MARY ALMEDA BARLOW

When  MARY BARLOW  was about 17 years of age she came with a cousin to America and lived for some time in Massachusetts before coming to Wisconsin. On 01 AUG 1875 she married William Dunn at Brunswick, Eau Claire, WI. The photo at left is thought to have been taken at Wisconsin about the time of her marriage to William Dunn. There is a matching picture of William.

Not much more is known by this compiler, of her early life, as Mary appears to have been a private person. She was born 24 MAR 1851 at Westbury, Quebec, Canada and died 08 NOV 1932 at the home of her daughter, Minnie E. Ashmore, at Artesian, Sanborn, SD, where she had been visiting the past month.

She appears to have been an astute business woman. See the William Dunn page for the many land transactions undertaken by the couple and after William's death in 1893, by Mary herself.

Mary was a charter member of the Flandreau Eastern Star lodge and the Rebekah lodge and a member of the Methodist church doing her part in the work of the Aid society and the church.

The following are from the Moody County Enterprise, Flandreau, Moody, SD:

"June 1, 1893. Mrs. Wm. Dunn is receiving a visit from her brother (Edmund A. Barlow). It is reported that Wm. Dunn continues to fail rapidly."

"August 2, 1900. J.C. Halver has purchased the lot between Dr. E.F. Talbott's office and A.H. Odell's blacksmith shop from Mrs. Mary Dunn for a consideration of $1,300.00. Mr. Halver will immediately commence the erection of a fine stone building thereon, to be 80 feet long."

"May 2, 1901. At a meeting of the Union Cemetery Association, Saturday evening, the following officers were elected. Dennis Jacobs, president; Mrs. Mary Dunn, 1st vice president; Mrs. Charlotte Rorebeck, 2nd vice president; Mrs. H.F. Walton, secretary and Mrs. W.A. Krause, treasurer."

"May 13, 1909. Chris Brakke and wife of Toronto, SD, have been spending a few days here this week. For the past few years, Mr. Brakke was connected with the bank at Toronto. Mr. Brakke intends to return to Flandreau and has purchased a couple of lots of Mrs. Dunn, joining her place on the west and will put up a substantial building on the lots for his residence."

A letter written 14 FEB 1921 to Mary by her brother, Edmund A. Barlow, then Postmaster at Oacoma, Lyman, SD.

VALENTINE

In the book of life I've turned a page,
Close written everyline,
No blotch or bungle to age,
Makes a record fine.

Every day found me on deck,
Contented as a clam,
Peddling stamps to kings and tramps,
To please our Uncle Sam.

No time to loiter on the road,
No time for fancy play,
With postal blue-laws hedged about,
I toiled the livelong day.

Labor prolongs the human life,
It keeps the body fit,
The arm that shirks the battles strife,
Disease soon withers it.

E.A. Barlow, Postmaster, Oacoma, S.D.

Feb 14th, 1921, anniversary of birth.

Dear sister:- I can't help call your attention to the fact that I am still on earth and of course brag a little about it. Old people have to toot their own horns now days otherwise they get left.

With the exception of colds which seem general we have been getting on fine. I suppose you know that Mrs. E.W. Walker of Lennoxville has past. This is sure a remarkable winter. Like the old fashioned kind that we used to have when I first came to the country. Let me hear from you at your earliest convenience. Best wishes to everybody.

Edmund

On 30 SEP 1926 Mary signed a will.

LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT

IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN. I, Mary A. Dunn of the city of Flandreau, in the County of Moody, and in the State of South Dakota, being of sound mind and memory, and considering the uncertainty of this frail and transitory life, do therefore make, ordain, publish and declare this to be my Last Will and Testament.

FIRST: I order and direct that my executor hereinafter named pay all my just debts and funeral expenses as soon after my decease as conveniently may be.

SECOND: I give, devise and bequeath to my beloved daughter, Minnie E. Ashmore, to have and to hold during her lifetime the following described real property situated in Sanborn Sounty, south Dakota, to-wit: Lots Two (2), Three (3), Four (4) and Five (5), Block Seven (7), in the town of Artesian, South Dakota; the remainder over to her surviving child or children provided that if any of her children shall die prior to the death of said Minnie E. Ashmore leaving issue, such issue to take the share that said deceased child would have taken if living.

THIRD: I give, devise and bequeath to my beloved children, Elmo W. Dunn, John F. Dunn, and Minnie E. Ashmore, and in the event of the death of any of them, to their surviving child or children, the net income from all the remainder of my property of whatsoever nature and description except as herein otherwise provided. Said property to be held in trust by my executor hereinafter named and when the said estate is settled and the executor discharged, to be so held by my said trustee and his successor in trust in the event of his death or removal from office, with full power to collect the rents, profits and income from said property, pay the expenses of properly protecting, caring for and maintaining the same, and I direct that he divide the net proceeds equally among my three children at reasonable and convenient times. This trust shall terminate at the time the youngest child of any of my children in being at the time of my death shall arrive at the age of twenty-one years, and at said time the title to all my property to vest absolutely in my said children, or in the event of the death of any of them their share to vest in their children.

FOURTH: I appoint my son Elmo W. Dunn as trustee to carry out the purpose of the trust herein created with full power to do all things necessary to carry out the purpose of said trust.

LASTLY, I nominate and appoint my son Elmo W. Dunn, Flandreau, South Dakota, executor of this my Last Will and Testament to act without bond, with full power and authority to sell and dispose of any personal property belonging to my estate without order of Court therefore; and further, with power and authority to sell and dispose of the residence property situated in Madison, South Dakota, without order of Court therefore, and I direct that the said Madison property be sold as soon as a fair price can be obtained therefor, and the proceeds applied upon any indebtedness owing by me - it being my desire that the proceeds thereof be used in reducing the mortage indebtedness against my farm in Moody County, South Dakota; and I further direct that none of the remaining property belonging to said estate be sold during the existence of the trust herein created.

I hereby revoke all former Wills by me made.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my seal the 30th day of September, in the year of our Lord One Thousand Nine Hundred Twenty Six.

(Signed) Mary A. Dunn

The above and foregoing Will, consisting of three pages, at the date thereof, was signed, sealed, published and declared by the said Mary A. Dunn as her last Lasr Will and testament, and we, at her request and in her presence, and in the presence of each other, have signed said Will as witnesses therto.

Geo. A. Rice, residing at Flandreau, S.D.

Olga E. Olstad, residing at Flandreau, S.D.