STEPHEN DUNN

Stephen and Rose Emily GITTENS were married 10 May 1882 at LaCross, LaCross, WI. They had the following children:

1. Irene May DUNN, born 13 Mar 1882 at Flandreau, Moody, DT. Died Nov 1954.

2. Stephen Mark DUNN was born 06 Jun 1884 at Forrestburg, Sanborn, DT, died 02 Sep 1948.

3. Mary Agnes DUNN, born 28 Jun 1886 at Artesian, Sanborn, DT, died 08 Sep 1962.

4. Anna Winifred DUNN was born 10 Sep 1888 at Artesian, Sanborn, DT and died 06 Jul 1976.

5. Susan Elizabeth DUNN was born 22 Jun 1890 at Artesian, Sanborn, SD and died 25 Jul 1987.

6. Baby girl DUNN died in infancy.

7. Baby girl DUNN was born 19 Oct 1893: died Aug 1894.

8. Charles Michael DUNN was born 21 Dec 1894 at Artesian, Sanborn, SD.

On 16 Sep 1878, at the Sioux Falls, DT Land Office, Stephen made application number 10494 for entry to the NW Quarter of Section 8 in Township 107N Range 47 in Moody County, DT, containing 160 acres.

On his application Stephen swore, "I am a single man, over the age of 21 years, and a citizen of the United States. That said application is made for the purpose of actual settlement and cultivation; that said entry is made for my own exclusive benefit, and not directly or indirectly for the benefit or use of any other persons whomsoever; and that I have not heretofore had the benefit of the homestead laws".

In 1881 Stephen went to LaCross, where he married Rose Emily GITTENS. Returning to Dakota Territory, Stephen, on 13 Jul 1881, claimed the right to commute his Homestead Entry to a cash sale under "an act of Congress Approved 15 Jun 1880." On 19 Jul 1881 he paid $1.25 per acre, a total of $200.00, less receiver fees of $14.00, with CD number 3108 from the Assistant Treasurer of the United States at San Francisco, CA. Certificate number 5076 was issued which, when presented to the Commissioner of the General Land Office, would entitle him to receive a Patent for the land described.

Between 1881 and 1884 Stephen moved his family to Sanborn county, DT where on 04 Aug 1884 he filed application number 23086 for entry to the SE Quarter of the NE Quarter of Section 12 in Township 106N of Range 61 in Sanborn County, containing 40 acres.

This was a "Pre-Emption" land sale, or "right of first refusal". Final proof was required to be made in thirty three months, rather than five years.

Stephen was required to have witnesses to prove his assertions. Beginning on July 8, 1886 and ending on August 12, 1886 for five issues, a notice of intent to prove was published in the Letcher Blade, a weekly newspaper published at Letcher, Sanborn, D.T. His witnesses were I.F. Briggs, George Hinker, I.B. Rich, and Charles Winchester, all of Forrestburg, Sanborn, D.T. The witnesses were required to be neighbors who could see and attest to the improvements a settler made to the land. Only two of the proposed four witnesses were actually required to testify. The two who testified for Stephen were I.B. Rich and I.F. Briggs.

In the preemption Proof on August 17, 1886 Stephen said he was married, had three children, first settled on the land May 6, 1884, and he broke (plowed) 30 acres. He had a house 18 feet by 22 feet and a stable 14 x 22, both built of lumber, and a well. He assessed the total value at $400.00.

He further said he was a naturalized citizen of the U.S. Stephen said he was at first living in his own house on land owned by another and that he afterwards moved the house onto his own land on January 7, 1886. He was asked what business he was engaged in the day he made his land entry. He said he was in the business of draying and farming and continued in both until the day he moved his house. Stephen said his personal property consisted of a team, wagon, and household furniture worth about $600.00. He also said he owned 160 acres in Moody county worth about $800.00 and encumbered for $400.00.

Stephen hit a snag at this point. Somehow it must have become known that, having been born in Canada, he was not a citizen of the U.S. He was first required to swear that he really believed he had been naturalized by the naturalization of his father, John Dunn, which he supposed occurred about 1866 and the grounds for that belief was that his father proved up on a government homestead by five years residence.

He at once sent for proof of John's naturalization and was told by John that he had only filed his declaration of intent. It was only necessary for a prospective homesteader to file a "Declaration of Intent" to become a citizen, not to actually naturalize. However, for the wife and children of an alien to become citizens it was necessary for the husband/father to complete the naturalization process. The file contains a certified copy of John's declaration of intent and Stephen's naturalization before the District Court, Davison county, 2nd Judicial District of Dakota Territory. Patent issued on this land on 21 Sep 1889.

Rose died on 4 Jul 1904. On 04 Feb 1918 Stephen married Rose's sister Anna GITTENS. Around this time Stephen and Anna moved to Hettinger, Adams, ND where he died 04 Oct 1926.