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Dunseth, A. A.
The following data is extracted from Biographical Sketches, Coles County, Illinois - East Oakland Township.
A. A. Dunseth, Police Magistrate and Justice of the Peace, Oakland; born in Fleming Co., Ky., Oct. 12, 1821; he removed with his parents, when 6 years of age, to Ohio, where he learned and worked at the carpenter trade until 1843, when he came West and located at Peoria, Ill., working at his trade until 1852, when he removed to Georgetown, Ill., where he kept hotel two years, when he purchased a saw-mill, which he ran in connection with his trade until 1858, when he removed to Danville, and engaged in contracting and building until 1861, when he raised a company for the 4th Illinois Cavalry, but the regiment. having obtained its full quota of companies, his company was not accepted, the members joining other companies to fill up the regiment; in 1862, be visited the Union Hospitals at Louisville, Ky., and finding a wide field for labor in the interest of the soldiers of Illinois, he decided to remain there and labor in behalf of the same; he immediately entered upon this noble duty, laboring for the relief of suffering patriots of his State without compensation and defraying his own expenses for three months, when the hospital was visited by Dr. W. E. Fithian, J. L. Tincher and Judge Terry, of Danville; they at once saw the amount of good being accomplished through the agency of Mr. Dunseth, when they immediately demanded of Gov. Yates that Illinois should have a State Agent to look after our suffering soldiers, and suggested Mr. Dunseth as a suitable person to fill the position. This was at once acted upon, and he received his commission as State Agent, dating from the time he first came to the hospitals. He had never made application for the above position, and when he received his commission, it was much of a surprise to him. The writer of this sketch has seen many letters to Mr. Dunseth from prominent men, both in civil and military life, expressing thanks and gratitude to him for the noble spirit he has shown in behalf of the soldiers of the Union army. At the close of the war, he returned to Danville and engaged in railroad bridging in Illinois and the Southern States until 1872, when he removed to Oakland, where he has since lived. He married Oct. 17, 1844, to Mary Burnside, cousin of Gen. A. E. Burnside; she was born in Kentucky May 29, 1821; they are the parents of five children, now living, viz., Sarah E., David W., Charles A., Alice M. and James H. Mr. Dunseth has always labored in behalf of Christianity and temperance was a charter member of Lodge No. 2, Sons of Temperance, at Peoria, Ill., and has been a brother Odd Fellow for the past thirty-four years.
Source: Biographical Sketches, Coles County, Illinois - East Oakland Township
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