Descendants of Simeon Dunn
Generation No. 1
1. SIMEON DUNN was born Abt. 1750, and died June 10, 1823 in Lincoln Cty., NC. He married MARY BIGGERS WEDDINGTON.
Notes for SIMEON DUNN: Simeon and Mary are buried in the Long Creek Memorial Baptist Church Cemetery.
Simeon served in the Revoltionary War. On the 15th day of August 1782 Simeon Dunn was given 5 pounds, 12 shillings principal; 1 pound, 15 shillings, 6 pence interest. (taken from document State of North Carolina Department of Archives and History - "Revolutionary Army Accounts" copy of certificate very hard to read was for some claim).
Children of SIMEON DUNN and MARY WEDDINGTON are:
2. i. MOSES MCELROY DUNN, b. July 04, 1797, Lincoln Co., NC; d. November 13, 1865, Coryell Co., Texas.
ii. ELIZABETH DUNN, b. Abt. 1800.
iii. JAMES DUNN,
iv. SIMEON DUNN, JR
All three Dunn boys married three Wells sisters.
Generation No. 2
2. MOSES MCELROY DUNN (SIMEON) was born July 04, 1797 in Lincoln Cty., NC. He married (1) ELIZABETH WELLS. He married (2) MARY LEEK PEELER November 13, 1823 in York Co., SC.
Notes for MOSES MCELROY DUNN: History of Catoosa County Wm. H. H. Clark, 1972
Part 2 Early Settlers
Dogwood and Houston valleys were first area settled. Earliest family the Heads. Head was asked in the latter 1800's to write for the county paper his recollection of the earliest. John Dowling had kept a scrapbook of news articles which he permitted McDaniel to copy. McDaniel later gave his records to the author. An excerpt follows in paraphrase.
Section 1
Early settlers include only those arriving in the first twenty years after the county opened to settlement (then Walker County). February 1834 Joe Head moved to walker county, temporarily stayed in an Indian cabin between Moses Dunn and Hugh Love. In the spring built one mile East of Tunnel Hill. Jack Dame in 1833 built a cabin on the north side of Moses Dunn's spring. Henry Martin in 1838 settled the place that John Dowling and his mother now live.
Child of MOSES DUNN and ELIZABETH WELLS is:
i. MARGARET DUNN.
Children of MOSES DUNN and MARY PEELER are:
3. ii. LEVISA LEEK DUNN, b. March 04, 1824, York Dist, SC; d. October 12, 1911, Whitfield CTY, GA.
iii. JOHN BIGGERS DUNN, b. Abt. 1826.
Notes for JOHN BIGGERS DUNN:
"Beginning at the south end of Dogwood Valley, we find the J.B. Dunn home still in possession of a grand daughter of Mr. Dunn, Mrs. Nell Callaway Stevens. This home was built just after the Civil War ended in 1865, by soldiers who wished to make money with which to return to their homes. They burned the brick for chimneys and foundation near the house. It is a very beautiful and commodious old house, and is lovingly cared for by its present owner. She proudly exhibits a perfectly handsome old walnut chest of drawers that was bought by her grandfather and has never been moved from the place he put it when he brought it home, just inside the front door of the hallway. The Dunn family were leaders in the old Dogwood Valley Church, and Mrs. Stevens has the original records of the church, which contains priceless information and records. The church and cemetery are not far from this home. Some of the names on the older stones are Dunn, Love, Peeler, Harris, Whitsette, Quinn, Deck, Baggett and Head.
Moses Dunn is said to have come from England. He married Mary (Polly) Peeler and they were parents of
J. B. Dunn, who married a McCalla; he was born in 1826 and died in 1911. His daughter, Alice, married Willis Callaway and they were the parents of Mrs. Stevens.
In the 1850 census we find Moses Dunn, age 53, and listed as from North Carolina and his wife, Mary, from South Carolina. It is probably that Moses Dunn lived in North Carolina before coming to Georgia and after immigrating from Englad. There is also listed a John Dunn and wife Anna, from South Carolina, with a son, Moses, age 12."
From: History of Catoosa County (Actually before Moses Dunn came to GA he was from PA before NC his family immigrated from England)
iv. JOSEPH PEELER DUNN, b. November 03, 1828.
v. WILLIAM MILTON DUNN, b. June 23, 1831.
vi. ALFORD SAMMUEL DUNN, b. January 25, 1835.
vii. MARY ELIZABETH DUNN, b. May 02, 1837.
viii. DAVID YALE DUNN, b. January 10, 1839.
ix. MOSES DUNN, b. June 12, 1842.
x. AARON WASHINGTON DUNN, b. September 12, 1845.
Generation No. 3
3. LEVISA LEEK DUNN (MOSES MCELROY, SIMEON) was born March 04, 1824 in York Dist, SC, and died October 12, 1911 in Whitfield Co, GA. She married (1) THOMAS DOWLING. She married (2) JONATHAN SUTTON MCCLAIN April 24, 1856.
Notes for LEVISA LEEK DUNN: Born in York Dist, now county, South Carolina between Cherokee and Peeler Fordson Broad River. (Catoosa County Record)
Children of THOMAS DOWLING and LEVISA DUNN are:
i. MARY ANN DOWLING, b. Abt. 1844, Catoosa Co., GA; m. ALEXANDER COX, February 26, 1867.
ii. JOHN DOWLING DOWLING, b. December 04, 1845, Ringgold, Walker Co. (now Catoosa) GA; d. May 29, 1937, Rome, Floyd Co., Ga.
Notes for JOHN DOWLING DOWLING: Enlisted in Company E.1st Confederate Regiment, Georgia Volunteers, at Fort Gaines garrison. In January 1864, he took part in the battle of Rocky Face and went through the Atlanta campaign. He was in the battle of Franklin, and was by the side of Colonel Smith when he fell. He was among the few who went over the breastworks in the charge. He went between the lines to rescue his company's colors. Three had fallen in the attempt. He was in the battle of Nashville and was captured December 16, 1864, sent to Camp Douglas, IL., and was released June, 1865. John Dowling was never married.
2. iii. CATHERINE MARGARET DOWLING, b. July 30, 1848, Ringgold, Walker Co. (now Catoosa) GA; d. January 27, 1888, Catoosa Co., GA.
iv. ELIZABETH OCTAVIA DOWLING, b. December 02, 1850, Ringgold, Walker Co. (now Catoosa) GA; d. November 06, 1925, Tunnel Hill, Whitfield Co., GA.
Children of LEVISA DUNN and JONATHAN MCCLAIN are:
iii. LOU ANNIE MCCLAIN, b. September.
iv. JOSEPH ADOLPHUS MCCLAIN, b. March 11, 1857; d. December 23, 1938, Catoosa Cty, GA.
v. ROBERT E. MCCLAIN, b. October 29, 1858.
vi. THOMAS AARON MCCLAIN, b. September 23, 1860; d. July 30, 1861.
vii. CHARLES WALTER MCCLAIN, b. January 14, 1862; d. September 24, 1923, Tunnel Hill, Ga. viii.
RICHARD LEE MCCLAIN, b. September 05, 1865; d. September 06, 1901, Tunnel Hill, Ga.
ix. WILLIAM WASHINGTON MCCLAIN, b. December 1866; d. January 06, 1938.
x. DAVID COLEMAN MCCLAIN, b. November 12, 1867; d. July 05, 1945, Tunnel Hill, Ga. d. August 20, 1966, Catoosa Co., GA.
Tribute to a Confederate mother
Levisa Leek, daughter of Moses McElroy Dunn and Mary Leek Dunn was born March 4, 1821, on York River in York County, SC. She moved with her parents to Walker Co., GA. (now Catoosa), in 1833. Moses Dunn bought and lived in the house of Indian Chief Hix, which stands yet in Dogwood Valley.
Levisa helped to cook for those who gathered and guarded the Indians prior to their departure from Georgia. She went with and cooked for her father while building the first homes in Cross Plains, GA., (now Dalton), and she helped to cook for the contractors and hands who built the Western and Atlantic Railroad, northeast of Tunnel Hill, GA. She was married January 12, 1843, to Contractor Thomas Dowling, and it was he who completed the tunnel at Tunnel Hill. They moved shortly thereafter to the home where she resided the major part of the following sixty nine years. She traveled horseback with her husband to different points in Georgia and Alabama, passing through Atlanta when it was little more than a blacksmith village, and drank water from the good spring now said to be under the W & A Railroad shops. She lived in Augusta while her husband built the lock over the canal, and it was there that her veteran son, John Dowling, was born December 4, 1845. She returned to North Georgia in 1851, a widow with four small children.
In 1856 she was married to Jonathan McClain, of Fairfield, SC. She remained at home during the Civil War with her daughters and little children, suffering many hardships and privations in supporting those dependent upon her for support. She often contributed to the relief of soldiers.
Gen. Joseph Wheeler's secret service men were frequently visitors to her home, where they were made welcome. She witnessed skirmishes and was in hearing of the battles around Chattanooga, Missionary Ridge, Chickamauga, Ringgold, Tunnel Hill, Rocky Face and Dalton, and heard the roar of cannon of several battles further south. She had several battles with soldiers and stragglers who went with the Federal wagon train while pillaging her house, and they often succeeded in taking her personal property. The heavy wagons becoming stalled in the deep and miry ford of East Chickamauga, they had ample time to plunder. They often camped on her place, and the officers kept guards at her house, but the fences and crops were destroyed.
Excepting pillagers, she treated all kindly; and not withstanding her avowed loyalty to her Southland, she had good friends among the Federal soldiers. An officer admiring the beautiful location of her home, said: "I will lay my land grant here when the South is confiscated." She answered: "You may lay it between here and Atlanta only six feet long and three feet wide." She saw the race of the Andrew's raiders on the engine General, pursued by the engine Texas. She lost two stepsons in the Confederate army. Lieut. E. R. McClain enlisted in the first Confederate regiment at the beginning of the hostilities and went to Pensacola, FL., where he enlisted for six months. Re enlisting for the war, he went to Mobile, AL., and from thence back to Rocky Face, GA., and on to Kennesaw, where he was wounded, from the effects of which he died later and was buried in Mobile, AL. W. S. McClain enlisted in 1862 and served in Company B, 11th Georgia Regiment, in the Virginia Army, Until General Longstreet was sent to Chickamauga. He here received wounds from which he died, and was buried in Knoxville.
Her son John D. Dowling enlisted in Company E, 1st Confederate Regiment, Georgia Volunteers, at Fort Gaines Garrison. In January, 1864, he took part in the battle of Rocky Face and went through the Atlanta Campaign. He was in the battle of Franklin and was by the side of Colonel Smith when he fell. He was among the few who went over the breastworks in the charge. He went between the lines to rescue his Company's colors. Three had fallen in the attempt. He was in the battle of Nashville and was captured December 16, 1864 sent to Camp Douglas, IL., and released in June, 1865.
Mrs. McClain opened her doors to all who called or needed her hospitality, regardless of circumstances of station. Among her guests was Col. Theodore Roosevelt, of the Spanish-American War, who on taking his leave said: "I've been across the water and in almost every State of the Union, and in no country have I eaten such bread as prepared by you." Her last act of patriotism was that of making a flag quilt for her veteran son in 1908, the Jefferson Davis Centennial year. She planted cotton in her garden, cultivated it, picked and ginned it with her fingers, batted it and made in into the flag. She cut and started the quilt in 1908, finished it in 1909, and quilted it in 1910. It had embroidered i white letters: "B. D. Dowling, Company E, 1st Confederate Regiment, Georgia Volunteers." It is lined with gray satin, and is considered a work of art. She made many pretty silk and velvet quilts, and the best butter on the market.
She died at her home between McClain Ford and McClain Gap, October 12, 1911. She was the mother of twelve children, four of whom predeceased her. She was a member of the Baptist Church for many years. The following resolution was passed by the Joseph E. Johnston Camp, U.C.V., at Dalton., GA.
"Resolved, That the officers and members of the Joseph E. Johnston Camp, U.C.V., Dalton, GA., have with deep regret heard of the death of Mrs. McClain, and that this Camp hereby extends its sincere sympathies to the bereaved family.
"W. W. Batey, B. B. Moore, R. B. Fox, Committee."
Notes for JONATHAN SUTTON MCCLAIN:
Jonathan & Levisa Are buried Tunnel Hill Cemetery, GA
Children of LEVISA DUNN and THOMAS DOWLING are:
i. MARY ANN4 DOWLING, b. Abt. 1844, Catoosa Co., GA; m. ALEXANDER COX, February 26, 1867.
ii. JOHN DOWLING DOWLING, b. December 04, 1845, Ringgold, Walker Co. (now Catoosa) GA; d. May 29, 1937, Rome, Floyd Co., Ga.
Notes for JOHN DOWLING DOWLING:
Enlisted in Company E.1st Confederate Regiment, Georgia Volunteers, at Fort Gaines garrison. In January 1864, he took part in the battle of Rocky Face and went through the Atlanta campaign. He was in the battle of Franklin, and was by the side of Colonel Smith when he fell. He was among the few who went over the breastworks in the charge. He went between the lines to rescue his company's colors. Three had fallen in the attempt. He was in the battle of Nashville and was captured December 16, 1864, sent to Camp Douglas, IL., and was released June, 1865. John Dowling was never married.
Taken from History of Catoosa County by: Wm. H. H. Clark
"Another prominent family in Dogwood Valley were the Dowlings, from which John D. Dowling came. His mother twice married and by her second husband she became the mother of Joe and Charlie McClain. Joe was long a merchant in Ringgold. The old Dowling house is still standing in good repair. In the 1850 census of East Chickamauga Vallies we find this peculiar name: Dowling Dowling, age 35, native of Ireland and wife, Mary, 25, from South Carolina, they listed three children, Mary E., age 7, John, age 4, and Catherine, age 2. They must have been the parents of John D. Dowling. Likely his name was John Dowling Dowling. Mr. Dowling never married and lived there with his mother as long as she lived."
4. iii. CATHERINE MARGARET DOWLING, b. July 30, 1848, Ringgold, Walker Co. (now Catoosa) GA; d. January 27, 1888, Catoosa Co., GA.
iv. ELIZABETH OCTAVIA DOWLING, b. December 02, 1850, Ringgold, Walker Co. (now Catoosa) GA; d. November 06, 1925, Tunnel Hill, Whitfield Co., GA.
Children of LEVISA DUNN and JONATHAN MCCLAIN are:
v. LOUISA ANNIE4 MCCLAIN, b. September.
5. vi. JOSEPH ADOLPHUS MCCLAIN, b. March 11, 1857, Catoosa Co., GA; d. December 23, 1938, Catoosa Cty, GA.
vii. ROBERT E. MCCLAIN, b. October 29, 1858.
viii. THOMAS AARON MCCLAIN, b. September 23, 1860; d. July 30, 1861.
Notes for THOMAS AARON MCCLAIN:
Buried Ebenezer Cemetery
ix. CHARLES WALTER MCCLAIN, b. January 14, 1862; d. September 24, 1923, Tunnel Hill, Ga; m. KITTY MORGAN; b. Abt. 1871; d. Abt. 1924, Tunnel Hill, GA.
x. RICHARD LEE MCCLAIN, b. September 05, 1865, Catoosa Co., GA; d. September 25, 1890, Tunnel Hill, Ga.
Notes for RICHARD LEE MCCLAIN:
Killed in a train wreck. Western & Atlantic Railroad at McIvers Station, Cobb Co., GA. The steam from the engine burned him to death. On his tombstone at Tunnel Hill Cemetery: "We find no fitting words to say our feeble utterance our hearts doth smather. The last tribute of respect we simply say to the lifeless form of our son and brother Richard "Dick" McClain
xi. WILLIAM WASHINGTON MCCLAIN, b. December 26, 1866; d. January 06, 1938, Ringgold, Catoosa Co., GA; m. ELLA CATHERINE MANNING, May 29, 1895, Chattanooga, Hamilton Cty., TN; b. June 28, 1872; d. 1961, California.
6. xii. DAVID COLEMAN MCCLAIN, b. November 12, 1867; d. July 05, 1945, Tunnel Hill, Ga.
Generation No. 4
4. JOHN BIGGERS3 DUNN (MOSES MCELROY2, SIMEON1) was born April 04, 1826, and died December 24, 1911. He married LORENDA (CLARINDA) MCCALLA. She was born June 12, 1830.
Notes for JOHN BIGGERS DUNN:
"Beginning at the south end of Dogwood Valley, we find the J.B. Dunn home still in possession of a grand daughter of Mr. Dunn, Mrs. Nell Callaway Stevens. This home was built just after the Civil War ended in 1865, by soldiers who wished to make money with which to return to their homes. They burned the brick for chimneys and foundation near the house. It is a very beautiful and commodious old house, and is lovingly cared for by its present owner. She proudly exhibits a perfectly handsome old walnut chest of drawers that was bought by her grandfather and has never been moved from the place he put it when he brought it home, just inside the front door of the hallway.
The Dunn family were leaders in the old Dogwood Valley Church, and Mrs. Stevens has the original records of the church, which contains priceless information and records. The church and cemetery are not far from this home. Some of the names on the older stones are Dunn, Love, Peeler, Harris, Whitsette, Quinn, Deck, Baggett and Head.
Moses Dunn is said to have come from England. He married Mary (Polly) Peeler and they were parents of J. B. Dunn, who married a McCalla; he was born in 1826 and died in 1911. His daughter, Alice, married Willis Callaway and they were the parents of Mrs. Stevens. In the 1850 census we find Moses Dunn, age 53, and listed as from North Carolina and his wife, Mary, from South Carolina. It is probably that Moses Dunn lived in North Carolina before coming to Georgia and after immigrating from England. There is also listed a John Dunn and wife Anna, from South Carolina, with a son, Moses, age 12."
From: History of Catoosa County by Wm. H. H. Clark
(Actually before Moses Dunn came to GA he was from PA before NC his family immigrated from England)
More About LORENDA (CLARINDA) MCCALLA:
Burial: Old Stone Church, Ringgold, Catoosa County, GA
Children of JOHN DUNN and LORENDA MCCALLA are:
i. JOSEPH CHELSA4 DUNN, b. 1852; d. 1938; m. LAURA LEE HORTON.
7. ii. MARY ELIZABETH DUNN, b. 1854; d. 1897, Woodstation Valley, Ringgold, Catoosa County, GA.
iii. JOHN MATTHEW DUNN, b. 1856; d. 1930; m. CLARA YARBRA.
Notes for JOHN MATTHEW DUNN:
Was a Texas Ranger.
iv. SUSAN EMMA DUNN, b. 1858; d. 1863.
v. AUGUSTUS DAVIS DUNN, b. 1861; d. 1918; m. SARAH ELLEN RATLIFF.
8. vi. ALICE JANINE DUNN, b. 1863; d. 1940.
vii. LAURA LEE DUNN, b. 1865; d. 1936; m. NATHAN LOWE, JR.
viii. ROSA ANNA DUNN, b. 1867; d. 1950; m. JAMES C. STRICKLAND.
