California Biographies
Mendocino and Lake Counties, California
 
Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

Source:
History of Mendocino and Lake Counties, California
With Biographical Sketches
History by Aurelius O. Carpenter And Percy H. Millberry
Illustrated, Complete In One Volume
Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1914


JAMES LEROY DUNLAP.� One of the native sons of Mendocino 
county, whose welfare has ever been his chief interest, James Leroy Dunlap 
has made that county the environment of his entire existence, working with 
zeal and a patriotic heart to do his part as an active citizen toward the devel- 
opment of his community and the upbuilding of its industrial interests. This 
splendid citizenship was rewarded in 1907 by his appointment through Post- 
master Hitchcock to the position of postmaster of Covelo, where he until 
recently remained, giving his close attention to every detail of the office and 
affording satisfaction to all concerned. 

The birth of Mr. Dunlap occurred December 20, 1872, in Round Valley, 
this county, where he spent his early years on his parents' farm. There being 
no high schools in the valley his educational training was limited to the 
grammar school of Covelo, but during his school years he proved an apt and 
absorbing pupil, and his natural quick intelligence has been excellent aid in 
procuring for him the thorough knowledge of affairs which he has today. 
After finishing his school course he took up the trade of carpenter and worked 
at it for a few years. Meanwhile he had studied and read closely. He was 
offered a position as industrial teacher in the Indian school in Round Valley, 
and while there took up a claim of a hundred and sixty acres near Redwine 
on the Eel river. Clearing up this land he added improvements and finally 
proved up on the tract, relinquishing the duties of teacher in order to engage in 
farming for himself. He brought part of the land to a splendid state of 
cultivation, and used the remainder for a stock range for his hogs and cattle. 
Methodical, painstaking and given to systematizing his work, he soon found 
himself in a position of gratifying success, his stock bringing good prices at 
the market and his land proving most productive. He gave up ranch life in 
1907, to fill the office of postmaster to which he had been called, but he relin- 
quished that post owing to poor health. He still owns a ranch in the foot- 
hills, interesting himself in the raising and selling of stock. 

On August 9, 1903, occurred the marriage of Mr. Dunlap and Eva Adele 
Cummings, who has proved a worthy helpmate and a devoted mother to their 
five children, Eva M., James Everett, Russell Leroy, Vera L. and Harold. 
The family attend the Presbyterian church at Covelo, where Mr. Dunlap has 
acted as trustee for a number of years and given every means in his power 
to aid in its work. An able and efficient man in all his labors he has the 
confidence of his fellow-citizens, the esteem of many friends and the affection 
and deep love of a delightful family. They are now living on Mountain ranch, 
about twenty miles from Covelo.