FRANCIS DUNLAVY, an old and highly esteemed pioneer of Clark
Township, was born January 6, 1803, in Montgomery County, Ky., a
son of Daniel and Martha (Yocom) Dunlavy; the former was born
January 16, 1765, and died in 1846, the latter was born January 27,
1783, died in 1838. Our subject's early life was spent on a farm in
Kentucky. He removed from Kentucky in 1825 and settled in Lawrence
County, Ind., where he remained twenty-six years, thence to Iowa,
where he stayed three years, and in 1854, came to Johnson County,
Ind., and settled on the farm on which he now lives. He received a
common school education in the pioneer log school-house. He served
an apprenticeship at the stonemason's trade, which he continued to
work at occasionally for about thirty years. At the age of
twenty-one he began the struggle of life for himself, working at
his trade. July 25, 1824, he was united in marriage to Mahala
Stewart, a daughter of John and Mary (Jenning) Stewart. To this
union the following children were born: James H. (deceased), born
May 25, 1825; Mary J. (deceased), born February 13, 1827; Martha
A., born February 11, 1829; John W., born July, 1831; Francis M.
(deceased), born December 29, 1833. The mother of these children
was born February 15, 1801; died August 22, 1835. He was united in
a second marriage with Eleanor Miller, a daughter of Daniel W. and
Rhoda (Arthur) Miller. This union was blessed with the following
children: Daniel W., born April 11, 1840; William, born February
20, 1845; Elvesta, born March, 1847, and Julia A., born May, 1851.
The mother of these children was born in 1813, and died March 26,
1873. His third marriage was to Mrs. Eliza Mavity, who was born in
1816; died November 24, 1883. He has been a member of the Methodist
Episcopal Church over sixty years.
Transcribed by Cheryl Zufall Parker
Banta, D.D. History of Johnson County, Indiana. Chicago, IL: Brant & Fuller, 1888.