William Lair Dunavan

Dr. J. O. Harris received a letter from Denton, Texas, on Monday, announcing the death of Wm. L. Dunavan, in that city, at the age of 80 years, 5 months and 24 days, on the afternoon of the 3d inst. The deceased lived for years in Rutland township, this county, and removed to Texas in 1880. He leaves a wife and several children, among them Mrs. Cyrus Debolt and A. F. Dunavan, of Dayton, a daughter in Iowa and two sons in Denton. Mr. Dunavan was well known here. He held the office of justice of the peace in Rutland for 20 years, and during the pioneer days took part in the Black Hawk war. Was also a contractor in the building of the I. and M. canal. The last issue of the Denton Chronicle contains a lengthy notice extolling the virtues and popularity of the deceased. The funeral services were conducted by Standford Lodge, A. F. and A. M., of which he was a member.¹

William Lair Dunavan was born November 8, 1808, in Licking county, Ohio. He came west with his mother and stepfather and settled at the mouth of Cedar Creek, about a mile and a half directly south of Peru. He married Eliza Green, daughter of John and Barbara (Grove) Green on November 6, 1831. They had 9 children, one of whom died in infancy. He died in Denton, Texas, May 3, 1889, and is buried there. His wife died there October 28, 1896.

1. Ottawa Republican, May 10, 1889, p. 5.