Dunning, J. W., Coopersville Observer, March 25, 1910

J. W. Dunning, one of the first settlers of Wright Township, passed away at his home, 250 Jefferson Street, Grand Rapids, March 18, 1910.

With his parents, in 1845, he started from Calhoun County, Michigan, where he was born, by ox team conveyance for their new home, now owned by Charles Dunning. Arriving at what was then known as the Lillie-Streeter Settlement, kindly people took them in and helped build a shanty home, to which by winding road they soon arrived. There he saw the felling and burning of most of the timber which covered that section.

Receiving a common school education in the log school house in District No. 3, and added some little thereto by attendance at select schools in Lamont, Eastmanville and Grand Rapids.

In 1862 he taught the Finkler school in Northeast Wright. The following two winters found him a teacher in the Centennial school north of Coopersville and in the (then Peck) Coopersville school. Concluding to change occupations, he, with George Peck, Charles Dickerson, George Carrell, Ed Lillie and Charles Lawton, all of this vicinity, took a business course at Eastman’s College in Chicago. On graduating, he immediately took charge of a small store owned by J. T. Dayton at Hesperia, in Oceana County. There he lived for 37 years, during which time another new section was robbed of its timber and subdued by man.

Losing his health about seven years ago, he removed to Grand Rapids. He was married twice, to Sarah Sweet in 1868, and to Nellie Palmer in 1885. He leaves a widow, five daughters, Alice Jewell and Una Kanis, of Muskegon, Jessie, Alta and Nina Dunning of Grand Rapids, and two brothers, Carpenter and Charles of Coopersville.

His religion was, "To live and Let Live." We hope and believe no living person can say: I was knowingly wronged by J. W. Dunning. Coopersville Obituaries by Boersma.