D Biographies

If you have other historical biographies you would like to contribute that are about former Lawrence County residents please E-mail me and I will get them on the site or you can post them to the Lawrence County Message Board

Biographies with links to Lawrence County

DIGNAN, John R.

John, of Bedford, Lawrence County, Ind. Democrat. Alternate delegate to Democratic National Convention from Indiana, 1924.

DEAN, Capt. Jeremiah E.

Jeremiah, a veteran of the Mexican and late Civil wars, was born in Clark County, KY., October 25, 1821 and is one of five children born to James and Mary (Campbell) Dean. When a small lad he went to Marion County, Indiana, making that his home until about fourteen years old, when he moved to Orange County, Indiana to live with an uncle. Until attaining his majority he worked on a farm, then worked two years in a grist mill at Lawrenceport, Lawrence Co., Ind., after which he moved to Bedford. May 7, 1847, he enlisted in Company I, Sixteenth Regiment of United States Infantry, served in the Mexican war until he was honorably discharged at Newport, KY., July 28, 1848. May 24, 1849, Mary A. OwensS became his wife, shortly after which he moved to Springville, Ind., where for over twenty years he engaged in blacksmithing. June 7, 1861, he enlisted in Company F, Fifteenth Indiana Volunteers, and on the organization of the company was elected First Lieutenant, a position he held until after the battle of Stone River, when he was advanced to the Captaincy of his company. Besides various skirmishes in which he was engaged he was an active participant in the battles of Shiloh, Stone River, Chickamauga and Mission Ridge. Mr. Dean is a member of the Blue Lodge in Masonry, is a Republican in politics, and in 1876 was elected Auditor of Lawrence County, serving as such four years. He is at present engaged in the hardware trade. Both Mr. and Mrs. Dean are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the following named of their ten children are yet living: Samuel M., Sarah C., D.J., Amanda L., Harriet C. AND Jeremiah H. [from Shawswick Twp., Lawrence Co., Indiana]

DODD, Charles M.

CHARLES M. DODD Lawrence County has the distinction of having in its midst one of the leading sculptors of the country, Charles M. Dodd, whose masterpieces are to be found on some of the most important buildings of the Middle West, particularly the exquisitely designed entrance to the Tower Building of the Chicago Tribune. His works are located five and one-half miles south of the termination of I Street, Bedford, and here he also maintains his residence. He was born in Lawrence County, April 13, 1879. Having the misfortune to lose both parents when he was twelve years old, Charles M. Dodd began working for Jeff Newgent, who was in the monument business, and remained with him for a year. It was while the lad was working on a stone for Mr. Newgent that John A. Rowe came across him and, immediately recognizing his ability, hired him and took him to Bedford. Although he possessed natural genius, it was necessary for him to receive technical training in order that full play might be given it, and this he did from Charles Mulligan, now of the faculty of the University of Chicago, thus completing his education as a stone sculptor. After twelve years of work at Bedford Mr. Dodd began contracting, and still continues in this line, although his main interest is his sculpturing. For years he has been doing all of the fine stone work in the Middle West, and also on the new Biltmore Hotel, Los Angeles, California, which has been awarded unstinted praise; the Rockefeller Memorial Chapel, Chicago, Illinois, that is considered by experts an outstanding piece of work; the Chicago Tribune Tower Building, already mentioned, and other equal important buildings in different cities. In fact Mr. Dodd has worked in all of the important cities of the country, and is by far at the head of his profession. Mr. Dodd sculptured the monument in the Bedford City Park to the Sailors, Soldiers and Pioneers, and it is accepted as one of the best in the country. Another fine piece of carving is the Miner and his Child in Humboldt Park, Chicago. His beautiful summer residence, known as Palistine Farm, comprises 800 acres on the Old Indian Trail, now Meridian Road, and here is to be found the than who has released so many exquisite thoughts from the confining stone. Mr. Dodd is a son of Thomas and Mary (Guthrie) Dodd. The Guthrie family is a very old one, transplanted from Virginia to Indiana at an early day, so early in fact that Indians killed the maternal great-grandfather. Thomas Dodd was a son of Cranston Dodd, who came to Lawrence County from Lexington, Kentucky, and became a farmer, although he possessed genius along several lines. Six children were born to him and his wife: Charles M., whose name heads this review; Ernest, who was drowned; Taylor, who is a farmer; Bertha, who is deceased; Roy, who is deceased; and Harry, who is in the United States Navy. In addition to his training in his profession Charles M. Dodd attended the Christopher School, Orleans High School, and he also had a night-school course in art at the Chicago Art Institute, following which he was under the preceptorship of Professor Mulligan as already stated. His art occupies his time and thought and he has never cared to affiliate with any lodges. In 1897 Mr. Dodd was married to Elsey Cook, and they had two children: Charles and Dorothy. On February 19, 1924, he was married, at Paoli, Indiana, to Elizabeth M. Vallary, a daughter of Charles F. and Anna (Dawling) Vallary. Mr. Vallary is a native of Spain. Mr. and Mrs. Dodd have one child, John D. Lawrence County is very proud of Mr. Dodd and his work. As Bedford stone is known the world over, so has the man whose art and genius beautified this and other stone brought Bedford into international prominence. His work is clear, sure and wrought according to classic tradition. In it he has put the soul of a great man, bringing forth ideas of crystal beauty seldom expressed in this medium. The thought has come to many that the ages yet to come have lost much in that his splendid sculpture has not been preserved in marble rather than stone, upon which the elements must of necessity take their toll, but to him his native product is his outlet, and he is willing to rest content with the full need of praise that has been so generously and deservedly accorded him by other members of his profession, as well as the general public. Such rare souls as his are born but seldom, and not always are they appreciated during their lifetime, as have been Mr. Dodd
(Data Entry Lora Addison Radiches)

DUNN, George Grundy (1812-1857)

George, a Representative from Indiana; born in Washington County, Ky., December 20, 1812; moved to Monroe County, Ind.; completed preparatory studies and attended the Indiana University at Bloomington; moved to Bedford, Lawrence County, Ind., in 1833, where he taught school; studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1835 and commenced practice in Bedford, Ind.; prosecuting attorney of Lawrence County in 1842; elected as a Whig to the Thirtieth Congress (March 4, 1847-March 3, 1849); unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1848; served in the State senate from 1850 until 1852, when he resigned; elected as a Republican to the Thirty-fourth Congress (March 4, 1855-March 3, 1857); was not a candidate for renomination in 1856; died in Bedford, Ind., September 4, 1857; interment in Green Hill Cemetery.

DUNN, Moses Fell (1842-1915)

Moses,Son of George Grundy Dunn. Born in Bedford, Lawrence County, Ind., April 26, 1842. Republican. Lawyer; member of Indiana state house of representatives, 1867-69; candidate for U.S. Representative from Indiana, 1870. Died October 21, 1915. Interment at Green Hill Cemetery, Bedford, Ind.