Published as it appeared on April 3, 1925, in the Corvallis Gazette-Times, Page 1, Column 1.
PIONEER TEACHER OF COUNTY PASSES
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Mrs. Alwilda Dunn Succumbed Yesterday Afternoon at Corvallis Hospital
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TAUGHT SHERIFF A.B.C.S.
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Was Member of Pioneer Musical Family Who Started the Church at Beulah
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Miss Alwilda Dunn, who died yesterday afternoon at the Corvallis General hospital, was a member of one of Benton county’s pioneer families and had been instrumental in advancing the educational standard of this community.
Miss Dunn was born in Sangamore county, Ill., near Springfield, Feb. 10, 1847. She came to Oregon in an immigrant wagon with her parents, James W. and Mary A. Dunn, pioneers of Illinois. The Dunns settled in Benton county in 1852, on a donation land claim where the parents resided until both died. A family of seven were reared on the farm: Alwilda, Richard, Henry, Ida, Madge, James W., Jr., and Mary. Of this family only three sisters, Madge Dunn, Mrs. Mary Pratt of Portland, and Mrs. Ida Pruett of San Francisco, survive. The brothers Richard, Henry and James were prominent and successful farmers of Benton county. The youngest brother, James W. Dunn, served Corvallis many years as chief of police. While chief of police, he and D. A. Osburne, then night officer of Corvallis and ex-sheriff of Benton county, were summoned to aid M.P. Burnett, sheriff of the county, in arresting a desperate character on Second street who had defied arrest. The desperado shot and killed Mr. Dunn, shot Mr. Osburne, and was then shot and killed by the sheriff.
Dunns Sturdy Family
The Dunns were of Scotch descent, very sturdy and reputable people. They were talented musicians, had high ideals, and believed in education. The four sisters, including Miss Alwilda, the eldest, obtained their education in the public schools of Benton county and later attended the state university at Eugene, Miss Alwilda having taken a special course at the State Normal school at Monmouth. The four sisters were successful teachers for a long period in different schools of the state. Miss Alwilda was a teacher of Mrs. J.B. Horner, Thomas H. Cooper, and many other prominent citizens of this city and county, she having taught Sheriff Emery J. Newton his ABC’s.
The Dunn homestead was near Beulah. In the early days a singing school was organized by the brothers and sisters in the family, which afterward developed into a Sunday school and later into a church known as the Beulah church which is still maintained.
Besides the sisters mentioned above, three children of James W. Dunn, Jr., survive her. Roy and James W. Dunn, nephews, reside at Kings Valley, and Lizzie at Bend.
The funeral will be held from Bovee’s chapel at 2 o’clock Saturday afternoon. Rev. Daniel Bryant will officiate, and interment will be in Newton cemetery.