Rev. John A. Dunlap, 1841-1897

John A. Dunlap

1841 - 1897

Cumberland Presbyterian Minister

REV. J. A. DUNLAP

The subject of this sketch was born in Humphries [sic. Humphreys] County, Tenn., March 12, 1841, and died June 12, 1897. He professed religion at the age of 16 at Halls Creek, Hickman County, [This may be Humphreys County] Tennessee, and joined the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Soon after his conversion he felt it was his duty to preach the gospel. At the age of 17 he presented himself as a candidate for the gospel ministry and was received under the care of Charlotte Presbytery, at Beaver Creek, in Hickman County, Tenn. He was licensed to preach at the age of 18, and was set apart to the whole work of the gospel ministry at the age of 19. He received his education at Tracy Academy, Charlotte, Tenn. He was married to Miss Sarah Allen, of Pine Wood, Tenn., Dec. 8, 1861. She lived only a month. He married a second time to Miss Mary C. Larkins, of Charlotte, Tenn., January 3, 1865. Has three children living by this marriage. He moved to West Tennessee in 1870. Brother Dunlap was a man whose services were always in demand, and at one time or another was in charge of a large proportion of the congregations in his presbytery, serving one twenty-three years and another over fifteen years. He performed more marriage ceremonies and preached more funerals than any other man in this section of country. He was not ambitious to gain some eminent position among his brethren, but was content to spend his life in an unpretending manner, preaching the gospel of peace to perishing sinners. There was no sacrifice too great for him to make for his church. During all his ministry he never missed an appointment unless providentially hindered. It never rained too much, it was never too hot nor too cold for him to go. He was perhaps seen at his best in the family. He was a faithful, loving husband and the kindest of fathers. Among his many beautiful traits of character there was one that especially impressed me. It was his broad minded charity for the opinions, the faults and foibles of others. It was my pleasure to frequently meet with him in the fullest interchange of confidential thought, and I never heard him speak uncharitably of any one. If he had no words of commendation he was silent. He was universally loved. His name is a household word all over this country. Hundreds will rise up in the last great day and call him blessed. As an evidence of the regard the people had for him, when the writer preached his funeral there were more than a thousand people present, and had it been extensively known others would have been a great many more. As an evidence of the regard the Masonic fraternity had for him, there was a large procession to follow him to his last resting place, and lay his remains quietly away. He was at home when he died, just ready to start to one of his appointments. He died of heart trouble. He lived but a short time after he was taken sick. He died at his post, in the triumphs of a living faith. Truly, a grand but good man is gone. May the Holy Spirit of God comfort the grief-stricken wife and their children.
T. S. BUCHANAN

[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian, November 11, 1897, page 616]

J. A. Dunlap
Minister - Newbern, Tennessee, Obion Presbytery - Tennessee Synod
Pastor - North Union Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Kenton, Gibson County, Tennessee
Pastor - New Bethlehem Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Newbern, Dyer County, Tennessee
Pastor - Palestine Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Newbern, Dyer County, Tennessee
Commissioner to General Assembly - Union City, Tennessee - May 15-22, 1890

[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1890, pages 7, 126 & 246]

J. A. Dunlap
Minister - Newbern, Tennessee, Obion Presbytery - Tennessee Synod
Pastor - New Bethlehem Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Newbern, Dyer County, Tennessee
Pastor - North Union Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Kenton, Gibson County, Tennessee
Pastor - Palestine Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Newbern, Dyer County, Tennessee
Pastor - Trimble Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Trimble, Gibson County, Tennessee

[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1891, pages 141 & 246]

[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1892, pages 148 & 258]

J. A. Dunlap
Minister - Newbern, Tennessee, Obion Presbytery - Tennessee Synod
Pastor - Cool Springs Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Trimble, Gibson County, Tennessee
Pastor - Hurricane Hill Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Newbern, Dyer County, Tennessee
Pastor - Trimble Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Trimble, Gibson County, Tennessee

[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1893, pages 150 & 258]

J. A. Dunlap
Minister - Newbern, Tennessee, Obion Presbytery - Tennessee Synod
Pastor - Hurricane Hill Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Newbern, Dyer County, Tennessee
Pastor - Mount Olive Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Dyer, Gibson County, Tennessee
Pastor - Trimble Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Trimble, Gibson County, Tennessee

[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1894, pages 165 & 268]

[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1895, pages 171 & 278]

[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1896, pages 158, 248-249]

J. A. Dunlap
Minister - Newbern, Tennessee, Obion Presbytery - Tennessee Synod
Pastor - Cool Springs Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Trimble, Gibson County, Tennessee
Pastor - Hurricane Hill Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Newbern, Dyer County, Tennessee
Pastor - Ro Ellen Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Roellen, Dyer County, Tennessee
Pastor - Union Grove Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Churchton, Tennessee

[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1897, pages 280, 211-212]

Ordained Ministers Deceased
NAME: J. A. Dunlap
OCCUPATION: charge
PRESBYTERY: Obion
PLACE OF RESIDENCE: Newbern, Tenn.
DATE: June 12, 1897
AGE: 56

[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1898, page 163]

Family Information

A. L. R. Dunlap
born: c1793 - South Carolina
died:
1850 Census - Humphreys County, Tennessee
wife: Mary ?
born: c1799
died:

Children of A. L. R. Dunlap and wife Mary ?:

1. Levi Dunlap
born: c1834 - Tennessee

2. Margaret Dunlap
born: c1836 - Tennessee

3. Robert Dunlap
born: c1838 - Tennessee

4. John A. Dunlap
Cumberland Presbyterian Minister
born: 12 March 1841 - Humphreys County, Tennessee
died: 12 June 1897 - Newbern, Dyer County, Tennessee
buried: Fairview Cemetery - Newbern, Dyer County, Tennessee
1st marriage: 8 December 1861
1st wife: Sarah Allen
died: c1862

2nd marriage: 3 January 1865 - Dickson County, Tennessee
2nd wife: Mary C. Larkins
[daughter of Hance "Haus" Clark Larkins and Susan Frey]
born: 1847 - Tennessee
died: January 1930 - Ridgely, Lake County, Tennessee
buried: Fairview Cemetery - Newbern, Dyer County, Tennessee
obituary

5. Finis Ewing Dunlap
born: 23 January 1844 - Tennessee
died: 15 September 1891 - Tennessee
buried: Fairview Cemetery - Newbern, Dyer County, Tennessee
obituary
married: 29 March 1877
wife: Sarah Frances "Fannie" Larkins
[daughter of Hance "Haus" Clark Larkins and Susan Frey]
born: 29 July 1851
died: 26 November 1937
buried: Fairview Cemetery - Newbern, Dyer County, Tennessee

Children of Finis Ewing Dunlap and Sarah Frances "Fannie" Larkins:

5.1. Lena Rivers Dunlap
married: 2 June 1915 - Tennessee
husband: Felix Moore McCauley
[son of Richmond McCauley and Elizabeth Moore]
born: 17 February 1883 - Humphreys County, Tennessee

5.2. Bruce Crockett Dunlap
wife: Queen V. Sweeny

RIDGELY, Tenn., Jan. 4.--Mrs. J. A. Dunlap, 83, aunt of B. C. Dunlap, prominent business man of Ridgely, died here early Thursday morning. Mrs. Dunlap had been confined to her bed for several months. She had been a resident of Ridgely only about a year, moving here from Newbern where she had lived practically all her life. Funeral services were conducted Friday
afternoon from the First Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Newbern, the Rev. Dr. Morgan, pastor, assisted by the Rev. E. F. McDaniel, pastor of First Methodist Church Newbern, conducting the services. Interment was at Newbern Cemetery.

[Source: unknown]

Dunlap.--Finis Ewing Dunlap was born January 23, 1844. He married Miss Fannie Larkins, March 29, 1877; joined the Cumberland Presbyterian church in 1884; died of heart disease, while gathering fodder, September 15, 1891, aged forty-seven years, seven months, and twenty-two days. He leves a broken-hearted wife and two little children to mourn their loss. He was a model Christian gentleman, liberal in his support of all the enterprises of the church, manifesting great sympathy for the women in their missionary efforts. Let not his friends weep as those who have no hope. Our loss is her eternal gain. He was a lover of the Sabbath-school, and had developed into a first-class teacher. W. G. LEONARD.

[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian, December 3, 1891, page 425]

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