Mary and Alva Dunlap, City Founders

Dunlap was born on October 28, 1805 in Sandy Creek, New York.  When he was 29 years old, he and his brother, Napoleon made two trips to the area now called Dunlap, Illinois.  They traveled by covered wagon and settled with their families in Radnor Township during the year of 1837.  Alva built a house for his family.  His family included: his wife Mary and their five children, Burleigh, Byron, Marshall, Frances, and Gilbert Lane I, his brother Napoleon, his sister Burnette, and his parents Mr. and Mrs. Smith Dunlap.  After the Dunlap’s had settled into their new home, they had six more children, William Knight, Hortense Isabelle, Andrew Jackson, Mary Elizabeth, Mary Eleanor, and Gilbert Lane II.  If you would go into the town now, the Prospect United Methodist Church stands on the original site of the Dunlap homestead.  The church was built in 1966.

Dunlap surveyed the land and provided the cartography for the area. He owned 840 acres and 40 of those acres became the town of Dunlap. Also, he owned and operated a sawmill to provide lumber for the growing town. He farmed the land and worked with the first reaper in the County. An extensive library was in his home and a school was located on his property. His sister, Burnette taught two different subscription schools in vacant cabins. He gave the “right of way” through his farm for the Rock Island Railroad. Later, Alva Dunlap won the election of 1842 and officially became the Moderator for the Benton Precinct, which was composed of the Radnor and Kickapoo Townships. The town of Dunlap was officially established on June 12, 1871.