An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., The Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL., 1893, pages 320-321 CHARLES B. DUNNING, a member of the Spokane county bar, and a man who for several years has been prominently identified with the various interests of Spokane, was born at Smithville, New York, January 16, 1840. His father, John Dunning, a native of Scotland, went to Ireland when a young man, and was there married to Miss Ellen McKay, a native of the Emerald Isle. Immediately after his marriage he sailed with his bride for America, landing at New York about 1831 or 1832, and soon afterward settling in Chenango county, New York, where he now resides, having reached the advanced age of ninety-three, still being in the enjoyment of excellent health. He owns a fine, well-improved farm there. Mr. Dunning's mother died in 1873. Charles B. made the best use of the educational advantages afforded him, and at the early age of fifteen years began teaching school. He subsequently entered Cincinnatus Academy, in Cortland county, New York, taking a full course and graduating in the spring of 1862. In August of the same year he graduated, Mr. Dunning enlisted in the Eighth New York Cavalry, then going to the front, and served until the close of the war, being mustered out in Virginia, June 7, 1865. He served under Generals Buford, Wilson and Custer in the Army of the Potomac, was under Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley, and during that time participated in many of the most important battles of the war. Twice he was wounded: at Brandeth Station, in Virginia, in 1863, he received a bullet wound in his leg, and while in hospital was promoted as Sergeant; in 1864, at Waynesborongh, Virginia, he received a sabre cut in the knee. The war over, he returned home, and the following two years studied and taught school, being in poor health during that time. He was then engaged in various occupations until the fall of 1879, when he sold out and came West. Landing in Walla Walla, Washington, that winter, he preempted a soldier's claim and bought other property, improved the same, and was engaged in stock raising there for six years. For the past six years he and his family have been residents of Spokane, and the probability of his leaving this city of his own free will is slight. Since coming here he has served the city in the capacity of Municipal Judge and as Justice of the Peace, in the meantime being admitted to the bar. While in office he tried more than 5,000 cases, and it is a fact worthy of record that not a dozen of them were ever appealed to a higher court. Mr. Dunning is interested in the McCabe, Johnson & Co. hardware business, has invested in the city of Hudson, a beautiful town site on the Columbia river, and is also interested in a number of mining camps. He has always been a worker in the ranks of the Republican party, and since coming to Washington has served as delegate to the State Convention. He is a member of Sedgwick Post, G.A.R., and at this writing is Assistant Adjutant General for the Department of Washington and Alaska. Mr. Dunning was married, in 1867, to Miss Josephine Heller, of McDonough, New York, and he and his wife have had three children: William H., who died in 1887; Anna A., an artist and a graduate of Mt. Carroll Seminary, Illinois; and Mary E. The family are members of the Unitarian Church, of which Mr. Dunning is Trustee and Treasurer. A gentleman of fine appearance and pleasing address, frank and cordial with all he meets, an earnest and efficient worker in whatever he undertakes, Mr. Dunning is as popular as he is useful. Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in September 2003 by Jeffrey L. Elmer * * * * Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the individual featured in the biographies.