The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-12-31
HON. A. B. DUNNING
HAS PASSED AWAY
Was a Champion for Separation OF
Luzerne County.
PIONEER DEMOCRAT AND MASON
lie Served Three Terms in the Legis.
Inture, Was n Member of the Com
. stitutiopai Convention aud Spurned
Political Prefermcnt in Order to
Create Lacknwanna County--Was
the Last TO Die OF the Charter Menu
bers of Hiram Lodge of MasOns.

4. B. Dunning. father of Street Com
missioner Dunning, died at } O'Clock
yesterday morning at his home, 24O'
North Main avenue. He was an en-
member of the legislature, an actlN"
exponent of the separation from Lu-
zerne county, a member of the state
constitutional convention and the last
Of the charter members of Hiram lodge
of Nasous. the first chartered in the
middle Lackawanna Valley, to pass
away.
The funeral will be held Sunday at
]. 20 u. IN. i'm the Christian church on
North Main avenue. lnterment Will
be made in the family plot I'm Falr-
view cemetery, Elmhurst
\ friend and associate of Mr.. Dun
nlngs for many years has furnished
The Tribune with an interesting sketch
of MIR. DunnnEs career as follows:
zone by one they are passing away,
and soon indeed the last of the land
marks of old Providence township VIII
hay. passed the gate. Now it is that
once familiar figure, the Hon. Ahram
B. DunnIng. His father emisrated To
the township i'm 1922 when Ahram was
hut one year old and settled in the
neighborhoud Of Dunmore. Later he
moved ont i"to what was then called
Drinkers BeeCh subsequently known
as Dunning (and ought to stilD where
he lived and died, loved and respected
10y all who know him.
HIS EARLY LIFE.
The subject of our sketch after re-
Ceiving an academic education at wy
| t,,.1 ,t,,l g4Al
camille business, most of the time at
Providence. in which he was ordinar-
lily successful 1t is nearly fifty years
ago that the writer saw MIN married
to Miss Mahala Heermans a most ac-
complshed and beautiful young lady,
daughter Of Henry Hermans in his
life time one Of the most noted ana
wealthy mon Of the valley
"Duning's liking for politics soon
brought him into prominence and quite
carly in life be was recognized as one
of the most promising young Demo-
Gratis i'm Providence township. II was
at time whcr the question of a di-
vision Of Iuzerne county was being
fcrccly agltated. His ability and
agreeable presence suggested him as a
proper uerson to represent the people
awannG county. so in 1852 he received
the Democratic nomination for the leg
islature and was elected by a more
than ordinarily large majority
AS had been anticinated. his worth
was at once appreciated at Harrisburg.
where he succeeded with yer" li,tlr
difficulty on passing through the lower
house. bill ror the erection of the
| Ia, I,A t.4 on
posed by Ruckalew, who at that time
| was of commanding influence and un-
doubtedly the ablest senator. 1t could
not withstand such opposition and
| failed. Mr. Dun 'ug was reelected
| in 1853 and again in 1894, each time tho
new county project being acted upon
end meeting with a similar result. AZ
| tor that the opponents of division Sue
Cceded in enPrafting ON tive cou.ltu-
ton provision which practically
made it impossible to succeed,
MATTER OF HISTORY.
"Thc time. however. came for re-
modelling the constitution and again
| the people turned their eyes towards
Mr., DunnirG as proper person to rep
resent tho interest of tha North End.
member from this section it is a matter
If history how we'll they suCce 'dCd in
eliminating from the constitution the
| objectionable and unjust feature, and
placing in its stead a moro favorable
articl" and under which We have NOW
for nearly twenty years been enjoying
the ConVonierCcs and rcaping the bene-
fits Of the establishment of Lacfawan-
nIr Af ri
counties of tho Commonwealth
mo one better than the writer,
knows how much We are indebted to
Mr. Dunning for this benchcicnt meas
urc Early and late he worked with Il
Will at no time or place did he falter.
His heart and soul was i'm the meas
ure He spurncd the offers Of political
~ eferment which at one time We're
held out to him. lie renewed the fight
ana kept the faith through all the bet
ter years of his life, All honor to \. +.
Dunning. He must not he forgotten,
nor will he be.
He was one of the most devoted
and steadfast friends. Social, enter
tanning. and bright, he was the life
of every gathering in which he en-
tered. Through the latter years of his
life disease had crippled his energies
and in a measure blasted his hopes;
vet he was the same genial and kind
| ~ man with a good word for all he
met. He has lived a good and use
| ful life and now that he IL gathered
| to his Father there are sincere tears
| that will bedew his grave and a host
Of friends to hold him long in re-
mem branCe."
Mr. Dunning in 1858 moved to Elm
hurst and assumed charge of his faith
er's estate of 1000 acres, much of which