David Dunkle, a pioneer farmer near Crescent City, was born in Fayette County, Ohio, March 14, 1834, a son of William and Mary (McMullen) Dunkle, natives of Virginia who emigrated to Ohio and were married there. The senior Mr. Dunkle, a farmer, moved in the summer of 1840 to Greene County, Missouri, and thence to Dade County, that State, and in 1848 to Buchanan County. His wife died in Missouri, in April 1844, and he came to Iowa in the spring of 1852, locating on a farm a mile east of Crescent City, this village being then called Pigeon City, and on section 30, Hazel Dell Township. This land, 160 acres, just broken, Mr. Dunkle purchased of Solomon Freeman, and here he lived with his son until the end of his life, December 29, 1873, when he was about ninety-two years of age.

David, our subject, remained upon the home farm until 1885, when he moved to Crescent City. He bought eighty acres on sections 14 and 22, Crescent Township, which he afterward sold; and he still owns a portion of the original 160 acres, which he has placed under cultivation and substantial improvements.

Being one of the pioneers of the county he had to undergo most of the hardships incident to pioneer life, but he faced them with determination and is now reaping his reward. He brought the first horses to this part of the county that were put to general use; previous to that time oxen had been universally employed. He was elected the first County Supervisor from this district in 1860, and was re-elected twice afterward. In 1860 he was elected Justice of the Peace, in which official relation he has since served continuously with the exception of one year in the service of the late war. He has also held the various township offices. He has served his town and county faithfully and well, as is indicated by the persistent desire of his fellow citizens to continue him in office. He was instrumental in bringing about the organization of the first independent school district in this part of the county, it being the second one organized in the county; the one at Kanesville, now Council Bluffs, was the first. He has done a great deal for the cause of education, and this is the best evidence of his patriotism.

November 4, 1864, he enlisted in Company H, Thirteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and was discharged at Davenport, Iowa, May 22, 1865, on account of disability. He participated in the battle of Nashville between Hood and Thomas, December 22 and 23, 1864. He is now a member of Abraham Lincoln Post, No. 29, G.A.R., at Council Bluffs. He is a high minded Democrat on national questions, in which he takes an active interest, and was generally a delegate to county and State conventions.

He was married December 22, 1852, to Margaret McMullen, daughter of William and Catherine McMullen, native of Virginia. She was born in Fayette County, Ohio, in 1834, and died July 25, 1883, leaving four children, as follows: David William, who resides in Florence, Nebraska; Martha A., now the wife of W. H. Cafferty, in Omaha; Sarah A., now Mrs. John Daggett in Florence; and John W., at home.