Last updated: December 1, 2021
Person
Prince Dunbar
Quick Facts
Significance:
Mississippi Homesteader
Date of Birth:
February 1875
Date of Death:
February 18, 1918
Homestead #19741- Application # 36420 – October 24,1906
Prince Dunbar was born in February 1875 and died on February 18, 1918. His mother was Rachel Dunbar, who was born in 1850. His siblings were Burk Henderson, Alfred, Jacob, and Lorely Dunbar.
Prince married Ione (Pickett) Dunbar (1875-1917), the daughter of Richard “Jake” Pickett and Harriet Harrell. Ione’s grandparents were Josh Harrell and America Hunt-Harrell/Harrold. Her grandmother America,and her uncle Peter Hunt, were both homesteaders.
Prince and Ione had three daughters, Maggie, Janie, and Alice Dunbar when he filed for his homestead claim for 116.20 acres of land in White Apple, Mississippi, on January 18, 1901. He and his family moved onto the land in February 1901, which was both timber and farming land.
His land claim was suspended in 1903 over a name error with one of his witnesses, Josh Starks. Prince had to prove that the witness, Josh Starks was, in fact, the same as Joshua Starks.
On April 21, 1906, Prince gave notice of publication at the Franklin County Chancery Clerk’s office in Meadville, Mississippi, to publish for a total of five weeks his intent for improving upon the property.
His witnesses were his neighbors: Obb (Obrey) Morgan, Josh (Joshua) Starks, Lim (Lem) Wade, and Howard Weeks. Josh, Lim, and the son of Howard Weeks married into the Richard and Harriet Pickett family.
The witnesses verified that Prince Dunbar built a dwelling place, kitchen, smokehouse, and a corn crib made of logs, all valued at $200. The final proof for Prince Dunbar’s homestead was given on July 2, 1906, and Prince was awarded his land patent on October 24, 1906.
~ Contributed by Gordon Williams and Denise Griggs
Gordon “Kaakska Kweenow” Williams is the two times great grandson of Prince Dunbar and Ione Pickett through their daughter Janie Dunbar-Whitehead (Zeb). Gordon is half Native American of the Mohican and Oneida tribes, and lives on the outskirts of the Mohican Indian reservation in Bowler, WI. His parents are Eli “Wayumuxkneekaat” Williams of the Mahican Tribe of Wisconsin and Birdean Robinson-Williams (dec). Gordon Williams and Denise Griggs, another homestead descendant, are related through homesteader, America Harrell/Harrold.