Dunbar, John, a pioneer of Nebraska, was born in County Londonderry, Ireland, October 28, 1820, of Scotch-Irish parentage. He was of noble birth, being related to General Dunbar, of Castle Dunbar, Scotland, King William's famous general during the Battle of the Boyne. He was the son of Thomas Dunbar, a native of County Antrim, Ireland, who died September 5, 1859 in Dunbar, Nebraska, and Jane Hunter Dunbar, who died December 19, 1865. The latter was a native of County Londonderry, Ireland, where she was born August 2, 1792. John Dunbar's early education was superintended by Irish teachers. Later he attended school in Ogdensburg, NY, to which place his parents emigrated when he was nine years old. Later on they settled near Stratford, Canada, and engaged in farming, where he grew to manhood. In 1856, with his parents he emigrated to Nebraska by way of St. Louis, MO, passing up the Missouri to Fort Kearney (Nebraska City). In the fall of that year he located a claim about ten miles west of the site of Nebraska City, and in the spring of 1857 erected a small house of cottonwood logs which he secured from a sawmill on the Missouri river. The usual hardships of frontier live were encountered. Indians were somewhat troublesome and stole the first pair of horses he possessed in Nebraska. These he traced to the city of Beatrice, but was unable to recover them. However, he was not discouraged, but with a determined hand set to work to make a home for himself and family in the new territory. He organized the first school in his neighborhood, built a schoolhouse, and enrolled enough pupils within a radius of 21 miles to enable him to engage a teacher. For many years thereafter he was a member of the school board; was also a justice of the peace, taking an active part in politics, and was always ready to act for the best interests of the community, regardless of his own. In 1869-1870 the Mid. Pac. R. R. was built. He made the first shipment on this road, consisting of four cars of wheat, the grain being sacked and loaded on flat cars. With this convenient method of putting his produce on the market he continued to raise grain and stock on a large scale until advancing years compelled him to retire from active work. In 1851 he was married to Ann E. Watson, a native of Tyrone, Ireland, who had removed with her parents to Canada in 1840. Mrs. Dunbar died May 10, 1903. Twelve children were born to them: Thomas H., John A., Mrs M. D. Smith, Anna E. Roos, William F., Cyrus M., and Ira A., all of Dunbar; Mrs Sconna (Leona) D Reed, Comstock, Nebraska; Edward W., Atwood, Colorado; Mrs Emily Nelson, College View, Nebraska; Mrs E. Dora Wilson, Shenandoah, Iowa; and Sarah J. Dunbar, who died September 5, 1869. Mr Dunbar died August 5, 1903, having been for almost fifty years a resident of Nebraska. He was raised an Episcopalian, but in 1852 embraced the doctrine held by the Seventh Day Adventists and remained steadfast to this faith until his death.