Dunham House
Encyclopedia
The Dunham House, located just south of Kempton, Indiana
, was built circa 1880s. The house was built by William Riley Dunham
who served the U.S. Democratic Party
for several years and represented Hamilton County
and Tipton County
in the Indiana General House of Assembly from 1913-1915. The home has and is continuing to make history in this very small Indiana town, most recently with a visit from President Barack Obama
and First Lady Michelle Obama
.
(Treaty of St. Mary's
). In 1849 a man by the name of Jacob Dunham bought 120 acre (0.4856232 km²) of land in what is now Jefferson Township, Tipton County
from the State of Indiana. Jacob Dunham is laid to rest in the Kempton Cemetery north of the town of Kempton. The land was then passed on to Jacobs son, Jacob Mackey Dunham in 1856. Jacob Mackey eventually moved his family to Oklahoma. Upon doing so the Dunham Family land was then passed to Jacob Mackey’s sister-in-law, Eliza (Reese) Dunham, in 1891. She was the wife of Jacob Mackey’s brother, Samuel Dunham. Eliza then passed the land on to her son, William Riley Dunham
, in 1900. The 5000 sq ft (464.5 m²) farm house that he built on the land is known today as The Dunham House. Local legends have been told that William Riley was an acquaintance of President
Grover Cleveland
and that the President had spent a night in the home. In fact William Riley’s son was named Grover Cleveland Dunham and eventually inherited the home from his father. The home was later sold upon the death of Dr. Grover Cleveland’s wife (Hazel Dunham) to buyers outside the Dunham Family. The home had fallen into many years of neglect and abuse after it left the Dunham Family. The home was purchased and is now owned by Shawn Christopher Clements and is in the process of being restored.
The Dunham Family played a significant role in the local community. They were farmers, doctors and teachers working within the town limits of Kempton and throughout Tipton and Clinton Counties. Many of their descendants still live in the area today.
(44th President of the United States). Jacob Dunham came to Tipton County, Indiana in the 1840s. He is President Barack Obama’s fourth great grandfather. He purchased the land from the United States Government in 1849 when President Zachary Taylor
was in office. This land was originally obtained by the government through treaties with the Miami Indians. Jacob Dunham died on July 20, 1865 and is laid to rest in Indiana soil at The Kempton Cemetery in Kempton, Indiana. His son, Jacob Mackey Dunham, is President Obama’s third great grandfather. He married Lousie Eliza Stroup in Tipton County, Indiana on July 21, 1853 and inherited the land in 1856. To them a son was born, Jacob William Dunham, President Obama’s second great grandfather, on February 7, 1863 in Kempton, Indiana. He later left Indiana for Kansas
with his wife Mary Ann Kearney, and died on August 13, 1930. Thus President Obama’s family continued in Kansas to his mother as the land stayed in the Dunham family for over 120 years.
On May 3, 2008 then Senator Obama and his family made a stop at the Dunham House during their Presidential campaign run against Hillary Clinton. President Obama wanted to learn more about his ancestors that lived in Kempton, Indiana because he was influenced mostly by his mother, Ann Dunham
, and his grandparents, Stanley Armour Dunham
and Madelyn Payne Dunham.
Kempton, Indiana
Kempton is a town in Jefferson Township, Tipton County, Indiana, United States. The population was 335 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Kokomo, Indiana Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Kempton is located at ....
, was built circa 1880s. The house was built by William Riley Dunham
William Riley Dunham
William Riley Dunham , “the man known by name by more men, women and children than any other one man in Tipton County,” according to a 1912 issue of the Kempton Courier, was a member of the Indiana General Assembly, representing Hamilton and Tipton counties from 1913-1915...
who served the U.S. Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
for several years and represented Hamilton County
Hamilton County, Indiana
Hamilton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. Census 2010 recorded a population of 274,569. The county seat is Noblesville....
and Tipton County
Tipton County, Indiana
Tipton County is located in central Indiana, north of the state capital of Indianapolis. Before the arrival of non-indigenous settlers in the early 19th century, the area was inhabited by several Native American tribes. The county was officially established in 1844 and was one of the last Indiana...
in the Indiana General House of Assembly from 1913-1915. The home has and is continuing to make history in this very small Indiana town, most recently with a visit from President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
and First Lady Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama
Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama is the wife of the 44th and incumbent President of the United States, Barack Obama, and is the first African-American First Lady of the United States...
.
History
The land on which the Dunham House is built was originally apart of the Miami Indian Reserve in IndianaIndiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
(Treaty of St. Mary's
Treaty of St. Mary's
The Treaty of St. Mary's was signed on October 6, 1818 at Saint Mary's, Ohio between representatives of the United States and the Miami tribe and others living in their territory. The accord contained seven articles. Based on the terms of the accord, the Miami ceded to the United States...
). In 1849 a man by the name of Jacob Dunham bought 120 acre (0.4856232 km²) of land in what is now Jefferson Township, Tipton County
Jefferson Township, Tipton County, Indiana
Jefferson Township is one of six townships in Tipton County, Indiana, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 1,486.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, Jefferson Township covers an area of .-Unincorporated towns:...
from the State of Indiana. Jacob Dunham is laid to rest in the Kempton Cemetery north of the town of Kempton. The land was then passed on to Jacobs son, Jacob Mackey Dunham in 1856. Jacob Mackey eventually moved his family to Oklahoma. Upon doing so the Dunham Family land was then passed to Jacob Mackey’s sister-in-law, Eliza (Reese) Dunham, in 1891. She was the wife of Jacob Mackey’s brother, Samuel Dunham. Eliza then passed the land on to her son, William Riley Dunham
William Riley Dunham
William Riley Dunham , “the man known by name by more men, women and children than any other one man in Tipton County,” according to a 1912 issue of the Kempton Courier, was a member of the Indiana General Assembly, representing Hamilton and Tipton counties from 1913-1915...
, in 1900. The 5000 sq ft (464.5 m²) farm house that he built on the land is known today as The Dunham House. Local legends have been told that William Riley was an acquaintance of President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
Grover Cleveland
Grover Cleveland
Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...
and that the President had spent a night in the home. In fact William Riley’s son was named Grover Cleveland Dunham and eventually inherited the home from his father. The home was later sold upon the death of Dr. Grover Cleveland’s wife (Hazel Dunham) to buyers outside the Dunham Family. The home had fallen into many years of neglect and abuse after it left the Dunham Family. The home was purchased and is now owned by Shawn Christopher Clements and is in the process of being restored.
The Dunham Family played a significant role in the local community. They were farmers, doctors and teachers working within the town limits of Kempton and throughout Tipton and Clinton Counties. Many of their descendants still live in the area today.
From the Dunham house to the White house
In researching the Dunham family that built his home, Mr. Clements found a direct connection to President Barack ObamaBarack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
(44th President of the United States). Jacob Dunham came to Tipton County, Indiana in the 1840s. He is President Barack Obama’s fourth great grandfather. He purchased the land from the United States Government in 1849 when President Zachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor was the 12th President of the United States and an American military leader. Initially uninterested in politics, Taylor nonetheless ran as a Whig in the 1848 presidential election, defeating Lewis Cass...
was in office. This land was originally obtained by the government through treaties with the Miami Indians. Jacob Dunham died on July 20, 1865 and is laid to rest in Indiana soil at The Kempton Cemetery in Kempton, Indiana. His son, Jacob Mackey Dunham, is President Obama’s third great grandfather. He married Lousie Eliza Stroup in Tipton County, Indiana on July 21, 1853 and inherited the land in 1856. To them a son was born, Jacob William Dunham, President Obama’s second great grandfather, on February 7, 1863 in Kempton, Indiana. He later left Indiana for Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
with his wife Mary Ann Kearney, and died on August 13, 1930. Thus President Obama’s family continued in Kansas to his mother as the land stayed in the Dunham family for over 120 years.
On May 3, 2008 then Senator Obama and his family made a stop at the Dunham House during their Presidential campaign run against Hillary Clinton. President Obama wanted to learn more about his ancestors that lived in Kempton, Indiana because he was influenced mostly by his mother, Ann Dunham
Ann Dunham
Stanley Ann Dunham , the mother of Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States, was an American anthropologist who specialized in economic anthropology and rural development. Dunham was nicknamed Anna, later known as Dr. Stanley Ann Dunham Soetoro, and finally Ann Dunham Sutoro...
, and his grandparents, Stanley Armour Dunham
Stanley Armour Dunham
Stanley Armour Dunham was the maternal grandfather of U.S. President Barack Obama. He and his wife Madelyn Payne Dunham raised Obama from the age of 10 in Honolulu, Hawaii.-Early life:...
and Madelyn Payne Dunham.