Mark Wentworth Dunham
Encyclopedia
Mark Wentworth Dunham was an American importer and breeder of horses and the owner of the Oaklawn Farm
in Wayne, Illinois
, which was at one time the largest horse breeding farm in the world.
, was the first County Commissioner and the first Assessor
in Kane County, Illinois
. Solomon died in 1865, bequeathing 300 acres to his youngest son Mark.
Mark W. Dunham and his brother Daniel Dunham, the oldest of the siblings, were pioneers in the introduction of the French coach horse, and especially well-known as importers of the Percheron
breed of draft horses into the United States. In 1875 Mark Wentworth Dunham purchased the Percheron horse "Success" for $3,300, an impressive sum at the time, and launched the horse breeding business. These large French draft horses proved to be excellent in pulling farm equipment before the invention of the power tractor and other farm machinery. To sell the horses, Dunham issued a catalog to prospective clients, some with illustrations by Rosa Bonheur
. Through Dunham's legendary business acumen the size of the farm eventually expanded to 2,000 acres and the breeding business flourished until the early decades of the 20th century, earning Dunham vast sums of money and the gratitude of both the French and American people. By 1888 an estimated one-fifth of all imported French horses lived at Oaklawn.
By 1883, the Dunham Castle
, which was patterned after the Normandy
chateaus he had seen while on stock buying trips in France, was completed and served as the family residence. During the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair
a train from Chicago to Wayne brought guests to see the Percheron horses. Those that made the trip included Cyrus McCormick
, George Pullman
, the Duke of Veragua, Daniel Burnham
, Marshall Field
, and Carter Harrison, Sr.
In the early 20th century, the residence served as a retreat for such politicians as Adlai Stevenson and Everett Dirksen
.
After his death, the then 2000 acre Oaklawn estate was bequeathed to Dunham’s son Wirth Stewart Dunham, who was 21 years old at the time and finishing law school at Harvard. Wirth Dunham married Mary Louise Ward, whose father, Dennis Ward, was the President of City National Bank. During the first World War
, Wirth was a Captain in the remount section, quartermaster corps, and afterward was a major in the reserve corps. Wirth Dunham was the President of the Horse Association of America and was made a Chevalier Merite Agricole
by the French Government.
In the early 20th century, farm machinery dramatically reduced the need for draft horses and Oaklawn ceased operations in 1929. The Dunham Woods Riding Club was established in 1934. Parts of the original property were listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1979.
.
Oaklawn Farm
Oaklawn Farm is a historic property in Wayne, Illinois. The farm was operated by the Dunham family, who successfully bred Percheron horses. The property features the chateauesque Dunham Castle, which was built by Mark Wentworth Dunham in 1880. Nine other buildings from the time period still stand...
in Wayne, Illinois
Wayne, Illinois
Wayne is a village in DuPage and Kane County, Illinois. The eastern portion, in DuPage County, is in Wayne Township while the western portion, in Kane County, is in St. Charles Township. The population was 2,137 at the 2000 census....
, which was at one time the largest horse breeding farm in the world.
Life
Mark W. Dunham was the son of Solomon Dunham (1791–1856). The elder Dunham had emigrated from New York State in a covered wagon to settle on 400 acres of land in Illinois, where he strategically built roads, an inn, a general store, and a house in order to prosper from the construction of new railroad lines passing through the area. Solomon, a DemocratDemocratic 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...
, was the first County Commissioner and the first Assessor
Assessor (property)
An assessor is a specialist who calculates the value of property. The value calculated by the assessor is then used as the basis for determining the amounts to be paid or assessed for tax or insurance purposes....
in Kane County, Illinois
Kane County, Illinois
Kane County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 515,269, which is an increase of 27.5% from 404,119 in 2000. Its county seat is Geneva, and its largest city is Aurora.- Geography :...
. Solomon died in 1865, bequeathing 300 acres to his youngest son Mark.
Mark W. Dunham and his brother Daniel Dunham, the oldest of the siblings, were pioneers in the introduction of the French coach horse, and especially well-known as importers of the Percheron
Percheron
The Percheron is a breed of draft horse that originated in the Perche valley in northern France. Percherons are usually gray or black in color. They are well-muscled, and known for their intelligence and willingness to work. Although their exact origins are unknown, the ancestors of the breed were...
breed of draft horses into the United States. In 1875 Mark Wentworth Dunham purchased the Percheron horse "Success" for $3,300, an impressive sum at the time, and launched the horse breeding business. These large French draft horses proved to be excellent in pulling farm equipment before the invention of the power tractor and other farm machinery. To sell the horses, Dunham issued a catalog to prospective clients, some with illustrations by Rosa Bonheur
Rosa Bonheur
Rosa Bonheur, born Marie-Rosalie Bonheur, was a French animalière, realist artist, and sculptor. As a painter she became famous primarily for two chief works: Ploughing in the Nivernais , which was first exhibited at the Salon of 1848, and is now in the Musée d’Orsay in Paris depicts a team...
. Through Dunham's legendary business acumen the size of the farm eventually expanded to 2,000 acres and the breeding business flourished until the early decades of the 20th century, earning Dunham vast sums of money and the gratitude of both the French and American people. By 1888 an estimated one-fifth of all imported French horses lived at Oaklawn.
By 1883, the Dunham Castle
Oaklawn Farm
Oaklawn Farm is a historic property in Wayne, Illinois. The farm was operated by the Dunham family, who successfully bred Percheron horses. The property features the chateauesque Dunham Castle, which was built by Mark Wentworth Dunham in 1880. Nine other buildings from the time period still stand...
, which was patterned after the Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
chateaus he had seen while on stock buying trips in France, was completed and served as the family residence. During the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair
World's Columbian Exposition
The World's Columbian Exposition was a World's Fair held in Chicago in 1893 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the New World in 1492. Chicago bested New York City; Washington, D.C.; and St...
a train from Chicago to Wayne brought guests to see the Percheron horses. Those that made the trip included Cyrus McCormick
Cyrus McCormick
Cyrus Hall McCormick, Sr. was an American inventor and founder of the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company, which became part of International Harvester Company in 1902.He and many members of the McCormick family became prominent Chicagoans....
, George Pullman
George Pullman
George Mortimer Pullman was an American inventor and industrialist. He is known as the inventor of the Pullman sleeping car, and for violently suppressing striking workers in the company town he created, Pullman .-Background:Born in Brocton, New York, his family moved to Albion,...
, the Duke of Veragua, Daniel Burnham
Daniel Burnham
Daniel Hudson Burnham, FAIA was an American architect and urban planner. He was the Director of Works for the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. He took a leading role in the creation of master plans for the development of a number of cities, including Chicago and downtown Washington DC...
, Marshall Field
Marshall Field
Marshall Field was founder of Marshall Field and Company, the Chicago-based department stores.-Life and career:...
, and Carter Harrison, Sr.
Carter Harrison, Sr.
Carter Henry Harrison, Sr. was an American politician who served as mayor of Chicago, Illinois from 1879 until 1887; he was subsequently elected to a fifth term in 1893 but was assassinated before completing his term. He previously served two terms in the United States House of Representatives...
In the early 20th century, the residence served as a retreat for such politicians as Adlai Stevenson and Everett Dirksen
Everett Dirksen
Everett McKinley Dirksen was an American politician of the Republican Party. He represented Illinois in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate...
.
Death and Legacy
Mark W. Dunham died in 1899, reportedly of blood poisoning after inspecting an infected hoof. His New York Times Obituary on February 12, 1899 named Dunham as “the most extensive breeder of pure-bred horses in the world… he [Dunham] collected in France a lot of mares and stallions that as a whole is conceded to be superior to any similar collection in France. He won with his horses more champion prizes in the show ring than any other breeder has ever won in the history of the show yard in America.”After his death, the then 2000 acre Oaklawn estate was bequeathed to Dunham’s son Wirth Stewart Dunham, who was 21 years old at the time and finishing law school at Harvard. Wirth Dunham married Mary Louise Ward, whose father, Dennis Ward, was the President of City National Bank. During the first World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Wirth was a Captain in the remount section, quartermaster corps, and afterward was a major in the reserve corps. Wirth Dunham was the President of the Horse Association of America and was made a Chevalier Merite Agricole
Mérite agricole
The Ordre National du Mérite Agricole is an order of merit established in France on 7 July 1883 by Minister of Agriculture Jules Méline to reward services to agriculture...
by the French Government.
In the early 20th century, farm machinery dramatically reduced the need for draft horses and Oaklawn ceased operations in 1929. The Dunham Woods Riding Club was established in 1934. Parts of the original property were listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1979.
Other Notables
In 1910, Louise Powis Clark (1887–1965) (a granddaughter of Solomon Dunham's eldest son Daniel), and her husband Elwood Brown traveled to Manila, Phillipines with the Y.M.C.A. While there, Mrs. Brown became impressed by the beautiful embroidery done by the native women. As an experiment, she designed an embroidery pattern for a nightgown and commissioned local artisans to produce it. With the help of her mother, Mrs. Julia Dunham Powis of Wayne, the production of this attire eventually developed into a million dollar business, and moved its headquarters from the family home, "Grove Place," to New York City. The mother-daughter team sold their interest in the company after Mr. Brown's death in 1929. Some years later Louise married Owen D. Young, chairman of General ElectricGeneral Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
.