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Lorenzo Dow Sunderland

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Lorenzo Dow Sunderland

Birth	:	24 Jun 1825 Fayette County, Ohio, USA
Death	:	17 Apr 1904 Harlan, Shelby County, Iowa, USA
Burial	:	Harlan Cemetery, Harlan, Shelby County, USA
Coordinate	:	41.6594505, -95.3281403
Description	:	LORENZO D. SUNDERLAND, farmer and stock-raiser, Harlan Township, is one of the oldest settlers on the east side of Shelby County. He is a native of Ohio, born in Fayette County, June 24, 1825, and is the son of Francis D. and Permelia (Knight) Sunderland, natives of Virginia, who came to Ohio at an early day. The father died when Lorenzo D. was an infant. At the age of six years he was taken to the home of one Nathan Coffman, with whom he lived until he grew to manhood. March 12, 1849, he, with several friends, made up a... Read More	LORENZO D. SUNDERLAND, farmer and stock-raiser, Harlan Township, is one of the oldest settlers on the east side of Shelby County. He is a native of Ohio, born in Fayette County, June 24, 1825, and is the son of Francis D. and Permelia (Knight) Sunderland, natives of Virginia, who came to Ohio at an early day. The father died when Lorenzo D. was an infant. At the age of six years he was taken to the home of one Nathan Coffman, with whom he lived until he grew to manhood. March 12, 1849, he, with several friends, made up a company to go to California. They went to St. Joseph, Missouri, where they organized, and started with mule teams, May 1, 1849. One hundred and four days were consumed in crossing the plains, in which time they encountered storms and Indians, with whom they had considerable trouble. They landed at Auburn, on the north fork of the American River. They started with 104 men, and reorganized twice on the journey, and arrived in California with four teams. Their tent was the second one pitched in that part of the country. On his arrival Mr. Sunderland engaged in mining, which he followed successfully until the next June. He then returned to Ohio by way of the Isthmus of Panama and New York, being the first person to bring gold from California mines to New York. The gold dust was taken to the mint at Philadelphia and coined. Mr. Sunderland still has the receipt from the government for the gold. He remained in Ohio some time after his arrival, and then went to Howard County, Indiana, and purchased 160 acres of land, with the intention of farming it. He was married June 29, 1851, to Miss Mary E. Lucas, a native of Ross County, Ohio, and a daughter of the Rev. Richard and Mary E. (Kirkendall) Lucas, of German descent. After his marriage he sold his farm in Indiana, and removed with his father-in-law's family to Champaign County, Illinois. Here he purchased eighty acres of partially improved land, and resided upon it for one year. In February, 1852, he went to KainsviIle, now Council Bluffs, and then came to Shelby County and entered eighty acres of good land. He built a cabin and made some hay. In the spring of 1854 he removed his family to this place. He afterward entered 240 acres of government land, and has engaged in agricultural pursuits. He now owns a landed estate of 780 acres of improved land in a high state of cultivation. He has also assisted his children to procure homes of their own. Mr. and Mrs. Sunderland are the parents of ten children, of whom eight are still living - Nevada Errett, wife of William H. Errett; Leroy and Leora Sunderland; Nancy Jane Errett, wife of Z. T. Errett; Juliette Bates, wife of Abner Bates; William Sunderland; Lucy Firebaugh, wife of Frank Firebaugh; Belle Westrope, wife of O. D. Westrope; C. N. Sunderland and Ida May Sunderland. Leroy and Leora Sunderland were twins, born June 23, 1855, and both are now dead. Leroy died when he was one and one-half years old, and Lenora died when she was seventeen years, eight months and seventeen days old. Mr. Sunderland was the first school director in the county. In 1864 he was elected sheriff, and served one year and a half. He was deputy sheriff for several years. He was one of the promoters of the Agricultural Society, and has been a director since its organization. He is a charter member of the Farmers' Alliance, and was its first vice-president. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., Harlan Lodge, No. 264. His political sympathy is with the Democratic party, having cast his first vote for Lewis Cass. Mr. Sunderland makes a specialty of Pole Angus stock. He now has a herd of thirty- two head, of which six head are full-blooded. source of portrait and biographical sketch: “Biographical History of Shelby and Audubon Counties, Iowa”, 1889, biographical sketch on pages 336 & 341, portrait on page 638, wife’s portrait on page 639 ********************************************************************************************* LORENZO D. SUNDERLAND One of the first settlers to locate in Shelby county, Iowa, was the late Lorenzo D. Sunderland, who came to the county in 1852. The career of this interesting old settler and pioneer is full of the wild life of the West and there was crowded into his career more experiences than falls to the lot of the average man. During the course of a long and eventful life he traveled thousands of miles, went overland from his native state, Ohio, to California, and then made the return trip by way of the Isthmus of Panama and New York city. He was the first man to bring Gold dust from California to New York and the first gold coins made from California gold were made from the dust he brought back with him. This sturdy pioneer was born in Fayette county, in the state of Ohio, on June 24, 1825, and after a long career of usefulness, and honor, died in Shelby county, Iowa, in April, 1904. His parents were Francis D. and Permelia (Knight) Sunderland, natives of Virginia and early settlers in Fayette county, Ohio. Shortly after his birth his father died and, when six years of age, Lorenzo was adopted by Nathan Coffman, who reared him to manhood. When Lorenzo D. Sunderland reached the age of twenty-four he joined a party of several friends who were going to make the long overland journey to California in search of gold. The start was made March 12, 1849, and the entire trip occupied one hundred and four days, during which time innumerable hardships were endured. The first stop was made at St. Joseph, Missouri, where they organized, laid in their supplies for the trip across the plains and left the frontiers of civilization. They left St. Joseph on May 1, 1849, with one hundred and four men and owing to deaths and various other causes were compelled to reorganize twice before reaching their destination. They met with terrible storms, encountered the Indians on several occasions and were on the verge of total annihilation at times. They finally reached Auburn, California, with four mule teams and at once started in to prospect for the precious metal which had led them to make a perilous journey more than half way across the continent. By June of the following year, Mr. Sunderland had laid away considerable gold dust and was ready to return home. He went by steamer to the Isthmus of Panama, crossed the Isthmus on foot and embarked on a sailing vessel for New York. As has been before mentioned he brought hack the first gold from California which the government coined. He finally reached his home in Fayette county, Ohio, where he remained until after his marriage in 1851. Shortly after his marriage, he and his young bride went to Howard county, Indiana, where he bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres. He lived on the farm only a short time and then, together with his father-in-law's family, removed to Champaign county, Illinois. Here he bought a farm of eighty acres. but remained on it only one year. In February, 1852, he went to Kanesville (now Council Bluffs), Iowa, and shortly afterward went on west and located in Shelby county. He made this prospecting trip alone, wishing to ascertain the most favorable land for settlement, ~before bringing his wife away from her parents. He finally decided to locate in Shelby county and accordingly entered eighty acres of government land on which he at once erected a rude cabin. In the spring of 1854 he brought his family to the new home and here he lived for the next half century. He at once entered two hundred and forty more acres of land and to this he added from year to year until at the time of his death in 1904 he owned seven hundred and eighty acres of well-improved land in the county. During the half century that Mr. Sunderland was identified with the history of Shelby county he was foremost in everything which would in any way benefit the county. He was the first school director in the county and was elected sheriff of the county in 1864. After the expiration of his term as sheriff, he served for several years as deputy sheriff and was a man who always stood for law enforcement. He was deeply interested in the agricultural life of his county and was the first man in the county to make a specialty of live stock breeding. He was a member of the Angus Breeders' Association and brought the first Aberdeen Angus cattle to the county in 1887. At the time of his death his herd was one of the finest in the state and consisted of the Pride and Blackbird families. He was one of the chief promoters of the first agricultural society in the county and was a charter member and director, as well as first vice-president, of the Farmers Alliance in Shelby county. He was a lifelong Democrat and was one of his party's leaders, although he was never a seeker after political preferment. Mr. Sunderland was married June 29, 1851, to Mary E. Lucas, the daughter of Rev. Richard and Mary E. (Kirkendall) Lucas, and a native of Ross county, Ohio. To this union were born ten children: Nevada, the wife of William H. Errett; Leroy and Leora, both deceased; Nancy Jane, the wife of Z. T. Errett; Julietta, the wife of Abner Bates; William, single; Lucy, the wife of Frank Firebaugh; Belle, the wife of O. D. Westrope; Charles D., whose history is represented elsewhere in this volume; Ida May. Mr. Sunderland was devoted to his family and assisted each of his children to secure farms of their own. The whole life of Mr. Sunderland was devoted to the service of his fellow men; no enterprise in Shelby county which was worthy failed to receive his hearty support; no unfortunate person was ever turned from his door. Fraternally, he was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, holding his membership at Harlan. With his death there passed from the history of Shelby county one of its most distinguished pioneers and a man whose life was an inspiration to everyone who came in contact with him. Of such men there are only too few and it is eminently fitting that his life be recorded within the history of his county. source of biographical sketch: “Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa”, 1915, pages 666 - 668

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Lorenzo Dow Sunderland's memorial?
Lorenzo Dow Sunderland's memorial is located at: Harlan Cemetery, Harlan, Shelby County, USA.
When did Lorenzo Dow Sunderland death?
Lorenzo Dow Sunderland death on 17 Apr 1904 in Harlan, Shelby County, Iowa, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Lorenzo Dow Sunderland's memorial?
Latitude: 41.6594505
Longitude: -95.3281403

Family Members:

Spouse

Mary E. Lucas Sunderland

(1834 - 1904)

Children

Nevada Sunderland Erret

(1852 - 1899)

Nancy Jane Sunderland Errett

(1857 - 1944)

Lucy Sunderland Firebaugh

(1864 - 1910)

Charles Nathan Sunderland

(1867 - 1942)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Harlan Cemetery
Harlan, Shelby County, USA
Coordinate: 41.6594505, -95.3281403

2. Lincoln Township Cemetery
Harlan, Shelby County, USA
Coordinate: 41.6422005, -95.4028015

3. Folck Cemetery
Harlan, Shelby County, USA
Coordinate: 41.6198000, -95.2456000

4. Fairview Township Cemetery
Corley, Shelby County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5856500, -95.3207500

5. Saint Boniface Cemetery
Westphalia, Shelby County, USA
Coordinate: 41.7219009, -95.3944016

6. Rose Hill Cemetery
Kirkman, Shelby County, USA
Coordinate: 41.7317009, -95.2767029

7. Bowmans Grove Cemetery
Harlan, Shelby County, USA
Coordinate: 41.6617012, -95.2130966

8. Lee Cemetery
Shelby, Shelby County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5555450, -95.2974981

9. Cuppys Grove Cemetery
Harlan, Shelby County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5643997, -95.2561035

10. Slates Cemetery
Kirkman, Shelby County, USA
Coordinate: 41.7605000, -95.2521000

11. Jacksonville Cemetery
Jacksonville, Shelby County, USA
Coordinate: 41.6488647, -95.1700211

12. Danway Cemetery
Shelby County, USA
Coordinate: 41.7296982, -95.1900024

13. Cass Township Cemetery
Portsmouth, Shelby County, USA
Coordinate: 41.6272115, -95.4958362

14. Jacobson Cemetery
Shelby County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5277700, -95.2988900

15. Saint Marys Cemetery
Panama, Shelby County, USA
Coordinate: 41.7332993, -95.4811020

16. Olson Cemetery
Shelby County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5275002, -95.3806000

17. Washington Township Cemetery
Panama, Shelby County, USA
Coordinate: 41.7305984, -95.4867020

18. Saint Joseph Cemetery
Earling, Shelby County, USA
Coordinate: 41.7797012, -95.4207993

19. Heine Cemetery
Shelby, Shelby County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5277500, -95.4033000

20. Red Line Cemetery
Shelby County, USA
Coordinate: 41.7178574, -95.1517029

21. Michaelsen Cemetery
Shelby County, USA
Coordinate: 41.7124000, -95.1463500

22. Saint Mary's Cemetery
Portsmouth, Shelby County, USA
Coordinate: 41.6519012, -95.5233002

23. Oak Hill Cemetery
Irwin, Shelby County, USA
Coordinate: 41.7813988, -95.2074966

24. Graceland Cemetery
Avoca, Pottawattamie County, USA
Coordinate: 41.4935989, -95.3368988