Ransom Dunn
Encyclopedia
Rev. Ransom Dunn, D.D. (nickname: "the Grand Old Man of Hillsdale") was an American minister and theologian, prominent in the early Free Will Baptist movement in New England. He was President of Rio Grande College
in Ohio, and Hillsdale College
in Michigan. A Discourse on the Freedom of the Will is one of his most notable works.
, in the north corner of Vermont
to John (died 1835) and Abigail Reed Dunn (died 1858), a family of English and Scots descent. Three brothers, Hiram, Lewis, and Thomas, also became ministers; there were at least two older half-brothers, Joab and John. He had at least one sister, Amanda Dunn Montague.
Around 1840 Dunn attended the Baptist Seminary
(later called Cobb Divinity Scool) in New Hampton, New Hampshire
. In 1873 he received an honorary doctorate from Bates College
in Maine, which was then affiliated with the seminary.
On the third Sabbath in August, 1837, Ransom Dunn, at the request of the Lenox church, was ordained to the gospel ministry. Among his most important pastorates were in the cities of Dover, New Hampshire
, Great Falls, New Hampshire
, New York City
, and Boston, Massachusetts. By 1843, he was recording secretary of the Home Mission Society. In 1849, he began preaching at the Stuyvesant Institute in New York City. He became a pastor of the Free Will Baptist Church of Boston.
He is known for his publication A Discourse on the Freedom of the Will, published in 1850. With John Jay Butler
, he published Lectures on systematic theology: embracing the existence and attributes of God, the authority and doctrine of the scriptures, the institutions and ordinances of the gospel in 1892. Dunn once mused, "The real value of colleges and universities is not to be estimated by the magnitude of buildings or endowments, but by the increase of mental power and moral force."
Dunn taught at Geauga Seminary, and was a professor at Spring Arbor University
. He was the first President (1876–1879) as well as professor of mental and moral philosophy at Rio Grande College. He was later the president of Hillsdale College
, Michigan
, its Dean, Burr professor of Christian Theology, and Professor Emeritus of Moral Theology. Dunn secured the school's original financial support by riding on horseback for thousands of miles through the frontier lands of Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin in the early 1850s, gathering donations. In Minneapolis in 1882, at the 25th General Conference of the Free-will Baptist Church, Dunn was chosen to be the moderator.
, Mary Eliza Allen (died 1848), and they married in Ohio soon thereafter. They had three children. Sons Newell Ransom Dunn (1841–1863) and Francis Wayland Dunn (Wayne, Ohio
1843–1874) both served in the Civil War. The youngest was a daughter, Cedelia Dunn (1845–1858). In September 1849, he married Cyrena A. Emery (1824–1896) in Dover, New Hampshire; and they lived in Boston. They had at least three children, daughters, S. Abbie Dunn Slayton, Helen ("Nellie") Dunn Gates, and Nettie Dunn. Daughter Helen was the author of A consecrated life, a sketch of the life and labors of Rev. Ransom Dunn, D. D., 1818-1900.
Dunn died in 1900 in Scranton, Pennsylvania
. He is buried with his wife, Cyrena, at Oak Grove Cemetery, Hillsdale, Michigan.
University of Rio Grande
The University of Rio Grande and Rio Grande Community College are twin colleges in Rio Grande, Ohio, United States....
in Ohio, and Hillsdale College
Hillsdale College
Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan, United States, is a co-educational liberal arts college known for being the first American college to prohibit in its charter all discrimination based on race, religion, or sex; its refusal of government funding; and its monthly publication, Imprimis...
in Michigan. A Discourse on the Freedom of the Will is one of his most notable works.
Early years
Dunn was born in the town of BakersfieldBakersfield, Vermont
Bakersfield is a town in Franklin County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,215 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 44.6 square miles , of which, 44.6 square miles of it is land and 0.04 square miles of...
, in the north corner of Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
to John (died 1835) and Abigail Reed Dunn (died 1858), a family of English and Scots descent. Three brothers, Hiram, Lewis, and Thomas, also became ministers; there were at least two older half-brothers, Joab and John. He had at least one sister, Amanda Dunn Montague.
Around 1840 Dunn attended the Baptist Seminary
Cobb Divinity School
Cobb Divinity School, founded in 1840, was a Free Will Baptist graduate school affiliated with several Free Baptist institutions throughout its history...
(later called Cobb Divinity Scool) in New Hampton, New Hampshire
New Hampton, New Hampshire
New Hampton is a town in Belknap County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 2,165 at the 2010 census. A winter sports resort area, New Hampton is home to George Duncan State Forest and to the New Hampton School, a private preparatory school established in 1821.The primary village in...
. In 1873 he received an honorary doctorate from Bates College
Bates College
Bates College is a highly selective, private liberal arts college located in Lewiston, Maine, in the United States. and was most recently ranked 21st in the nation in the 2011 US News Best Liberal Arts Colleges rankings. The college was founded in 1855 by abolitionists...
in Maine, which was then affiliated with the seminary.
Career
Dover, New Hampshire
Dover is a city in Strafford County, New Hampshire, in the United States of America. The population was 29,987 at the 2010 census, the largest in the New Hampshire Seacoast region...
, Great Falls, New Hampshire
Somersworth, New Hampshire
As of the census of 2000, there were 11,477 people, 4,687 households, and 3,079 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,173.4 people per square mile . There were 4,841 housing units at an average density of 494.9 per square mile...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and Boston, Massachusetts. By 1843, he was recording secretary of the Home Mission Society. In 1849, he began preaching at the Stuyvesant Institute in New York City. He became a pastor of the Free Will Baptist Church of Boston.
He is known for his publication A Discourse on the Freedom of the Will, published in 1850. With John Jay Butler
John Jay Butler
John Jay Butler was an ordained minister and Professor Emeritus of Systematic Theology in the early Free Will Baptist movement in New England....
, he published Lectures on systematic theology: embracing the existence and attributes of God, the authority and doctrine of the scriptures, the institutions and ordinances of the gospel in 1892. Dunn once mused, "The real value of colleges and universities is not to be estimated by the magnitude of buildings or endowments, but by the increase of mental power and moral force."
Dunn taught at Geauga Seminary, and was a professor at Spring Arbor University
Spring Arbor University
Spring Arbor University is a Christian institution of higher education located in Spring Arbor, Michigan, in the United States. SAU is affiliated with the Free Methodist Church...
. He was the first President (1876–1879) as well as professor of mental and moral philosophy at Rio Grande College. He was later the president of Hillsdale College
Hillsdale College
Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan, United States, is a co-educational liberal arts college known for being the first American college to prohibit in its charter all discrimination based on race, religion, or sex; its refusal of government funding; and its monthly publication, Imprimis...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, its Dean, Burr professor of Christian Theology, and Professor Emeritus of Moral Theology. Dunn secured the school's original financial support by riding on horseback for thousands of miles through the frontier lands of Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin in the early 1850s, gathering donations. In Minneapolis in 1882, at the 25th General Conference of the Free-will Baptist Church, Dunn was chosen to be the moderator.
Personal life
In 1838, he met a relative of Ethan AllenEthan Allen
Ethan Allen was a farmer, businessman, land speculator, philosopher, writer, and American Revolutionary War patriot, hero, and politician. He is best known as one of the founders of the U.S...
, Mary Eliza Allen (died 1848), and they married in Ohio soon thereafter. They had three children. Sons Newell Ransom Dunn (1841–1863) and Francis Wayland Dunn (Wayne, Ohio
Wayne, Ohio
Wayne is a village in Wood County, Ohio, United States. The population was 842 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Wayne is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all of it land....
1843–1874) both served in the Civil War. The youngest was a daughter, Cedelia Dunn (1845–1858). In September 1849, he married Cyrena A. Emery (1824–1896) in Dover, New Hampshire; and they lived in Boston. They had at least three children, daughters, S. Abbie Dunn Slayton, Helen ("Nellie") Dunn Gates, and Nettie Dunn. Daughter Helen was the author of A consecrated life, a sketch of the life and labors of Rev. Ransom Dunn, D. D., 1818-1900.
Dunn died in 1900 in Scranton, Pennsylvania
Scranton, Pennsylvania
Scranton is a city in the northeastern part of Pennsylvania, United States. It is the county seat of Lackawanna County and the largest principal city in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area. Scranton had a population of 76,089 in 2010, according to the U.S...
. He is buried with his wife, Cyrena, at Oak Grove Cemetery, Hillsdale, Michigan.
Partial works
- (1850), A Discourse on the Freedom of the Will
- (1892), Lectures on systematic theology: embracing the existence and attributes of God, the authority and doctrine of the scriptures, the institutions and ordinances of the gospel