Anyone know any history about Mansfield Dunning? He was my mother's cousin or anything about Albert Pierce my mother's Dad? She was born in 1914.

I remember as a child living in Ashland in about 1955 when Mansfield Dunning was a postmaster in Ashland. His wife, Ruby also worked in the post office. When my mother was in the 1st or 2nd grade, Ruby taught her, or rather home schooled her.

You can view Mansfield Obediah Dunning and Ruby Dunning's gravesite on www.Findagrave.com. The memorial number is 87090060. Here is his obituary that I found online:

Mansfield Dunning of Ashland Dies

Ashland, Mont. - Mansfield O. Dunning, 67, Ashland postal clerk, died Sunday at a Billings hotel.

Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Thursday at the Ashland American Legion hall the Rev. Dale Stiff officiating. Burial in Willow Crossing cemetery.

He was born Jan. 9, 1895 in Sheridan, Wy. and attended schools there. Beginning about 1910 he was employed on ranches in the Ashland area and served in the U.S. Army during World War I in Europe.

Mr. Dunning married Ruby Camp in Forsyth Dec. 2, 1917. They later ranched on Bloom Creek and later on the east fork of Otter Creek. She died Sept. 7, 1958.

Surviving are two sisters, Mrs. Richard Hayes, Ashland and Mrs. Lorena Brookins, Dayton, Wy. and a brother, Robert of Spokane, Wash. Mr. Dunning was a member of the First Christian Church of Sheridan, the American Legion of Ashland, the Elks Lodge at Miles City and of the Federation of Postal Clerks.

Date 31 Sept. 1962

[This message has been edited by TDF (10/10/2012)]

Do you have the census transcriptions for Dunnings and Pierces? I found them back to before Civil War. Also found a couple of obits, draft records, marriage indexes, death certs. There is also a posted photo of Fern & Roy Montgomery you will want, if you do not have already. If you would like any or all of this, let me know & I will send it direct to your email address.

Here is brief narrative-

Mansfield Dunning, your Mother's cousin, was named for his grandfather. The senior Mansfield Obediah Dunning (1831-1882)is buried in Rapid City. There is a photo available of his tombstone. It is a interesting tall granite one with carved draped fabric & hanging tassels.

I found his parents (John Dunning & Mary Elizabeth Powers) back in Dunningsville, Pennsylvania. Mansfield and his brother Almond Dunning came West from Pennsylvania to Taylor County, Iowa and are enumerated in 1856 state census. Then Mansfield went to Dakota Territory and his daughter Etta Pierce's family did also.

Amongst Mansfield O Dunning & Hulda Helena West Dunning's 9 children were Annie Etta & William Charles. William Charles was father of Mansfield O. Dunning (1895-1962).

Annie Etta "Ettie" (1858-1949) married Sanford Lamar Pierce (1858-1935) and had two children Albert Leslie & Gertrude. They lived in Birney area.

Gertrude married Andrew J Jackson, they lived in Birney area. Ettie was living with them in 1940 census as 81 year old widow.

Albert Leslie (1876-1952) married Mable C Ridenour(1882-1944). She was the widow of Mr. White born in Scotland. She had a daughter Gertrude White who became a nurse. And they had son Leslie, daug Cora Fern, and daug Jessie Alberta. Albert & Mabel are buried in Sheridan Municipal Cemetery.

Thank you so much it was very helpful.
Gayle Brisky

Thank you, Albert and Mable Pierce were my grandparents.
Cordelia Ferne Pierce was my mother. My cousin Gerry Lord gave me a journal written by my Aunt Leslie, his mother. It was a wonderful account of her and her two little sisters childhood in Wyo and Montana. Leslie,Ferne & Alberta.
Gayle Brisky of Washington state.

Yes it all matches what my aunt Leslie wrote in her journal about our family. Thank you

I would love pictures. Ferne and Roy Montgomery are my parents.
[email protected]
Thank You, Gayle Brisky

Gayle,
I'll email you privately all info I found & copy of the posted photo. It may have been submitted by a relative you may wish to contact.