Born: 1845
Died: after 1910, as he is in the 1910 census
Married: Frances "Fanny" Gore Lang in 1873
Children: William Bailey Dunning, Emily Dunning, Margaret Dunning, Amy Dunning, Henry Sage Dunning, Edwin Gore Dunning
The Dunning Camp was on the shore of Lower Saranac Lake near the Algonquin Hotel. Donaldson says, "The original Dunning camp, built in the autumn of 1881 and the spring of 1882, was the first luxurious one erected in these parts. It had real plumbing, and both the fixtures and the plumbers were imported from New York." (Donaldson, book I, p. 308) The property, 4 1/2 acres, was purchased by his wife Fanny in October, 1881 from Jabez Alexander. This house stood approximately on the site of the present Plumadore house. The beautiful house and its 4 1/2 acres was conveyed by Fanny Dunning to Lina Straus, wife of Nathan Straus, co-owner of Macy's Department Store, in 1885 (liber 76, p.230). (See newspaper article below: This was probably the reason the Dunnings sold the house on Lower Saranac Lake.) Nathan Straus also bought the surrounding 33 acres in 1886 from Jabez Alexander. In December, 1893, Nathan Straus and his wife Lina sold the"Dunning Camp" and his 33 acres adjoining it to Charles M. Swain of Philadelphia, and it all became known as the Swain Camp.
E. J. Dunning, Jr., was a New York City financier, a dealer in commercial paper. A New York Times article in January, 1878, headlined "E. J. Dunning Jr.'s Failure," relates that he had borrowed from banks to make loans to people, and that the whole scheme had collapsed when he could not scrape up funds to pay his debts to the bank. He was well liked, and in a later article, a friend is quoted saying that, had he known of Dunning's troubles, he would have gladly paid his debts. There is no record of his having been punished, but several New York Times articles tell of the turmoil this caused in the banking industry of New York City.
Clearly, Dunning survived financially, as he went on to build the great camp on Lower Saranac Lake and lived expensively. He lived in Scarsdale, New York at Rowsley Cottage in 1880, occupation: stockbroker, with his father in law William Bailey Lang, four children, five servants which included three domestic servants, one nurse and one coachman. He was born in New York City, the son of a dentist, and lived in Castleton, Richmond, New York, age 5, in 1850.. His older sister was born in Ithaca, and later siblings were born in Lenox, Massachusetts, where his father and family moved sometime after 1850. Edwin J. Dunning Jr. married Frances Gore Lang, born in 1844 in Massachusetts, in 1873. His father, Edwin J. Dunning Sr., died in 1901 in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
He and Fanny had seven children by the 1900 census, and were living in Stamford, Fairfield, Connecticut. with one cook and a hall maid. He lists his occupation as "commercial broker". If he is the same E.J. Dunning who had crooked dealings in Boston (see articles below) he must have been conducting business in Boston ---perhaps living in Cambridge with his father---possibly as well as doing business in NYC. In 1900 he had two kids studying medicine, one already a dentist and one studying dentistry ---financial pressure? Maybe he had to work in Boston because he may have been barred from doing business in New York?
Most of the Dunning children became professionals. William Bailey Dunning became a dentist, Emily became a doctor ---she was able to become a surgeon when few women were accepted into surgical residencies, and she was "the first female ambulance surgeon in the world" according to an online article. Margaret also became a doctor, and Henry Sage became a dentist. Edwin Gore was a professional photographer. Only Amy seems to have had no occupation. A statement by Emily Dunning Barrenger in an article online said that all the children were inspired by their parents who made them believe that they could do anything they wanted to do.
In 1910, Fanny is still living in Stamford, Fairfield, Connecticut, age 65, with husband Edwin J., also 65, who is listed as working in "asbestos products". Living with them are Amy, age 30; Edwin Gore, 24, occupation: photographer, home portraiture; and housekeeper Nora Coughlin.
In 1920, Fanny, age 75, is living at East 18th St., NYC, with daughter Amy, 39, and her housekeeper, Nora Coughlin. Fanny died 12 October 1922, age 78, and is buried in Lakeview Cemetery, New Canaan, CT. No one seems to know when Edwin James Dunning died or where he is buried. He must have died after 1910 and before 1920.
New York Times, April 29, 1887
HUNTED DOWN AT LAST.
BROKER DUNNING TO ANSWER FOR A QUEER NOTE TRANSACTION.
The long search for Edwin J. Dunning, a Wall-street note broker, who was indicted in August, 1886, for the larceny of $13,200 from S. Zeimer & Feldstein, importers, of 624 Broadway, ended yesterday in his arrest at his flat, 1,519 Broadway. In the early part of 1884 Dunning, who then had an office at 81 New-street, offered to advance money—as much as $25,000— to the firm mentioned, taking their notes at four months at a discount of 5 per cent. An agreement was reached, and on April 21 the firm gave Dunning five notes—four for $2,200 each and one for $4,400—and he was to send them the money less 5 per cent., on the following day. Dunning sent $1,100 three days later and the firm's suspicion was aroused. They made inquiries and discovered that Dunning had realized upon the notes and disappeared. Mr. Zelmer consulted the law firm of Newcombe & Cardozo, and they employed Pinkerton's Agency to hunt up the missing Dunning.
In July last the broker was found at his magnificent Summer home at Saranac Lake. A civil suit was at once begun in the Supreme Court and an order of arrest was served on Dunning. He gave bail, which afterward proved worthless, and then disappeared again. On March 23,1886, the suit ended with a verdict against Dunning for $15,622 35, with interest, which made the total $16,011.25. Judgment was never collected. Some time later the case was presented to the Grand Jury of this county, and on Aug. 9, 1886, that body found an indictment charging Dunning with grand larceny in the first decree. Since then the police have been vainly looking for him.
Last Tuesday, Detective Kernan, of the District Attorney's office, discovered that Dunning formerly lived at 110 East Eighteenth street, and the tax rolls showed that the property was owned by Frances G. Dunning. The detective found that Frances G. Dunning lived at 1,519 Broadway, and then, sure of his man, he obtained assistance,went to the Broadway house on Wednesday night and waited for Dunning to "show up." Henry Zeimer, of the defrauded firm, was with the officer to identify the man for whom they were waiting. Two of the officers watched all through the rainy night. At 9 o'clock yesterday morning Dunning slid quietly into the house. He came out shortly afterward, and the detectives nabbed him. He remonstrated a little, but when shown Judge Cowing's bench warrant for his arrest, lie submitted quietly and went with his captors to the Court of General Sessions. There Judge Gildersleeve held him in $3,000 bail. This was furnished by his wife, the Frances G. Dunning on the tax rolls. She justified as owning the property at 110 East Eight eenth-street, and the property known as "The Rowsley," at Scarsdale, N. Y.
Dunning has been in several such scrapes, and has been imprisoned in Ludlow-Street Jail. He has lived like a prince, and has a Summer home at Scarsdale as well as at Saranac Lake. All his property is in the name of his wife, and for that reason creditors were never able to collect judgments against him.
New York Times, January 11, 1903
BOSTON BANKER IN JAIL.
E. J. Dunning Charged with Defrauding the Late F. A. Brooks of at Least $20,000.
BOSTON. Jan. 10.—Edwin J. Dunning, a State Street banker, was arrested and held in $20,000 bail to-day to answer a charge of larceny. It is charged in the indictment found by the Suffolk Grand Jury that he Obtained $23,000 by fraud from Francis A. Brooks, for years a leading member of the bar, who died lest Fall.
Assistant District Attorney McLaughlin stated when Dunning; was arraigned that the counts of the indictment did not represent all the money taken from Mr. Brooks, as Dunning received other large sums within the last two years. The accused man lives in a well-appointed house on St. Paul Street, Brookline. He has a large family and is reputed to be wealthy. After being arrested he was brought before Judge Bond.
"The defendant is accused of having stolen $23,000 from Mr. Brooks in sums ranging from $3,000 to $16,000," said the prosecutor. "In the first count the amount set forth is $3,000, in the second $2,000, in the third $l6,000, and in the fourth $2,000. The money was secured by the defendant through a series of gross frauds, and during the two years prior to Mr. Brooks's death. The state of Mr. Brooks health was such that he should not have been permitted to attend to large financial matters, and a petition for the appointment of a conservator for his estate was pending at the time the defendant got the money."
E. S. Mansfield, counsel for Dunning, said the proceeding was extraordinary on the eve of a settlement with the Brooks estate. Negotiations to this end, he said, were pending up to last evening on the civil side, and this arrest looked like an attempt to use the criminal aspect of the case to effect a better settlement. The estate. Negotiations to this end. "he said, were pending up to last evening on the civil side, and this arrest looked like an attempt to use the criminal aspect of the case to effect a better settlement. The court fixed bail at $20,000, but being unable to secure a bondsman Dunning was taken to Charles Street Jail.
The complainants against Dunning are Mr. Brooks's two sons, who are executors of the estate. The father was seventyeight years old when he died, and it is charged that he lost as much as $100,000 through Dunning's operations.
New York Times, April 19, 1903
BROKER SENT TO PRISON
E. J. Dunning of Boston, Who Stole $23,000, to Serve Not Less Than Five Years.
BOSTON, April 18.—Edwin J. Dunning, the Boston broker who recently was found guilty of the larceny of $23,000 from the estate of Francis G. Brooks, was to-day sentenced to serve a term in State prison. The penalty is one of not more than eight nor less than five years, the first day to be in solitary confinement.
The evidence presented against Dunning was to the effect that he obtained the money from Mr. Brooks by fraudulent stock transactions.
