Dunn Memorial Baptist Church - northeast of New Hope
Rev. W. H. Dunn started several Baptist churches in the New Hope/Altoga area. The Dunn Memorial Baptist Church was named for them.
ALTOGA INLAND COLLIN VILLAGE FAMILIES AND SOME OTHER INTERESTING FACTS
McKinney Daily Courier Gazette, June 11, 1938
By Mrs. O. S. Scott
The last W. H. (Uncle Billy) Dunn was born, November 28, 1843, in Murray County, Georgia, being the son of Rev. Giles Dunn, known as "Pappy" Dunn, who lived to be ninety-three years old when he passed away in March 1913 - now twenty-five years ago. He died at Altoga. Rev. W. H. Dunn was converted at the age of eleven and early in boyhood experienced the call to the ministry and became one of the most beloved Baptist ministers of our county. He was married to Miss Nancy M. Carter in 1862. He gallantly served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. He was captured and taken prisoner with many others and held in prison for twenty-three months. He was a close student of the Bible and began preaching during the period he was held a prisoner. He and his wife came to Texas and settled in Wood County, in 1869, later moving to Arkansas for the benefit of his health, where he resided for four years. They then returned to Texas and settled in Rockwall County, in January, 1877. They moved to Altoga, Collin County, in 1879, where they remained permanently the remainder of their life, except short periods of resident at Meritt, and then, at Greenville. These locations were more convenient to the points where he was preaching. He traveled widely over this entire section on horseback, or in a buggy, serving various Baptist churches, as pastor. His remuneration was very meager. He and his father were pioneer Baptist ministers, who paved the way for the earlier settlement of our state with a high class, moral, honest, upright, Christian citizenship. Methods of transportation were crude, indeed, in those horse-and-buggy days, when good roads and autos were unknown. His ever cheerful spirit and great heart of love drew about him many friendships and devoted love from both young and old. All loved Uncle Billy Dunn as he was familiarly known. He continued active in the ministry of the Baptist Church until his health began to fail. His last ministry was at Viney Grove No. 1 Schoolhouse, then he passed away, in 1921, at the age of seventy-eight years. A few months later, the Dunn Memorial Baptist Church was erected adjacent to the campus of Viney Grove No. 1 School. This splendid big frame country church was named in his honor and stands today as a memorial to his memory and life work for His Master and humanity. His good wife survived him for several years and then also passed on to her rich reward. Rev. Billy Dunn and wife were the parents of seven children, as follows: Lee Dunn, who died at the age of thirty-two; Rev. E. G. Dunn, died, in 1935. The other children survive as follows: Rev. M. M. Dunn of Melbourne, Arkansas; Dr. W. T. Dunn of Dallas, Mrs. Sam B. Vermillion and Mrs. J. E. Walker, both of Altoga.
ALTOGA INLAND COLLIN VILLAGE FAMILIES AND SOME OTHER INTERESTING FACTS
McKinney Daily Courier Gazette, June 11, 1938
By Mrs. O. S. Scott
The last W. H. (Uncle Billy) Dunn was born, November 28, 1843, in Murray County, Georgia, being the son of Rev. Giles Dunn, known as "Pappy" Dunn, who lived to be ninety-three years old when he passed away in March 1913 - now twenty-five years ago. He died at Altoga. Rev. W. H. Dunn was converted at the age of eleven and early in boyhood experienced the call to the ministry and became one of the most beloved Baptist ministers of our county. He was married to Miss Nancy M. Carter in 1862. He gallantly served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. He was captured and taken prisoner with many others and held in prison for twenty-three months. He was a close student of the Bible and began preaching during the period he was held a prisoner. He and his wife came to Texas and settled in Wood County, in 1869, later moving to Arkansas for the benefit of his health, where he resided for four years. They then returned to Texas and settled in Rockwall County, in January, 1877. They moved to Altoga, Collin County, in 1879, where they remained permanently the remainder of their life, except short periods of resident at Meritt, and then, at Greenville. These locations were more convenient to the points where he was preaching. He traveled widely over this entire section on horseback, or in a buggy, serving various Baptist churches, as pastor. His remuneration was very meager. He and his father were pioneer Baptist ministers, who paved the way for the earlier settlement of our state with a high class, moral, honest, upright, Christian citizenship. Methods of transportation were crude, indeed, in those horse-and-buggy days, when good roads and autos were unknown. His ever cheerful spirit and great heart of love drew about him many friendships and devoted love from both young and old. All loved Uncle Billy Dunn as he was familiarly known. He continued active in the ministry of the Baptist Church until his health began to fail. His last ministry was at Viney Grove No. 1 Schoolhouse, then he passed away, in 1921, at the age of seventy-eight years. A few months later, the Dunn Memorial Baptist Church was erected adjacent to the campus of Viney Grove No. 1 School. This splendid big frame country church was named in his honor and stands today as a memorial to his memory and life work for His Master and humanity. His good wife survived him for several years and then also passed on to her rich reward. Rev. Billy Dunn and wife were the parents of seven children, as follows: Lee Dunn, who died at the age of thirty-two; Rev. E. G. Dunn, died, in 1935. The other children survive as follows: Rev. M. M. Dunn of Melbourne, Arkansas; Dr. W. T. Dunn of Dallas, Mrs. Sam B. Vermillion and Mrs. J. E. Walker, both of Altoga.
