By KAREN KASPER

Ishpeming Historical

Society and the Cliffs

Shaft Mine Museum

ISHPEMING — Thomas Dundon and his brothers were often referred to as the ‘Iron Family.’ Born in Ireland on May 14, 1853, Dundon emigrated to the United States with his family when he was 2 years old. His father and two of his older brothers, worked in a blast furnace in West Stockbridge, Massachusetts, mastering the foundry trade.

In 1859, Richard and Patrick Dundon headed to Marquette County to work at a blast furnace. Brothers James, Maurice and Edward and sister Catherine soon followed. In 1861, the rest of the family joined them at the Pioneer Furnace in Negaunee. The Civil War was raging and there was a huge demand for pig iron and blast furnaces were erected in different parts of the county. By that time the Dundon brothers were proficient furnace men. Richard was the founder at Clarksburg, Patrick at Collinsville, James at Champion, Maurice at Deer Lake and Lawrence at the Morgan.

“We lived at the Pioneer Furnace location, now in Negaunee, then at Collinsville, then Greenwood and next to Clarksburg, all in Marquette county. I attended the schools at these places and also went to the high school at Marquette. At the end of a term a high school I returned to Clarksburg, where my father and brother, Richard and family lived. That was in 1866. The furnace was being built. Richard was over-seeing the work around the furnace site. I was looking at the work of the boiler makers riveting iron pipes together. The boss said to me: ‘Do you want a job?’ I said, ‘Yes.’ Then he said: ‘Throw off your coat and go to work.’ I did so and continued to work with him until the building was completed. I was 14 years old.

After finishing with the boiler makers, I got a job in the machine shop and there acquired additional experience. After that I clerked in the local store of the Michigan Iron Company, which owned Clarksburg, mornings and evenings and went to school during the day.” (Mining Journal, October 2, 1933)

In January 1870 Thomas Dundon travelled with his cousin to Notre Dame university. He took a coach from Clarksburg to Negaunee, by train from Negaunee to Escanaba and then by coach again from Escanaba to Green Bay. It took two days to reach Green Bay and the rest of the journey was by train.

Dundon studied business at Notre Dame and was graduated with a degree of Master of Accounts in 1871. He then received a degree of Bachelor of Science in 1873. He returned to Clarksburg where his father was living. His brothers Richard and Maurice moved to Menominee so Thomas assumed control of the operations of the furnace in Clarksburg. He was only 20 years old, but was familiar with the work and did not encounter any difficulties. He worked at the furnace for about two years, until January of 1875 when the furnace shut down due to the failure of the company.

Dundon stayed in Clarksburg as a teacher and taught in the schools there for five years. He also explored for iron ore and in 1878 he was elected supervisor of Ely township.

By 1881 he was tired of teaching and having saved up enough money he entered the University of Michigan as a law student. He graduated in March of 1884 he was admitted to the bar and opened up a law office in Ishpeming.

In 1892 Dundon married Margaret Stack and six children soon followed, four boys and two girls. One of his passions was rowing, he taught many of the members of his family to row as well. In 1900, he purchased the Merryweather building from the estate of Charles Merryweather and remodeled it. His law office occupied one of the 2nd floor offices and the rest of the building was rented out. It was an ideal space for retail as it was on the busy corner of Main Street and Cleveland Avenue.

During the administration of Woodrow Wilson, Dundon served as postmaster including while the post office on Second Street was built. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Ancient Order of Hibernians.

Dundon passed away in September of 1933 at the age of 80. His building, known as the Dundon block had burned to the ground the year before.

His youngest daughter, Margaret, was a librarian at the Ishpeming Carnegie Library for many years.