H. Arthur Dunn Sr. Biography

H. Arthur Dunn, a member of an old and honored family of San Francisco, entered the legal profession by way of journalism and has achieved prominence as an editor, a lawyer and a writer. He was born in this city on the 18th of June, 1881, a son of William R. and Beatrice M. (Kelly) Dunn)), who were also natives of San Francisco. In infancy he lost his father and the mother is also deceased. His grandparents in both the paternal and maternal lines pioneered in California, the Dunn family coming to the state about 1849, while the Kelly family arrived here in 1850. The father of William R. Dunn was one of the early contractors of San Francisco and the builder of the first United States mint in this city.

In the acquirement of an education, H. Arthur Dunn attended the public schools of Rio Vista and Nevada City and then took a course in St. Mary's College. Taking up newspaper work, he joined the editorial staff of the Hearst organization and for a time was city editor of the San Francisco Bulletin. He was also an editorial writer for the Hearst papers in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York, becoming well known in journalistic circles of both the east and the west. Attracted to the legal profession, he took up the study of law and was eventually admitted to the bar of California. Opening an office on California street, San Francisco, he has always remained on that thoroughfare and specializes in litigation having to do with the green coffee, bean and paper industries of the state. He is particularly well informed upon the subject of commercial law and is the author of a law text-book on commercial arbitration. A gifted and facile writer, he has been a frequent contributor to leading magazines of the country and is the author of the "Romance of Mining," the "Japanization of Hawaii" and "Trade Rules and Customs."

[H Arther Dunn married Estelle Violet Ryder Dunn 3/7/1904 and had two children: William Ryder Dunn and H. Arthur Dunn Jr. Mr Dunn then married Nelle E. (Helen) Anderson who had divorced James Matthew Ryder (Estella's brother) to marry H. Arthur Dunn.] Mr. Dunn was married to Miss Nell Anderson, a native of San Francisco and a daughter of F. M. Anderson, prominently identified with milling interests of the city. The two sons are: H. Arthur, Jr., who completed a course in the University of California and is associated with his father in the practice of law; and William R., who was also graduated from the University of Califorina and is now an electrical and mechanical engineer. Mr. Dunn votes with the democratic party but has never sought political preferment, for he is engrossed in his literary and professional work. Through intensive study he has become a man of broad culture and measures up to high standards in every relation of life.