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Levi Artemas DUNLAP was the third child of Lewis Alexander and Nancy Melanda DUNLAP and was born at Aurora, Missouri, on November 30, 1875. He came to Texas with the family in 1889, living first at Richardson.

He attended the old Denton Normal (now NTSU) and graduated highest in his class. He got jobs as "printer's devil" at every town where his father was pastor and at Richardson also operated a rubber stamp business as a sideline. When the family moved to Mansfield in 1893, he and his brother, Edwin, published the Mansfield Rustler from their shop in the back of a mercantile store. Subscription to the weekly was thirty cents per year, but the venture fell into serious financial trouble and had to cease publication after four months, but each paid-up subscriber was refunded half of his money.

The DUNLAP family moved to Meridian in December 1896, and in 1898 Levi A. borrowed $50 with which he instigated the purchase of "The People's Tribune" , a Populist newspaper. He changed it to the Democratic "The Meridian Tribune" which he owned and edited continuously for 50 years until his retirement on January 1, 1956. The Tribune is still in business in its 76th year (1974). At various times during his operation of the Tribune plant he was assisted by his brothers, Edwin and Teel, and his sister, Minnie. Levi A. gained many honors and recognitions during his printer-publisher days, having produced one of the best small town weekly's in Texas and having operated a very efficient job printing and publishing plant patronized throughout the state.

On February 7, 1900, Levi "Artie" DUNLAP and Mary Jane ADAMS were married at Meridian. She was the daughter of Capt. James William and Elizabeth ADAMS and was born near Valley Mills on November 20, 1875. The couple through their music and talents, contributed much to the cultural and social life of the area. They owned the first phonograph in the town. He was as a big booster for Meridian Junior College, and before that, was one of the organizers of the Bosque County Fair and was its fireworks specialist.

The four children of this marriage were Leslie Moran, a journalist, printer and postmaster. Irene, a school teacher, she married a retail merchant who later was a soft drink bottler and a foods representative-salesman. Artie Reynolds, a salesman, commercial artist and advertising agency representative. Jay Teel, an architect.

After the death of Mary Jane DUNLAP at Meridian on June 11, 1945, Levi A. continued to live at the homeplace he had built in 1915 until his passing on April 24, 1959. During these last fourteen years, his widowed sister, Lealia Knapp DUNLAP Odle, also lived at the homeplace.

The entire block on which the Levi A. DUNLAP home sat at the northwest corner of Bosque and Houston Streets, was sold to the Meridian Housing Authority in 1967. The home was torn down and a low-rent housing group for the elderly was constructed on the site, a fitting monument to a couple who contributed so much pleasure and happiness from that spot for nearly half a century.

By Jay Teel Dunlap 1974

ame: Levi A. Dunlap
Death date: 24 Apr 1959
Death place: Meridian, Bosque, Texas
Gender: Male
Race or color (on document): W
Age at death: 83 years 4 months 24 days
Estimated birth year:
Birth date: 30 Nov 1875
Birth place: Mo.
Marital status: Widowed
Father name: Levi A. Dunlap
Mother name: L. Cook
Occupation: Newspaper Publisher
Residence: Meridian, Bosque, Texas
Cemetery name: Meridian
Burial place: Meridian, Texas
Burial date: 25 Apr 1959
Collection: Texas Deaths, 1890-1976

• Married: 7 Feb 1900 in Bosque Co., TX ⁷

1. Leslie Moran DUNLAP b: 21 Dec 1900 in Meridian, Bosque Co., TX
2. Irene P DUNLAP b: 28 Nov 1902 in Meridian, Bosque Co., TX
3. Artie Reynolds DUNLAP b: 5 Jan 1904 in Meridian, Bosque Co., TX
4. Jay Teel 'Jakey' DUNLAP b: 27 Jan 1908 in Meridian, Bosque Co., TX

1. Title: 1920 US CENSUS Bosque Co., TX
   Page: ed33 sh5
2. Repository:
   Name: H Adams
   
   Title: Personal journal of Reba (Odle) Hinton
   Publication: List of names, implied marriages and birth year; 5 pages of over 500 names; earliest year is 1824; maxyear is 1975;
   Page: ed33 sh5
3. Repository:
   Name: H Adams
   
   Title: Descendant Chart of John & Lucinda (Reeder) Odle - 1
   Author: Homer M & Sally (Odle) Adams
   Publication: 2'X 2' Old fashion family tree dated 1921 (copy)
   Note:
   ! This is an old fashion family tree on a piece of paper about two by two feet. It is dated 1921 but has been added onto since by someone unknown. It implies marriage and gives birth year of individuals on it. Major families include Odle; Barnett; Adams;
   Page: ed33 sh5
4. Title: Gravesite Visited/Photo Taken by H Adams
5. Repository:
   Name: Clayton Library for Genealogical Research
   Houston, Texas 77004
   
   Title: Bosque County, Texas Cemetery Records Vol 1-2
   Author: Complied by The Cemetery Committee of the Bosque Co, Historical Comm.
   Publication: [Meridian, Tx]: The Commission, [1985?-]
   Page: Vol 1 Page 24
6. Repository:
   Name: Clayton Library for Genealogical Research
   Houston, Texas 77004
   
   Title: Bosque County: Land and People
   Author: Complied by The Bosque County History Book Committee
   Publication: Dallas, Tx: Curtis Media Corp., c1986-
   Page: #254
   Text: NEWSPAPERS The People's Tribune was established by James Day at Walnut Springs in 1896, but later was moved to Meridian. Within in few years, it was run by Levi A. DUNLAP, editor, and Edwin D. Dunlap, business manager, and the name was changed to The Meridian Tribune. Mr. Dunlap operated this paper for over fifty years. It is still operating today, but under different ownership.
   Date: 1896
7. Repository:
   Name: Bosque County Courthouse
   Meridian, Texas 76665-0617
   
   Title: Bosque County Marriage Records
   Author: County Clerk
   Page: Book G Page 271