On October 2, 1876, Paul Laurence Dunbar's mother Matilda filed for divorce from her husband Joshua. Paul was four years old at the time.
To the Sheriff of the County of Montgomery: You are commanded to notify Joshua Dunbar that Matilda Dunbar has filed her petition for divorce, custody of child and restoration to maiden name in the office of the Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County, Ohio.
Summons in Action for Divorce, October 2, 1876. Paul Laurence Dunbar Papers, Ohio History Connection (Microfilm edition, Roll 2).
Joshua and Matilda were married in December 1871, about six months before Paul was born. Many years later, Matilda gave a frightening account of her marriage.
He had some of the worst spells -- came home ravin.' When he had one of his tantrums, he threatened to kill me. I got afraid of him -- and I had a nasty temper. I still think he wasn't right in his head. Poor man! He had been through the war and so much and around the cannon! And he drank! Sometimes he wouldn't go to bed at night. He would walk the floor. Maybe I would wake up and he would be standing over me, saying, "I'll get you yet!" But, after I got my divorce, and all was settled, he fixed himself up, had his hair all parted and got to be my beau again. He lived in the same neighborhood and when I was so sick he came and spent an afternoon with me. He used to take Paul to the circus.
"An Appreciation of Paul Laurence Dunbar," by Rubie Boyd. Unpublished manuscript, no date [after 1934]. Paul Laurence Dunbar collection, New York Public Library, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture (Microfilm edition, Roll 3).
Although Matilda gained custody of Paul, he was counted twice in the 1880 census: once as Matilda's son and again as Joshua's son. Matilda's census data indicates that Will and Rob Murphy, sons from a previous marriage, also lived with her.
311 Howard Street
Dunbar Matilda Black Female 29 Married Divorced Laundryst
Paul Black Male 7 Son Single
Murphy William Black Male 16 Son Single
Robert Black Male 14 Son Single
1880 United States Federal Census. City of Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio. H. F. Stricker, enumerator. June 10, 1880.
481 Fourth Street
Dunbar Jos Black Male 64 Divorced Laborer
Paul Black Male 7
1880 United States Federal Census. City of Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio. John F. Edgar, enumerator. June 12, 1880.
In 1885, when Paul was 13, Joshua Dunbar died of pneumonia at a military veterans' facility. His grave is at the National Cemetery in Dayton (section E, row 14, site 8).
In an interview, Matilda recalled visiting Joshua's grave with Paul.
Paul loved his father, and once when we were at the Soldiers' Home attending some affair, Paul went to the cemetery and hunted row after row of graves until he came to his father's grave. He came running to me and said, "Ma, I have found Pa's grave." I went with him to it, and as we stood there, tears came to his eyes.
"An Appreciation of Paul Laurence Dunbar," by Rubie Boyd. Unpublished manuscript, no date [after 1934]. Paul Laurence Dunbar collection, New York Public Library, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture (Microfilm edition, Roll 3).
During the Civil War, Joshua Dunbar attained the rank of sergeant in the 55th Regiment of the Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. While doing research for his historical novel The Fanatics, Paul wrote to a former recruiter from Massachusetts and asked how Black soldiers were enlisted into the Union Army. In his lengthy response, the recruiter mentioned Paul's father specifically.
My brother, Norwood P. Hallowell, was a Colonel of the 55th Colored Regiment and confirms your belief that your father was a member of that regiment. He finds his name on the roster, though he does not have any personal remembrance of him.
Richard P. Hallowell to Paul Laurence Dunbar, January 9, 1900. Paul Laurence Dunbar Papers, Ohio History Connection (Microfilm edition, Roll 8).
After Joshua's death, Matilda requested a government pension at least three times (in 1885, 1917 and 1928), but was denied because of the divorce.
Civil War Division
Matilda Dunbar
Joshua Dunbar
Co. F 55 Mass. (Colored) Inf.
Madam: Your claim for pension is rejected on the ground that you are not the widow of the soldier, having been divorced from him on January 9, 1877, as shown by the evidence in the case.
Department of the Interior Bureau of Pensions to Matilda Dunbar, January 28, 1918. Paul Laurence Dunbar Papers, Ohio History Connection (Microfilm edition, Roll 2).