History and Families of Pope County Illinois 1816-1986 Pg. 136 BLAND-DUNN-TROVILLION Arthur Brewer BLAND, born March 24 1859 and Sophronia Carolina WARMACK, born November 1 1859, both born and reared in Big Sandy, Benton County, Tn. They were married December 5, 1880. Arthur was 7 during the Civil War, he remembered his mother instruction him to take their cow, mare and a shot gun to a specific place on the farm, tie the animals and hide in a tree until she came for him; the Union Army was on the march. Sophronia�s father served in the war. Her mother cared for the family as well as making their shoes. After her mother�s death, Sophronia accepted the responsibility of helping her father care for the family. Thus two young people learned early to endure hardships. In 1893, Arthur and Sophronia moved to Johnson Co. near Reeseville, Il. Their first child, Florence Sophronia, was born in Tn. January 1 1882. Their second child, Minnie Jane, was born in Johnson Co. August 2 1896. Florence married Thomas Franklin DUNN, a school teacher/farmer, on April 30, 1899. They became the parents of three daughters; Rubye, Loraine and Nellie. The BLAND and DUNN families moved to Brownfield around 1900. They opened a general store, clothing and millinery shop, Thomas DUNN was appointed Postmaster. The railroad to Golconda was being built in 1901. Arthur BLAND and Thomas DUNN hired John W. SHARP, a civil engineer, to plat the village of Brownfield, they becoming the proprietors. The plat was prepared April 18, 1902, and filed in County Courthouse April 22, 1902. Names of streets, dimensions of lots, streets and alleys were shown on plat. Eventually the BLAND and DUNN families moved to the Azotus area and operated a store for a short time. When the business was sold, the DUNNs moved to Metropolis, and Arthur returned to farming and carpentry; he also carried mail from the depot to the post office. Sophroina boarded girls who attended summer school; she also taught a few terms. Minnie Jane married Claud ALVIN, oldest of ALVIN and Carried Williams TROVILLION, on August 8 1914. A son, Lowell Edward, was born to them on June 14, 1915. The TROVILLIONS farmed in Pope Co. ;worked at Anna State Hospital and for a short while, lived in Cal. Where they worked at Norwalk State Hospital. Minnie�s health failed in the early 1940s; Claud cared for her tenderly as he continued to work at Anna State. The BLAND families were well respected citizens, Baptists and staunch Republicans, except for Sophronia, who was a Democrat. Arthur BLAND died April 23, 1929. They are both buried in Temple Hill Cemetery. Thomas DUNN died July 16 1943; Florence on July 3, 1968; they are buried at Metropolis. Claud TROVILLION died July 27, 1976; Minnie on Jan. 9, 1954. They are buried in FIELD/TROVILLION Cemetery. At his death, Arthur was the oldest member of the Brownfield Baptist Church. At Claud�s death, he was the oldest member of the same Church.