Richard Dunbar was born in Mayo County Ireland. Like many others, he immigrated to the United States in the 1840s with dreams of prosperity. He aspired to become a civil engineer, and worked on the construction of the railroads. His employment with the rail companies brought him to Whitewater, Wisconsin sometime near 1850. He traveled to the village of Waukesha, where he met Catherine Clark, his future wife. Shortly after their marriage in 1857 Dunbar became involved in the War Between the States in the executive department under Alexander Randall, a resident of Waukesha and former Wisconsin governor. It was in this position that Richard Dunbar received the honorary title of Colonel. After the war, he moved to Washington DC and worked in the Internal Revenue Department.

Richard Dunbar

For years, Col. Dunbar had suffered from attacks of Diabetes Mellitus, and in 1868 a doctor informed him that he was dying from the disease. One fateful day, Col. Dunbar was visiting his sister-in-law Elizabeth in Waukesha.

"When I entered the field, the intolerable thirst which had so long afflicted me was overpowering, and I bemoaned my imprudence on leaving the house and wished to return for a drink of water." - Col. Richard Dunbar

Elizabeth showed Dunbar one of the springs on the pasture, which was located along the Fox River. Dunbar made no objections and indulged in the water with vigor.

"I drank 6 tumblersfull, and felt instantly a most grateful and refreshing sensation." – Col. Dunbar.

He rested under a nearby tree, and finally drank another 6 glasses before returning to the house. For an additional three days he stayed in Waukesha, each day drinking from the spring which he came to believe contained healing properties.

It was a discovery that would change the history of the village of Waukesha forever. Dunbar returned one year later, once again to drink of the spring and proclaim it's restoring aspects. He bought the property from his sister-in-law, and in 1869 he began to commercialize what he came to call the Bethesda Mineral Spring.

Publicizing Waukesha's springs was a concept met with some disapproval from the village residents, and it was not long before opposition arose to challenge the supposed powers of the water. Richard Dunbar was a phenomenal promoter however, and soon crowds began to arrive in Waukesha to partake in the healing of the waters. For better or worse, the Springs Era, had begun.