KunkleFamily.Org - Benjamin E. Kunkle

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Benjamin E. Kunkle (1836 - 1864)
Benjamin E. Kunkle > George Heinrich "Henry" Kunkle

Biographical Sketch

Little is known about Benjamin -- particularly concerning his childhood years. He was born about 1836 in Pennsylvania -- probably near the town of New Bloomfield in Perry County. His father and mother were George "Heinrich" Henry and Catherine (Ohler) Kunkle. He was the oldest of the four children ultimately born to this couple. His younger siblings were Adam, David and Eliza Jane.

Some time around the mid 1850s, Benjamin's father and mother moved the family from Pennsylvania to Williams County, Ohio. By this time most, if not all, of George's children by an earlier marriage had already migrated to this part of Ohio so it seems logical that he might follow.

Shortly after the move, in 1858, Benjamin married a Miss Mary A. Young. Presumably she was a local girl as they were married in Williams County, Ohio. They took up housekeeping in Madison Township and he worked as a farmer. There is no evidence that Benjamin and Mary ever had any children together.

Evidently Benjamin felt a patriotic duty to serve his country because, in December 1863, he enlisted as a Private in the Union Army -- specifically Company G of the 68th Regiment of the Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Company G was one of two companies (the other "K" ) made up of Williams County, Ohio men and boys.

In 1864, Benjamin and the rest of the 68th Regiment marched and fought their way from Cairo, Illinois through Clifton, Tennessee and Huntsville, Alabama as they made their way to Georgia where they joined William Tecumseh Sherman in his Atlanta Campaign. As a member of the 68th Ohio, Benjamin more than likely participated in the Battles of Kennesaw Mountain, Nickajack Creek, Howell's Ferry, Chattahoochee River and Leggett's Hill. He definitely participated in the Battle of Atlanta on July 22, 1864 as it was in this battle that Benjamin lost his life. He would have then been about 28 years old. In total, 3,641 Union and 8,499 Confederate soldiers died in that battle.

Benjamin is buried in the Marietta National Cemetery in Marietta, Georgia. He is listed as B. E. Kunkle. It is almost certain that Benjamin was among the first 10,312 persons interned in the cemetery who collectively made up the Union casualties in the Atlanta campaign. While he died in July, 1864, he was not buried in the Marietta National Cemetery until 1866 when the cemetery was first established. Until then he lay buried on the battlefield where he originally fell.

It is not known what happened to his widow, Mary A. (Young) Kunkle. It is likely that she remarried within the first five years following Benjamin's death as there is no record of her, by this name, in the 1870 U. S. Census.

Photo Gallery

Marietta Georgia National Cemetery, Section E. Photos courtesy of Lynn Yantis.

		The Kunkles of Northwest Ohio
		Kunkle History and Genealogy Archive

Home About This Website History Pages Index Family Tree The Village of Kunkle, Ohio Links How To Contribute Guest Book		Benjamin E. Kunkle (1836 - 1864) Benjamin E. Kunkle > George Heinrich "Henry" Kunkle Biographical Sketch Little is known about Benjamin -- particularly concerning his childhood years. He was born about 1836 in Pennsylvania -- probably near the town of New Bloomfield in Perry County. His father and mother were George "Heinrich" Henry and Catherine (Ohler) Kunkle. He was the oldest of the four children ultimately born to this couple. His younger siblings were Adam, David and Eliza Jane. Some time around the mid 1850s, Benjamin's father and mother moved the family from Pennsylvania to Williams County, Ohio. By this time most, if not all, of George's children by an earlier marriage had already migrated to this part of Ohio so it seems logical that he might follow. Shortly after the move, in 1858, Benjamin married a Miss Mary A. Young. Presumably she was a local girl as they were married in Williams County, Ohio. They took up housekeeping in Madison Township and he worked as a farmer. There is no evidence that Benjamin and Mary ever had any children together. Evidently Benjamin felt a patriotic duty to serve his country because, in December 1863, he enlisted as a Private in the Union Army -- specifically Company G of the 68th Regiment of the Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Company G was one of two companies (the other "K" ) made up of Williams County, Ohio men and boys. In 1864, Benjamin and the rest of the 68th Regiment marched and fought their way from Cairo, Illinois through Clifton, Tennessee and Huntsville, Alabama as they made their way to Georgia where they joined William Tecumseh Sherman in his Atlanta Campaign. As a member of the 68th Ohio, Benjamin more than likely participated in the Battles of Kennesaw Mountain, Nickajack Creek, Howell's Ferry, Chattahoochee River and Leggett's Hill. He definitely participated in the Battle of Atlanta on July 22, 1864 as it was in this battle that Benjamin lost his life. He would have then been about 28 years old. In total, 3,641 Union and 8,499 Confederate soldiers died in that battle. Benjamin is buried in the Marietta National Cemetery in Marietta, Georgia. He is listed as B. E. Kunkle. It is almost certain that Benjamin was among the first 10,312 persons interned in the cemetery who collectively made up the Union casualties in the Atlanta campaign. While he died in July, 1864, he was not buried in the Marietta National Cemetery until 1866 when the cemetery was first established. Until then he lay buried on the battlefield where he originally fell. It is not known what happened to his widow, Mary A. (Young) Kunkle. It is likely that she remarried within the first five years following Benjamin's death as there is no record of her, by this name, in the 1870 U. S. Census. Photo Gallery Marietta Georgia National Cemetery, Section E. Photos courtesy of Lynn Yantis.