KunkleFamily.Org - John Henry Kunkle

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John Henry Kunkle (1818 - 1892)
John Henry Kunkle > George Heinrich "Henry" Kunkle

Biographical Sketch

Source: Written in 2007 by Theodore Wesley Kunkle based upon multiple information sources including "A Collection of Historical Sketches and Family Histories", Williams County Historical Society, 1978 and other research and family information. This account may not conform to earlier published biographies as some earlier documents contain incorrect information.

John Henry Kunkle was born on January 6, 1818 to George Heinrich "Henry" and Mary Catherine (Stone) Kunkle near the community of New Bloomfield, in Perry County, Pennsylvania. Both parents were natives of Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania. It is told that Henry's father was a soldier in the War of 1812. John's mother, Mary Catherine, died when he was ten years old and John's work load became greater which included farming and learning the trade of a tailor. Nearing the age of seventeen, he left home and settled near the village of Shelby in Sharon Township, Richland County, Ohio, where he learned the carpenter's trade.
On April 30, 1842, John Henry married Mary Ann Blocker. They had one daughter together who was born January 24, 1843 in Richland County, Ohio. The mother, Mary Ann, died apparently from complication about three weeks after giving birth. The child was given the name Mary Ann, after her mother.
In 1844 for unknown reasons, John Henry migrated from Richland County to Brady Township, Williams County, Ohio in the northwest corner of the state. There he bought eighty acres of land (later increased to 255) and cleared some land where he built a log cabin.
John Henry returned to Richland County and married Lavina L. Bargahiser in her family home on January 7, 1847. Shortly thereafter, he and Lavina returned to Williams County and took up housekeeping. With Lavina, John Henry fathered six additional children -- George, Rebecca, Susan E., Lavina M., Harriette "Hattie" and Levi B. As the family size increased, John Henry found it necessary to build a bigger, 2-story house for his family. As of 1978, the house was still in existance just outside of West Unity, Ohio on the south side of Williams County Road K about one mile east of U.S. 127.
John Henry served as Brady Township trustee for several years and, in 1857, when The Union Agricultural Society of Williams, Fulton and Defiance Counties was organized in West Unity, the second largest town in the county, John was elected a vice-president.
John Henry died September 8, 1882 and is buried along side his wife Lavina in Floral Grove Cemtery just south of West Unity, Ohio.
The story of John Henry and Lavina L. (Bargahiser) Kunkle is better told in the autobiographical letter which Lavina wrote for her children in 1906, four years before her death.

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Floral Grove Cemetery, West Unity, Ohio

		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		John Henry Kunkle (1818 - 1892) John Henry Kunkle > George Heinrich "Henry" Kunkle Biographical Sketch Source: Written in 2007 by Theodore Wesley Kunkle based upon multiple information sources including "A Collection of Historical Sketches and Family Histories", Williams County Historical Society, 1978 and other research and family information. This account may not conform to earlier published biographies as some earlier documents contain incorrect information. John Henry Kunkle was born on January 6, 1818 to George Heinrich "Henry" and Mary Catherine (Stone) Kunkle near the community of New Bloomfield, in Perry County, Pennsylvania. Both parents were natives of Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania. It is told that Henry's father was a soldier in the War of 1812. John's mother, Mary Catherine, died when he was ten years old and John's work load became greater which included farming and learning the trade of a tailor. Nearing the age of seventeen, he left home and settled near the village of Shelby in Sharon Township, Richland County, Ohio, where he learned the carpenter's trade. On April 30, 1842, John Henry married Mary Ann Blocker. They had one daughter together who was born January 24, 1843 in Richland County, Ohio. The mother, Mary Ann, died apparently from complication about three weeks after giving birth. The child was given the name Mary Ann, after her mother. In 1844 for unknown reasons, John Henry migrated from Richland County to Brady Township, Williams County, Ohio in the northwest corner of the state. There he bought eighty acres of land (later increased to 255) and cleared some land where he built a log cabin. John Henry returned to Richland County and married Lavina L. Bargahiser in her family home on January 7, 1847. Shortly thereafter, he and Lavina returned to Williams County and took up housekeeping. With Lavina, John Henry fathered six additional children -- George, Rebecca, Susan E., Lavina M., Harriette "Hattie" and Levi B. As the family size increased, John Henry found it necessary to build a bigger, 2-story house for his family. As of 1978, the house was still in existance just outside of West Unity, Ohio on the south side of Williams County Road K about one mile east of U.S. 127. John Henry served as Brady Township trustee for several years and, in 1857, when The Union Agricultural Society of Williams, Fulton and Defiance Counties was organized in West Unity, the second largest town in the county, John was elected a vice-president. John Henry died September 8, 1882 and is buried along side his wife Lavina in Floral Grove Cemtery just south of West Unity, Ohio. The story of John Henry and Lavina L. (Bargahiser) Kunkle is better told in the autobiographical letter which Lavina wrote for her children in 1906, four years before her death. Photo Gallery Floral Grove Cemetery, West Unity, Ohio