BUNN, Caleb - 1914

BUNN, SEABROOK, VANDIVER, DE LONG DELONG, KIBBY

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 7/1/2009 at 12:41:51

HISTORY OF
Cherokee County
IOWA
VOLUME II
ILLUSTRATED
CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY
1914
by Thomas McCulla

CALEB BUNN.

Caleb Bunn, who now lives retired in Cherokee county, one of its most honored and venerated citizens, for many years followed farming in this county, gaining a comfortable competence. There is also due him public thanks for the part he took in the Civil war, when for three years he served under the Union flag. A native of England, he was born in Berkhampstead on November 20, 1845, a son of James and Mary Ann (Seabrook) Bunn, both natives of England, the former born January 9, 1815, and the latter December 7, 1813. The father was a blacksmith by trade, gifted with an inventive genius far beyond the ordinary. He invented a device for the transfer of mail on trains going at any speed and his invention was adopted by the London & Great Northern Railway of England in 1850. He made this invention in 1848 and it is still used by that railroad. In search of wider opportunities, he came to the United States in 1849, locating in Cleveland, Ohio, where he followed his occupation for about six years, when he sought the farther west, making a removal to Dubuque county, Iowa, and there continuing his vocation. In 1871 he made another change of residence, locating three miles southeast of Washta, in Ida county, where he bought a farm. There he died, highly esteemed and respected by all who knew him, on August 25, 1882. His wife survived him for nearly twenty years and passed away January 11, 1902, at the venerable age of eightyeight years, one month and four days. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church and upon coming to this country, the father gave his support to the republican party. In their family were six children: Isaac, of Denver, Colorado; Jacob, a resident of Los Angeles, California; Caleb, of this review; Sarah, the widow of Lucius Vandiver, of Seattle, Washington; John, of Washta, Cherokee county; and Alfred, of Lemmon, South Dakota.

Being brought to America when but four years of age and locating in Dubuque county when about ten, Caleb Bunn attended the common schools there and also received a few lessons in Ohio, but his opportunities for getting an education were limited. He worked on the farm until eighteen years of age and then enlisted as a private in Company L, First Iowa Cavalry, his date of enlistment being December 22, 1863. He participated in the battles of Jenkins Ferry and Prairie DAune, Poisen Springs, Arkansas, and in other skirmishes, being honorably mustered out on February 15, 1866, and discharged March 16, 1866. He then returned to the parental home at Worthington, Dubuque county, again taking up farming, and there he continued until 1871, when he removed to Washta. He there remained until March, 1877 and then followed farming in Silver township until February, 1903, employing the most practical methods and gathering in annually good harvests which brought him substantial financial returns. In the latter year he retired, having gained a comfortable competence, and removed to Cherokee, where he now makes his home.

On January 16, 1868, Mr. Bunn was married to Miss Josephine De Long, a daughter of John and Mathilda Ann (Kibby) De Long, of Worthington, Dubuque county, who came from Indiana and who were the first couple married in Delaware county, Iowa. To this union two sons were born: John William, of Cherokee; and Charles W., of Fort Dodge, Iowa. Both are married and John W. has two children, Mildred and Harold, while Charles has a daughter, Alma Leota. Mrs. Bunns father was of French descent but was born in Indiana. Her mother was also a native of that state and a granddaughter of Lucius Kibby. The latter served in the Revolutionary war under Washington as a member of a Connecticut regiment. He was born in 1760 and located in Worthington, Dubuque county, in 1836. Simon Clark, the explorer, preached the first sermon in Dubuque county in his home. The grandfather also built the first grist and sawmill in that part of the state. He was one of the historic pioneers there and became a great friend of the Maquota tribe of Indians, who greatly respected him.

Mr. Bunn in his earlier years took an active interest in public affairs and while a resident of Silver township served as assessor, road supervisor, constable and justice of the peace, his election to these various public offices indicating his standing in the community. He attends the Methodist Episcopal church, in the work of which he takes a great interest, and fraternally belongs to the Cherokee lodge of the Odd Fellows, the American Brotherhood of Yeomen and the Grand Army of the Republic, being a member of Custer Post, No. 25, of Cherokee and at present its junior vice commander. Mr. Bunn, takes a great interest in the development and growth of the city and district and is respected as a public-spirited citizen who has done a lifes labor worthily and well.