Bunnell, Joseph A. (1836-1906)

BUNNELL

Posted By: Joyce Hickman (email)
Date: 9/2/2008 at 13:52:53

Joseph A. Bunnell
Jan 10, 1836 - Nov 29, 1906

(From the 1883 History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, by J. H. Keatley, p.133, Knox Twp.)
J. A. Bunnell, farmer, P. O. Avoca, born in Portage County, Ohio, January, 1836, son of Charles and Margaret Bunnell; moved from Ohio to Illinois in 1846, settling in Winnebago County, living there until 1852, when he went to Iowa. He father, however, had gone to Clinton County, Iowa, in the fall of the previous year, while he remained in Illinois, attending school. His home for some years after was either in Shelby or Potattawattamie County until after the war, when he came to this township (Knox). He attended the first school that was ever taught in the township, which was a successful institution for those days. Subject was married in August, 1856, to Miss Sarah J. Headlee, daughter of Joshua Headlee, born in Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Bunnell have eight children - five boys and three girls - one daughter married and living in this township. Subject enlisted, October 14, 1863, in Company M, Ninth Iowa Cavalry; served until the close of the war, under Col. Trumbull; was stationed along White and Arkansas Rivers, being in only one pitched battle, with Shelby's men, near Duvall's Bluff. After leaving the army, he sold his farm in Shelby County, and bought his present place, his farm now consisting of 600 acres, well improved. There is a grove of thirty acres, a large house, etc., on it, and the products are principally stock and corn. On his arrival here, his entire capital was 75 cents, and he worked at anything he could find to do, coming with an uncle who had lost his eyesight by being lbown up in a well while working for Buford, of Rock Island, Ill. He helped this uncle all he possibly could; got a yoke of oxen, went to Nebraska in 1854, and broke prairie, working through the summer. He lost one of his cattle, which required six months' work to pay for it. In 1856, he went back to Nebraska, broke prairie, hauled wood to Omaha in the winter, putting all his earnings into land at $1.25 per acre, and he soon made a start in the world. he has hauled wheat to Council Bluffs and sold it for 30 cents per bushel; also sold and dressed hogs as low as $1.25 per hundred. He is a Republican; has held several offices, and may feel proud of his past record as a self-made man.

(From the 1891 Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, p.582)
JOSEPH A. BUNNELL, a substantial farmer of Pottawattamie County, owning one of the largest farms in Knox Township, is of English descent. His grandfather BARLOW was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and was a traveling salesman through the west. He bought land and mill property and established his brother, Abner, on a tract of land at Maumee City, Indiana, at a very early day. CHARLES BUNNELL, the father of our subject, was born in Ontario County, New York, near Rochester and was married in that county to MARGARET M. BARLOW, a well educated lady and the daughter of an old Revolutionary soldier, who were pioneer settlers in the old colonies of Massachusetts and New York. Mrs. Bunnell taught her husband to read and write, and he became a well informed man. They were the parents of twelve children, seven sons and five daughters; Charles B., Alby (deceased at 40 years of age), Joseph A., William T., Byron L., George (deceased at two years), Susannah M., Josephine M., Mary, Sarah, and the first and last born died in infancy.

The father settled on a farm in Portage County, Ohio, where he was among the pioneer settlers. He resided there about 12 years, then moved to Winnebago County, Illinois, remaining seven years; in 1851 he came to Clinton Co., Iowa, and settled on wild land where he lived until he came to Shelby County. His wife and son Byron died and after two years he went to the State of Washington, where he still lives at the age of 85 years. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he was for many years a deacon, class and leader, trustee, and has always made the Methodist ministers at home in his residence. His wife was a devout church member since 12 years of age, and she was a woman of high character and instilled the lessons of integrity and honesty into the minds of her children, and she is still remembered with affection. Politically Mr. Bunnell is an old-time Whig and Republican and has always been a hard working and upright man. He had two sons in the Civil War: Byron L. and Joseph A. The former was in the 26th Iowa Volunteer Infantry and was in Sherman's first and second battles of Vicksburg, and also in the severe battle at Arkansas Post, where he was badly shot in the hand, and was in the hospital at Memphis. He afterward returned to his regiment and drove an ambulance from Chattanooga to Atlanta and was with Sherman on his march to the sea. He was also on the return march to Washington and was present at the grand review. He was engaged three days in heavy skirmishing at the battle of the Clouds at Lookout Mountain.

JOSEPH A. BUNNELL, our subject, was born January 10, 1836, in Portage Co., Ohio and received a common school education. In 1852 at the age of 16 years, he came to Clinton County, Iowa, where he worked on his father's farm and then came to Shelby County with his uncle, TRUMAN R. BARLOW, a blind man but of excellent education. Mr. Bunnell took up wild land before it was in market on March 9, 1853, which he has since improved. October 14, 1863, he enlisted in Company M, 9th Regiment Volunteer Infantry and was in the battle with Shelby's force near Duvall's Bluff. His regiment was guarding the Memphis & Little Rock Railroad and was in very dangerous service and was engaged in many skirmishes. Mr. Bunnell escaped without wounds, and served to the close of the war, and was honorably discharged at Davenport, Iowa, in February 1866. AFter the war he settled on his farm in Shelby County which he afterward sold and bought his present farm, then consisting of 120 acres of wild land, for which he paid $1,800. By energy and perseverance he has added to this until he now owns 600 acres of the finest bottom land in Pottawattamie Co., and also 280 acres in Adams Co., this state. In his political views he is a strict Republican. He is a member of the U.S. Grant Post No. 123, Avoca, Iowa. He has held the office of School Director and Trustee for 15 years and has also been Secretary, Supervisor, and Assessor. Mr. Bunnell was married in 1856 to SARAH J. HEADLEE, a sister of Joseph Headlee whose sketch appears in this volume. To Mr. and Mrs. Bunnell have been born 9 children: Amanda J., George E., Annis D., Walter E., Albert E., Charles S., Ola G., Emma V. and one who died in infancy.