BIOGRAPHY - John E. Bunker
JOHN E. BUNKER, who is engaged in general farming on section 3, Lyman
Township, is a native of the Pine Tree State. He was born in Somerset
County, May 25, 1839, and is a son of John G. and Sylvira (Rollins) Bunker.
His father was a Maine farmer and his death occurred many years ago. His
wife, who is also a native of Maine, is yet living at the age of
seventy-eight years and makes her home with her son John. They had a family
of five sons and one daughter, four of whom are yet living: Henry, W., who
is married and is a barber of Canada; John, of this sketch; Stephen F., who
is married and follows farming in Howard, Minn.; and Martin L., who is
engaged in farming in East Wilton, Me.
Mr. Bunker, whose name heads this record, has been dependent upon his own
exertions since the age of sixteen years, when he shipped from Portland,
Me., on a coaster and did not again see his native land for four and a half
years. The vessel, "Desdemona," was under command of Capt. Smith, and during
the long voyage encountered some severe storms. Mr. Bunker next went to
Australia on a merchantman, visiting the East Indies, Calcutta and the most
important cities of China; he also went up the Ganges and Hoogly Rivers. He
then went to London, England, and after a short time returned to New York,
having been away for two years and eight months. This was in 1861, and he
afterward joined the United States navy under Capt. Smith, serving as
Quartermaster of the vessel, which was stationed near Fortress Monroe to
protect the coast. He was in the service for one year, and was then in the
lighthouse service for a time, after which he returned home and began
rigging sailing-ships for use during the war.
On the 21th of November, 1864, Mr. Bunker wedded Miss Hannah M. Bigelow, a
native of Somerset County, Me., born June 16, 1842, and a daughter of Sawyer
and Elizabeth Bigelow. Her father was a farmer of Maine and died at the age
of eighty years. Her mother is still living in the Pine Tree State and is
about sixty-five years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Bunker have had five children,
three sons and two daughters, four of whom are yet living: Luella, who was
educated in Roberts, and was a successful teacher, is the wife of Harry E.
Fairley, a farmer; Irvin G. wedded Mary Arnold and is a resident farmer of
Iroquois County; Everett aids his father in the labors of the farm; and
Irene is yet attending school.
In 1867, Mr. Bunker and his wife bade goodbye to their home in the East and
emigrated to Illinois. They spent a short time in Chicago and then removed
to Grundy County, where he engaged in farming until 1870, when they came to
Lyman Township and have since been numbered among its highly respected
citizens. They are members of the Congregational Church and their upright
lives have won them the high regard of all. Their pleasant home, which is
the abode of hospitality, is located on an eighty-acre farm, whose rich and
fertile fields yield a golden tribute to the care and cultivation of the
owner. Mr. Bunker cast his first Presidential vote for Gen. Grant, and the
Republican party has ever found in him a stanch advocate of its principles.
He has been officially connected with the school of Lyman Township for a
number of years, and while in Roberts was a member of the Board of
Education. Socially, he is a member of the Grand Army.
Extracted 28 Mar 2020 by Norma Hass from Portrait and Biographical Record of Ford County, Illinois, published in 1892, pages 284-285.
