Daniel Kunkle

DANIEL KUNKLE. In a list of Greensburg's most respected citizens the name of Daniel Kunkle would stand very high. Mr. Kunkle's great-grandfather, Jacob Kunkle, emigrated from Germany, and after a time settled on a farm in Westmoreland county where he lived some years, returning finally to his former home east of the mountains and there ending his days. 

Jacob Kunkle had a son who passed his life in Westmoreland county, and was the father of Michael Kunkle. The later was born in Sewickly township,and was a prosperous farmer, owning a farm one mile north of Greensburg. He held the rank of major in a Westmoreland county regiment, was a Democrat in politics and an active member of the German reformed church. He married Mary Mechling, and eight children were born to them, only two of whom are now living : Daniel, of whom later ; and Amos, a resident of Greensburg. Mr. Kunkle died at the age of sixty-eight, and his death was caused by an accident with a threshing machine. 

Daniel Kunkle, son of Michael and Mary (Mechling) Kunkle, was born March 16, 1831, in Hempfield township, and received his education in the common schools. At nineteen years of age he apprenticed himself to the painter's trade, which failing health obliged him to abandon abut six years later. He then engaged in the grain and lumber business in Ludwick borough, in partnership with a Mr. Lobaugh. At the end of six years Mr. Kunkle withdrew from the firm, and for more that fifteen years conducted a successful lumber business on his own account. He then retired and established his two sons in the lumber business at Ashtabula Harbor, Ohio, where the enterprise was conducted by them for a number of years. Since his withdrawal from business Mr. Kunkle has lived in retirement. He is the owner of a portion of the old homestead as well as other property. His record as a citizen bears witness to the regard in which he is held by his neighbors, by whom he has been twice elected burgess of Ludwick borough and retained four years as a member of the school board. His Political affiliations are with the Republicans. He is a member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Kunkle Married in 1858 Rebecca, daughter of Mason Smith, a prominent farmer of Unity township, and they had two sons : Harry and William. Mrs. Kunkle died in 1882, and Mr. Kunkle married October 23, 1884, Mary, daughter of Samuel Gault, by whom he had children : Edna ; Oliver G., born March 9, 1891, age fifteen years ; Daniel Wray, born April 28, 1901, aged five years ; John Paul, born July 30, 1903, aged three years. 

Source Pages 42 & 43 History of Westmoreland County, Volume II, Pennsylvania by John N. Boucher. New York, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906 
Transcribed June 9, 1999 by Marilynn Wienke for the Westmoreland County History Project 
Contributed for use by the Westmoreland County Genealogy Project (http://www.pa-roots.com/westmoreland/)

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