Biography - Dwight W. Bunker
1878 Biography
DWIGHT W. BUNKER. He is a merchant, son of Samuel and Silvia (Walton) Bunker, and was born 4 Nov 1846 in Lake County, Ohio. He enlisted in Company K, 45th Illinois Infantry on 20 Oct 1861. He was wounded at the battle of Shiloh, and was left on the field to die. He so far recovered that he walked from the battlefield to the river where he remained for seven days in an old tent, upon wet straw without blankets or covering, his wounds not being dressed. From 1864 to 1873, he was engaged in railroad building, served as County Clerk of Harvey County, Kansas, came to Galesburg and embarked in the boot and shoe trade in June 1874. He married Mary Bell Carpenter, who has borne him one son. He is a Republican.
Contributed by Joan Achille, extracted from the 1878 History of Knox County, Illinois, published by Charles C. Chapman
1899 Biography
DWIGHT
W. BUNKER was born November 4, 1846, in Mentor, OH. He was the son of Samuel
and Silvia (Walton) Bunker and received from them great care and instruction
during his boyhood years. He was educated in the common schools, and from
them acquired that mental discipline which fitted him for the business of
life. When only two years of age, his parents came to Henderson IL, where
they spent the remainder of their days. Young Bunker had a strong desire to
be a soldier, and when only fourteen years old he enlisted at Wataga in
Company K., Forty-first Illinois Volunteers, known as the "Lead Mine
Regiment", October 20, 1861. He belonged to Captain B. F. Holcomb's Company
and was its youngest member. He was at the capture of Forts Henry and
Donaldson, and saw the stars and stripes planted in triumph on their
heights. He fought at the bloody battle of Shiloh, and was terribly wounded
there while standing near the color-bearer. His left arm was shattered, his
left side was lacerated, and a bullet struck his shoulder, which was never
removed. He was left, as though dead, on the field of battle. But life was
not wholly extinct, and he was removed to a tent where he remained several
days without even the covering of a blanket. For six weeks he lay in the
death-ward of the hospital, looking at the ghastly forms of the dead and
dying around him, with scarcely a ray of hope of recovery. His father,
learning of his condition, removed him to his home, and thereby, probably,
saved his life. These frightful wounds were the cause of his early death,
and it may be truly said that Dwight W. Bunker died for his country.
As soon as he had sufficiently recovered, he was anxious to engage in
business. From 1864 to 1873, he was employed on the Union Pacific Railroad.
At the close of his service with this company, he engaged in trade for
himself, opening a shoe store on Main Street in Galesburg. This business he
conducted with success until this death.
Dwight W. Bunker was an excellent citizen. He was patriotic, loving, and
kind, and discharged every obligation not grudgingly, but cheerfully. He was
benevolent and charitable according to his means, and was no laggard in the
performance of good deeds. In every organization to which he belonged, he
was regarded by his associates as an efficient working member. He belonged
to the Grand Army of the Republic, and in May, 1897, was elected Junior Vice
Commander of Illinois. He was Colonel on the staff of General-in-Chief
Thomas G. Lawler, receiving the appointment November, 1894. He was a member
of the Board of Supervisors of Knox County at the time of his death, and by
them, resolutions of respect and condolence were passed.
In his religious belief, Mr. Bunker was a Congregationalist. In his
political faith, he was a republican, and labored earnestly for the cause of
that party.
He was married, May 31, 1873, to Mary Isabell Carpenter, daughter of Asaph
N. and Mary E. (Winterbottom) Carpenter. Along the paternal line of her
ancestors, is found Thomas Carpenter, her great-grandfather, who was born in
Massachusetts. Her great-grandmother was Cloa Carpenter, born in the same
State. Her grandfather was Asaph Carpenter, born at Rehoboth MA, and her
grandmother was Caroline Carpenter, born in the same town.
Her material line of ancestors reaches back to her great-grandfather, Peter
Carpenter, and to her great-grandmother, Nancy Carpenter, both born in
Massachusetts. Her grandfather was Lease Winterbottom, a native of England
and her grandmother was Sarah Lewis, born in Connecticut.
Mr. and Mrs. Bunker had but one child, Dwight Carpenter, who married Vina
Penn. They have one child, Carrie Isabell.
Extracted from the 1899 Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and Knox County, Munsell Publishing Company. Picture provided by Jim Ferris.
