Francis S. Bunker is a native of Indiana, born in Rush
County, December 22, 1838, a son of Thomas and Rebecca (Swain) Bunker, who
were born in the State of North Carolina. When he was twelve years old, his
parents removed to Wayne County, Indiana, where he grew to manhood, being
reared on a farm and receiving his education in the commons schools. He was
married in 1858 to Miss Laurana Hunt, and to them was born four children –
Alpharetta, Byron L., Thomas and Ira. He was engaged in farming until the
breaking out of the War of the Rebellion. October 12, 1861, he enlisted in
Company B, Fifty-Seventh Indiana Infantry, serving his country until the
close of the war, receiving an honorable discharge December 3, 1865. While
in the Army, he suffered wounds from exposure and hardships, from which he
has never fully recovered. In the fall of 1866, he came with his family to
Jay County, locating in Penn Township, where he still followed farming. His
wife died in 1870 and in 1871, he was united in marriage to Angeline
Johnson, daughter of Levi and Harriet (Rigby) Johnson. To this union was
added six children – Lurana, Alice, Harriet, May, Evi, Myrtle, Orville and
Garfield. In the fall of 1881, Mr. Bunker lost his second wife and was
united in marriage May 27,1882 to Mrs. Elvira (Wright) Votaw, a daughter of
Jesse and Dianna (Gardner) Wright, who was born in Wayne County, Indiana,
January 22, 1838, and was married to Ellis Walton, a son of Abraham and Mary
(Allison) Walton, January 22, 1859. To them was born, July 1, 1860, a
daughter, Miss Amelia, who is still living and married to Arthur L. Paxson,
son of Watson and Evaline (Dugdale) Paxson. Ellis Walton was born December
31, 1837, and when twelve years of age removed with his mother to Jay
County, Indiana, where he grew to manhood, and received his education in the
common schools. He was reared on a farm and following farming until the fall
of 1862, when enlisted in the Fifty-Fourth Regiment Indiana Volunteer
Infantry, and received a mortal wound at Vicksburg, and died January 16,
1863. Mrs. Walton was again married May, 1866 to John M. Votaw, son of
Benjamin and Rachel (Walton) Votaw, who was born March 4, 1837, and served
his country all through the War for the Union, receiving an honorable
discharge at the close of the war. To Mr. and Mrs. Votaw were born two
children – Ellis Ervin, March 10, 1867 and Emma Frances, September 16, 1868.
Mr. Votaw being dissatisfied with his little family
removed with his parents to Missouri and Mrs. Votaw lived alone with her
little family about twelve years, when she was again married to Mr. Bunker.
Francis S. Bunker departed this life May 14, 1887.
Biographical and
Historical Record of Jay County
Lewis Publishing Company, 1887
Transcribed by Jim Cox
Buried in Hillside Cemetery