Fred Bunker

The Sumner County Press, August 28, 1879

A Famous Family.

Mr. Fred Bunker, a son of Eng, one of the late world-renowned Siamese Twins, called on us Monday. Fred is the youngest of three brothers, sons of the same illustrious sire, who reside on farms in Ryan township, this county. The Messrs. Bunker are natives of North Carolina, in which state their mother and aunt, Mrs. Eng and Chang, still reside. Many of our older readers may remember the marriage of these famous Twins to the Yates sisters; but they may not know that the alliances resulted in the rearing of large families of bright and intelligent children. The Twins on their marriage took the name of Bunker, the name by which their descendants are known. Chang and Eng died in 1874, the former leaving a widow and ten children, three boys and seven girls; and the latter six sons and a daughter, to console their mother in her loss. Of these six boys, three of them, James Montgomery, Patrick Henry and Fred M. aged respectively thirty, twenty-six and twenty-three years, emigrated to Missouri about four years ago, and two years later to this county, where they took claims and upon which they have since resided. Patrick Henry was married a few months since to an estimable young lady, a resident of the vicinity; but James and Fred are still bachelors.

The latter is the only one of the brothers that we have met. He is a manly looking young fellow, rather above the medium height, bright looking and unusually intelligent. His features though of the Mongolian or Malayan type are regular and handsome. In conversation he displays gentlemanly culture and in attire neatness and taste. The Messrs. Bunker are intelligent and progressive citizens and are held in much esteem by their neighbors by whom they are highly respected.

 

GENEALOGY

James Montgomery BUNKER (son of Eng BUNKER and Sarah Ann "Sallie" YATES) was born on December 16, 1848 near Mount Airy, Surry Co, NC. He was first married to Cecilleia MUNRO on May 27, 1884 in Sumner Co, KS. He was married second to Anna Laura MEARS (daughter of John L MEARS and Mary) on November 7, 1886 in Sumner Co, KS. James died on April 24, 1921 in Sumner Co, KS of heart failure. James and Anna Laura are buried in the Milan Cemetery, Sumner Co, KS. James Montgomery and Anna Laura had the following children:

    I. Laura B BUNKER was born on July 3, 1887 in Sumner Co, KS and died on January 3, 1889. She was buried in the Milan Cemetery.

    II. Wiley BUNKER was born in 1889 in Sumner Co, KS and died in 1950. Wiley was a blacksmith at Conway Springs, KS. He and his wife, Alice C. are buried in the Conway Springs Cemetery.

    III. Sally W BUNKER was born on December 23, 1891 in Sumner Co, KS and died on December 31, 1974. She was buried in the Milan Cemetery. She never married.

    IV. James Edward BUNKER was born on October 29, 1895 in Sumner Co, KS and died on September 2, 1964. He was buried in the Milan Cemetery. Ed was a blacksmith at Milan, KS.

    V. Ethel BUNKER was born on September 2, 1900 in Sumner Co, KS and died on June 29, 1976. She was buried in the Milan Cemetery. Ethel was the only child of James M. who had natural children. Ethel was first married to Jesse WILSON, second to Charles DOVEL.

    VI. Eng BUNKER was born on December 9, 1905 in Sumner Co, KS and died on June 11, 1975. Eng was married to Wilda Margaret DOBBINS. Eng and Wilda adopted a daughter, Phyllis. After Wilda died Eng remarried and moved to Wellington where he remained until his death. He was buried in the Milan Cemetery.

    VII. Ray BUNKER was born on July 18, 1908 in Sumner Co, KS and died on June 3, 1950. He was buried in the Milan Cemetery. Ray was a veteran of WWII.

Patrick Henry BUNKER (son of Eng BUNKER and Sarah Ann "Sallie" YATES) was born in 1850 near Mount Airy, Surry Co, NC. He died in 1938 in Medicine Lodge, KS and was buried in the Highland Cemetery there. Patrick Henry left home after the Civil War and migrated to Kansas with his brother James. He married Mary Jane "Molly" BRADLEY on March 20, 1879 in Sumner Co, KS. Mary Jane was born on June 16, 1859 in Sedalia, MO and died in 1940 in Wichita, KS. Mary Jane asked for a divorce in 1891, as well as custody of the children and ownership of the farm, and she was granted everything she wanted. Patrick fell on hard times and in his old age became an inmate of the county poor farm in Medicine Lodge, KS. Patrick Henry and Mary Jane had the following children:

    I. James Henry BUNKER was born on December 18, 1882 in Sumner Co, KS. He was married to Ruby GILLAM on March 15, 1905 in Sumner Co, KS.

    II. Delia Lee BUNKER was born on October 16, 1885 in Sumner Co, KS. She was married to Elmer SHOEMAKER.

    III. Jo Ansil BUNKER was born on August 14, 1886 in Sumner Co, KS.

    IV. Fona Myrtle BUNKER was born on February 14, 1887 in Sumner Co, KS. She was married to J COOPER.

    V. George P BUNKER was born on April 1, 1888 in Sumner Co, KS. He was married to Hazel GRABLE on March 4, 1908 in Sumner Co, KS.

    VI. Nancy Ann "Nannie" BUNKER was born on December 2, 1889 in Milan, Sumner Co, KS and died on October 15, 1990 in Hutchinson, KS. She was married to Jesse "Jess" DAVIS. He was born on April 14, 1886 in Clearwater, Sedgwick Co, KS. On the birth record of their first child, Jesse was listed as a barber.

Frederick Marshall BUNKER (son of Eng BUNKER and Sarah Ann "Sallie" YATES) was born about 1858 near Mount Airy, Surry Co, NC. He died in St Louis, MO. According to a descendant he was killed in a barroom fight in St. Louis, date unknown. - (from the book The Two by Irving and Amy Wallace.) However, he had come to Kansas for awhile, because he obtained original land near his brothers James and Patrick in Ryan Twp, Sumner Co., KS on section 8, the west half of the southwest quarter. There were several mentions of him in The Sumner County Press newspapers.

 

 

 

Location of Bunker Brothers Farms

Left to right: Eng, Chang, Eng's 21 year old James M. and Chang's 12 year old Albert. 

Left to right: Eng's 15 year old Patrick Henry, Eng, Chang and Chang's 8 year old Albert. 

(Information on these three BUNKER brothers was taken partly from the book The Two by Irving and Amy Wallace and from my own research, prompted by my personal interest in this family.  The pictures are from the Book "The Two", showing the twins with the sons who came to Sumner Co.  ----Della Shafer)

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