Wapello County IA Archives Biographies.....Blunk, Joseph C. 1867 - 
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 September 14, 2015, 3:52 pm

Source: See Below
Author: S. J. Clarke, Publisher

JOSEPH C. BLUNK.
Joseph C. Blunk, prominently connected with industrial enterprises, has devoted
his entire life to contract work, concentrating his energies largely upon
railroad construction, masonry and street work, not only in Ottumwa, where he
makes his home, but in other sections of the country as well.

He was born in Ottumwa, May 25, 1867, and is a son of Joseph and Margaret
(Conly) Blunk, who were natives of Indiana, born September 6, 1838, and January
11, 1838, respectively. They were married in Illinois on the 24th of April,
1860, and the wife died October 30, 1869, after which Mr. Blunk married Sarah
Ann Porter, who passed away in 1910. His death occurred July 23, 1912, when he
had almost reached the ripe old age of seventy-four years. He had removed
westward to Bloomington, Illinois, with his parents when a lad of nine years and
resided there until he enlisted for active service in the Civil war in the fall
of 1861, when about twenty-three years of age, joining the Fourth Illinois
Cavalry, with which he served for three years and six months, or until honorably
discharged after the close of hostilities. He participated in all of the
principal battles in which his regiment took part and was particularly fortunate
in that he was never wounded. He was with the army at Shiloh and at Corinth and
went with Sherman on the celebrated march to the sea. After the war, or in 1866,
Mr. Blunk became a resident of Ottumwa, where he resided until his death. Here
he engaged in contract teaming business and conducted a dray line for about ten
years. About fifteen years prior to his death he retired from active business
and spent his remaining days in the enjoyment of well earned rest. His political
support was always given to the republican party, for he believed that its
principles contained the best elements of good government. Fraternally he was
connected with the Grand Army of the Republic, and for thirty-six years he was a
member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

Mr. Blunk had a family of four children by his first marriage: George, who was
born in January, 1861, and died September 30, 1862; Evaline, who was born August
29, 1865, and died July 14, 1866; Joseph C.; and Henrietta, who was born
September 29, 1869, and died on the 1st of February, 1870. There were also two
children by his second marriage: Amanda May, now the wife of B. Sopher of
Ottumwa; and Hattie, who died at the age of three years.

Joseph C. Blunk was born and reared in Ottumwa and has here spent his entire
life. When fourteen, years of age he started with his father in contract work
and has since been engaged in business along that line, largely doing railroad
construction work and masonry and street work. In fact, he takes contracts for
heavy work of all kinds both in and out of Ottumwa. He has done much street
paving and throughout the years has been accorded a liberal and gratifying
patronage.

On the 9th of August, 1803, Mr. Blunk was united in marriage to Miss Estella May
Lewis, who was born in Ottumwa in 1874, a daughter of Fred T. and Alice (Knowde)
Lewis, the former a native of Iowa and the latter of Maryland. They were among
the early settlers of Ottumwa. Mr. and Mrs. Blunk have become the parents of
five children: Donald J., Daphne, Estella May, Raymond and Alice. Mr. Blunk is
independent in politics, supporting men and measures rather than party. His
influence is always on the side of progress and improvement, and he believes
that work relative to the general welfare should be carried steadily forward.
Fraternally he is connected with the Elks and with the Odd Fellows and in those
organizations is popular.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:
HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY IOWA
ILLUSTRATED
VOLUME II
CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1914


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