Grundy County IL Archives Biographies.....Bunnell, J N 1827 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com March 25, 2006, 9:39 am Author: Bio/Gen Record LaSalle/Grundy, 1900 J. N. Bunnell One of the representative citizens of Morris is the gentleman whose name introduces this review, and who in his business and political associations has won the respect and confidence of the entire community. Many of the strongest characters of the nation have come from New England, and it is an indisputable fact that no other section of the country has shown more ingenuity, enterprise and diligence than are found in the New England portion of this republic. Mr. Bunnell is a native of New England and possesses the sterling traits of character which distinguish his fellow citizens of that most civilized section of Christendom. He was born in Colebrook, Litchfield county, Connecticut, September 5, 1827, his parents being Willis and Elizabeth (Harger) Bunnell. They also were natives of Connecticut, were married there and made their home in the Nutmeg state until about 1844, when they removed to Delhi, Delaware county, New York, and there they spent their remaining days. Both have now passed away. They had a son and daughter, J. N. and Elizabeth, the latter now a widow, residing in New York city. Mr. Bunnell, of this sketch, acquired an academic education, and at the age of twenty- five years was graduated at Berkshire Medical College, at Pittsfield, Massachusetts; but, preferring to enter upon a career in the commercial world, he never actively engaged in the practice of medicine. Going to New York city he became a salesman in a wholesale millinery establishment, and later entered the employ of a book house. Following this he was a member of the publishing firm of Bunnell & Price, which remained in business two years, when a fire destroyed their entire store. Their loss was so great that they could not resume business. During its existence the firm owned and published the New York Pickayune, a humorous sheet, which they sold just previous to the fire. For a short time after this disaster Mr. Bunnell operated under a contract, handling all the newspapers of New York which were sold in California. This was before the era of railroads to the Pacific coast and papers were shipped by way of Panama every two weeks. From his youth Mr. Bunnell has displayed considerable mechanical ability, turning wood and doing job work in that line in Connecticut. In that business be continued for about fifteen years, and in 1861 he secured a government contract to furnish gun-stocks. The life of the contract was two years, during which time he faithfully fulfilled his part and received for the goods one hundred thousand dollars. His next venture, however, was an unprofitable one. He organized a stock company, thinking to conduct the wood-turning business on a much larger scale, but the stockholders were unprincipled and forced him out of the business. He then returned to New York city, where he was variously employed for a considerable time. He acted as superintendent of agencies for Connecticut as the representative of the Equitable Life Insurance Company, with headquarters at Hartford, and later held a similar connection with the Globe Life Insurance Company, his territory being Massachusetts, with Boston as his headquarters. Through the succeeding five years Mr. Bunnell, in connection with a partner, conducted a jewelry business in Newark, New Jersey, but the adventure was attended with indifferent success. Entering the employ of the Straw Lumber Company, of New York city, Mr. Bunnell was sent to Lawrence, Kansas, in charge of the company’s factory at that place. Six months later, in 1884, acting on the advice of Mr. Bunnell, the factory was removed to Long Island City, and later a factory was built at Cohoes, New York, of which he was made the manager. In 1887 he entered the employ of the Allen Paper Car Wheel Company, of New York which sent him to Morris, Illinois, placing him in charge of its factory at this place. This position he held for twelve years or until the factory was closed in 1899. In the spring of 1898 the Morris plumbing establishment of Bunnell & McNanly was opened and our subject is now in the plumbing and heating business. The firm receives a liberal patronage and their trade is now quite extensive. Mr. Bunnell has been twice married. In 1858 he married Mary Beecher, who was a member of a branch of the Henry Ward Beecher family, and a native of Connecticut. She died in 1891, leaving a son, Charles B., an artist of considerable ability, residing in Roseville, New Jersey. In 1892 Mr. Bunnell was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Eliza Marsh, of Newark, New Jersey. In his political views he has always been a stanch Republican in his allegiance to the party and its principles. While in Connecticut he was elected to the state legislature, in the fall of 1860, and during his service the assembly voted two million dollars for the prosecution of the war. He has been an active factor in local political interests in Morris, served as a member of the city council for five years, and in the spring of 1897 was elected mayor for a two-years term. His administration was progressive and businesslike and he has ever exercised his official prerogatives to advance the welfare and progress of the city. While serving as a member of the Morris city council Mr. Bunnell was very active and untiring in his efforts to secure waterworks for Morris; served as the chairman of the water-works committee, and, being a prime mover in the effort, much credit is due him for securing to the city its present magnificent waterworks. Fraternally he is a Knight Templar Mason and enjoys the high regard of his brethren of the craft. His business career has been a checkered one, yet through it all he has maintained an unassailable reputation for integrity and straightforward dealing. His pleasant, genial manner has won him many friends, and he is accounted one of the popular citizens of Grundy county. Additional Comments: Source: Biographical and Genealogical Record of La Salle and Grundy County, Illinois, Volume 11, Chicago, 1900, p565-567 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/grundy/bios/bunnell574nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/ File size: 6.7 Kb