Saint Joseph County MI Archives Biographies.....Bungay, Capt. Francis June 18, 1825 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Jan Cortez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00020.html#0004939 March 18, 2007, 9:09 pm Author: Chapman Brothers CAPT. FRANCIS BUNGAY, a retired farmer of Constantine, is the son of one of the earliest pioneers of this township, and county, and has himself been an active factor in promoting their growth and the development of their extensive agricultural interests, and he is still the owner of a farm in Constantine Township. His long residence here, as a boy and man, of fifty-six years has made him widely known throughout the county, and he is greatly respected as a man of irreproachable habits and spotless reputation. The parents of our subject, Francis and Elizabeth (andrews) Bungay, were natives of England. Some years after their marriage they emigrated to this country, in the year 1831, and for a time dwelt in New York City. From there they removed to Somerset County, N.J., where they lived abbout two years. In 1833 they came to St. Joseph County and settled in what is now the village of Constantine. On their arival here they found the country round about sparsely settled by a few hardy, courageous people, and the primeval forests that had stood here for centuries had scarcely begun to yield to the ax of the pioneer. Mr. Bungay plied his trade of carpenter to some extent, and also established a bakery in Constantine, which was the first one in town, and one of the earliest in Michigan. He also engaged in the mercantile and drug business with a man of the name of Marshall, and they were together until the death of Mr. Bungay, Aug. 21, 1838. In his premature death Constantine lost an invaluable citizen, as he was a man of versatile genius, full of enterprise, and if he had lived would no doubt have been an important factor in building up its business interests. His wife died in Constantine in 1851. Their family consisted of four children, all born in England, and all of whom accompanied them to this country. The eldest was Maria, who staid in New York after her parents had removed West. She subsequently went to Detroit, where she was married, and died in Illinois; George W. is the well-known temperence lecturer, poet and newspaper man, whose reputation extends over the entire country; our subject was next in order of birth; then Thomas, who was employed as a pilot on the St. Joseph River, and died in Constantine, when about twenty- seven years old. Francis was born in Suffolk County, England, June 18, 1825, and was six years old when he came to the United States with his parents, and since accompanying them to their pioner home in Constantine has been a resident of St. Joseph County. He was thirteen years old when his father died, and he was then thown on his own resources, his mother being left without means through the treachery of others. He and his brother manfully cared for her, and with filial affection looked after her every comfort and saw that she wanted for nothing that was in their power to supply as long as she was spared to them. In his earlier years our subject followed different occupations, working hard at anything that he could find to do to turn an honest peny. He learned the blacksmith's trade, which he pursued for many years, and for seventeen years was employed by the Constantine Furnace Company. He was also engaged in a sawmill in Constantine for ten years, and worked in a flouring-mill for ten years as a packer, at which business he became an expert. He obtained the title of Captain on account of running excursions from Three Rivers to Constantine and return for several seasons, until the dam was built across the river at Constantine. In the meantime he bought a farm in Constantine Township, which he still owns and supervises, although he has retired from the more active labors connected with its management. It contains forty acres at the present time, although he first bought 120 acres, but he has disposed of the larger part of it at a profitable price. He also owns a neat and comfortable house and lot in Constantien Village and is well off in this world's goods. Our subject has been twice married, first in Constantine Village, to Miss Isabella Catton. She was born in England, april 18, 1828, and was a daughter of William and Mary Jane Catton. Mrs. Bungay was a woman of fine character, who devoted herself to the interests of her family, and her death in Constantine, March 30, 1879, was a sad bereavement to husband, children and friends. Capt. Bungay's second marriage, which took place in Constantine, Aug. 9, 1881, was to Mrs. Charlotte (Jewett) DeLong, daughter of the late Eri and Harriett (Winchell) Jewett, who died at Vistula, Ind., and the widow of David DeLong, who died in Brimfield, Ind., Oct. 10, 1866. Mrs. Bungay was born in Sangerfield, Oneida Co., N.Y., Oct 4, 1836. In 1858 the family emigrated thence to Ashtabula County, Ohio, where they remained about ten years, then coming to Constantine, in which place they staid until 1873, when they removed to Vistula, Inc. Mrs. Bungay is in every particular an estimable woman, who looks attentively after the comforts of the household, and merits the affection in which she is held by all who come under her influence. Mr. Bungay had three children by his first marriage, namely: Maria L., who was the wife of Frederick Hagenbauch, and who died in Fabius Township, Dec. 27, 1882; George R., who married Joanna Schultz and lives in Goshen, Inc.; and Fannie, who lives in South Bend, Ind. In whatever relation of life our subject has been placed he has done his duty in a manly, straight-forward way. As a son, he was respectful and obedient, and cared for his mother with great tendersness; toward his family he has always been all that a kind father and husband can be; with his neighbors, he is ever cordial and helpful; and as a citizen, he never hesitates to do all that in him lies to improve the township materially and morally. He is possessed of a thoughful, sympathetic nature, and the wrongs of others find in him an earnest champion. He is well known for his advocacy of temperence, and for the stand that he takes against the use of tobacco. In his political faith he stongly adheres to the Republican party. Religiously, he was formally identified with the Baptist and Reformed Church, but, is at present a member of the Congregational Church, as is his wife. Additional Comments: Transcribed from the Portrait & Biographical Album of St. Joseph Co. Chapman Brothers 1889 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/stjoseph/bios/bungay680gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/mifiles/ File size: 7.0 Kb