BIO: Christian KUNKEL, Dauphin County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, 
Containing Sketches of Representative Citizens, and Many of the 
Early Scotch-Irish and German Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: 
J. M. Runk & Company, 1896, page 188.
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  KUNKEL, CHRISTIAN, son of John Christian Kunkel, was born July 10, 
1757, in the Palatinate, Germany; died September 8, 1823, in 
Harrisburg, Pa.  His father arrived in Pennsylvania September 23, 1766, 
subsequently locating at or near York.  Christian was brought up to 
mercantile pursuits.  In the war of the Revolution he was commissioned 
an ensign in Colonel Slagle's battalion of associators, and was in 
active service during the campaign around Philadelphia in 1777 and 
1778.  In 1786, in company with his brother-in-law, George Hoyer, he 
located at Harrisburg.  There he at once entered into business, which, 
with his indomitable energy and industry, proved highly successful.  He 
was one of the prime movers and contributed toward the organization of 
the first German church in Harrisburg.  He was burgess of the borough 
in 1796, and frequently a member of the council.  He was elected, in 
1809, one of the directors of the branch bank of Philadelphia at 
Harrisburg, and the same year appointed by Governor Snyder one of the 
commissioners for erecting a bridge over the Susquehanna, and was 
interested in other enterprises.  His life was an active and busy one.  
Mr. Kunkel was twice married; first, on May 4, 1779, at York, Pa., 
Catharine Hoyer, born October 31, 1758, in the Palatinate, Germany; 
died August 27, 1796, at Harrisburg, Pa.