Fred W. Gunkle Biography


	This biography appears on page 1496 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	FRED W. GUNKLE, who is numbered among the successful and 
popular business men of Sioux Falls was born in the city of Reading, 
Pennsylvania, on the 26th of October, 1857, and is a son of Fred and 
Elizabeth (Kalkhoff) Gunkle, both of whom were born and reared in 
Germany, and both of whom are now deceased, the father having been a 
roadmaster for the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad. The subject received 
his early educational discipline in the public schools of his native 
city, and in his early youth entered upon an apprenticeship at the 
machinist's trade in one of the extensive concerns of Reading. He became 
a skilled artisan in the line and continued his residence in the old 
Keystone state until 1876, when he located in the city of Chicago, where 
he was for the ensuing three years employed in the works of the Crane 
Brothers' Manufacturing Company. In 1879 he located in Dubuque, Iowa, 
where he held a responsible position with the Iowa Iron Works for the 
following two years, at the expiration of which he returned to Chicago 
and accepted a position as traveling representative for Samuel Bliss & 
Company, with whom he remained until 1884, having established 
headquarters in Sioux Falls in 1881, at the time of entering the employ 
of the concern. In 1884 he became a traveling salesman for the Sioux 
City Steam Engine Works, of Sioux City, Iowa, retaining this incumbency 
four years. In 1891 he was appointed deputy United States marshal for 
western division, northern district of Iowa, with headquarters at Sioux 
City, Iowa, holding office until 1895, and being thereafter traveling 
representative for the Andrew Kuehn Company, of Sioux Falls, South 
Dakota, in the meanwhile maintaining his home in Sioux Falls during the 
greater portion of the interval. In 1896 he "quit the road" and engaged 
in the wholesale cigar and tobacco business in this city, and he has 
reason to be satisfied with the results which have been attained, for 
his trade is of the best order and covers a good territory, normally 
tributary to the city as a jobbing center. In politics he is stalwart 
Republican and ever shown a deep interest in the promotion of the party 
cause, though he has never been a seeker of official preferment. In a 
fraternal way Mr. Gunkle is identified with Unity Lodge, No. 130, 
Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Sioux Falls Chapter, No. 2, Royal Arch 
Masons; Sioux Falls Commandery, No. 2, Knights Templar; and El Riad 
Temple of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, 
while he is also a prominent and popular affiliate o-f the Sioux Falls 
Lodge, No. 262, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, of which he is 
past exalted ruler, while he has also represented the same in the grand 
lodge of the state. 

	On the 13th of June, 1888, Mr. Gunkle was united in marriage to 
Miss Emma J. Carter, who was born in the state of Illinois, and who was 
a resident of Sioux Falls at the time of her marriage. They have no 
children.