Harry Kunkle Biography


	This biography appears on pages 549-550 in "History of Dakota Territory" 
	by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				HARRY KUNKLE.

	Harry Kunkle, whose well earned recognition as an attorney has 
made him known throughout the state, maintains his office in Yankton, 
where he has remained continuously since 1904, although he resides in 
Nowlin, Stanley county. Pennsylvania claims him as a native son, his 
birth having occurred in Venango county, that state, on the 16th of 
October, 1865. His father, Joseph J. Kunkle, was born in Westmoreland 
county, Pennsylvania, and was a representative of one of the old 
pioneer families of that state, founded there in colonial days, in the 
year 1682. Several representatives of the name have attained fame and 
prominence in Pennsylvania. Joseph J. Kunkle was a printer by trade but 
after learning the business was engaged for a time in the oil business 
in Venango county, Pennsylvania, where he was living at the time of the 
birth of his son Harry. Soon afterward, however, he returned to 
Westmoreland county, where he took up the occupation of farming, which 
he followed for a long period. At the present writing, however, he is 
living retired, enjoying the fruits of his former toil. He married 
Hannah E. Stewart, a daughter of Joseph Stewart.  She was born in 
Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, and also survives. 

	Harry Kunkle was the oldest in their family of eight children, 
having five brothers and two sisters. He was reared upon his father's 
farm with the usual experiences of the lad who divides his time between 
the work of the fields and the acquirement of a common school 
education. After leaving the district schools he attended Irwin Academy 
at Irwin, Pennsylvania, and later took up the profession of teaching, 
which he followed through seven winter seasons, while in the summer 
months he worked as a coal miner. He was thus engaged until 1888, when 
he made his way to the northwest, settling in Centerville, Turner 
county, South Dakota, where he secured work as a section hand. He was 
thus engaged for six months and on the expiration of that period he 
entered the employ of the Citizens Bank at Centerville, retaining that 
position for three years. He had the entire responsibility of the bank 
management, being made cashier. He became ill with typhoid fever about 
September, 1895, and did not return to the bank, his health being so 
greatly impaired that he felt it would be detrimental to enter upon the 
close confinement of his duties as cashier. Moreover, he had an 
ambition which he wished to satisfy and began the study of law, being 
admitted to the bar in April, 1896. He then began practice in 
Centerville, where he remained until 1904 and in addition to his law 
practice he conducted a farm, loan and insurance business. He opened an 
office in Yankton in 1904 and has since met with great success. His 
practice extends over the entire state, from Rapid City to Yankton, and 
he has been connected with many important cases as attorney for the 
defense or prosecution. He is an able and learned lawyer, well versed 
in the principles of jurisprudence, and his analytical mind enables him 
to readily understand the strong and potent features of his cases and 
present them with clearness and cogency. The collection department of 
his business has likewise grown to gratifying proportions and in 
addition to these interests he has a farm of four hundred and eighty 
acres of good land near Nowlin, Stanley county, which has been brought 
to a high state of cultivation and is now a most valuable tract. 

	Mr. Kunkle was married, in Columbus, Ohio, in 1888 to Miss 
Estella L. Crawford, of that city, who died in April, 1889. In 
November, 1891, he married again, his second union being with Miss 
Maggie J. Oakland, a native of Turner county, South Dakota. His family 
numbers seven children: Percy, at home; Ruth, the wife of Ray Noble, of 
Albion, Michigan; Lilly, a graduate of the Yankton high school; 
Montrose, Taylor and George, all in school; and Bertie, at home. 

	Mr. Kunkle is a democrat but has never been active in polities 
nor has he sought office. He belongs to Myrtle Lodge, No. 91, A. F. & 
A. M., of Centerville, and in professional fires his membership is with 
the South Dakota State Bar Association and the Commercial Law League of 
America. He is a man of determination and strong will power and an 
earnest worker, so that his success is the logical and legitimate 
outcome of his efforts.