Wilson L. Shunk Biography


	This biography is from "Memorial and biographical record; an illustrated
 	compendium of biography, containing a compendium of local biography,
	including biographical sketches of prominent old settlers and 
	representative citizens of South Dakota..." Published by G. A. Ogle & 
	Co., Chicago, 1899. Pages 1105-1106

	Scan, OCR and editing by Maurice Krueger,mkrueger@iw.net, 1998. 

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WILSON L. SHUNK, one of the leading attorneys practicing at the bar of Pierre, 
is well and favorably known throughout South Dakota. Mr. Shunk was born in 
Illinois in 1858, and his parents are now residents of that state. His father, 
Jacob Shunk, is a native of Germany and his mother was born in Vermont. Jacob 
Shunk came to America when a young man, and later located in Illinois. 

Wilson L. Shunk was reared in Illinois, where he attended the public schools. He 
went to Wisconsin and took an academic course, later entering the University of 
Wisconsin. He graduated from the law department of the University of Iowa in 
1881, and began practice at Delavan, Wisconsin, in 1883. 

In 1889 Mr. Shunk came to Pierre and formed a co-partnership in the law business 
with J. Hughes. This relation continued for about four years, since which time 
he has practiced alone. He has met with much success in his practice. In 
addition to his law business he has interested himself in various business 
enterprises, and is a stockholder in some of Pierre's most solid and substantial 
concerns. He is the owner of a fine ranch, and makes horse breeding a part of 
his business. He is the owner of some fast horses, and takes great pride in the 
excellence of his stables, as some of the speediest racers in the Dakotas have 
been trained here. 

Mr. Shunk was married in 1896 to Maude B. O'Donnell, a native of Indiana. Mr. 
Shunk is a Mason, and holds membership in the order of the Knights of Pythias. 
In political sentiment he is a Democrat, and while faking en intelligent 
interest in public affairs, has never sought political preferment.