- Log In
- Register for a User Account
- What's New
- Most Wanted
- Cookie Policy
- Privacy Policy
- TNG FAQs
- Credits & Acknowledgements
- Photos
- Documents
- Headstones
- Histories
- Videos
- Census
- Draft Registration Cards
- Historical Maps
- Albums
- All Media
- Media by Source
- Media by Date
- Cemeteries
- Headstone Photos Needed
- Places
- Notes
- Dates and Anniversaries
- Calendar
- Reports
- Sources
- Repositories
- DNA Tests
- Statistics
- Change Language
- Bookmarks
- Guestbook
- Cool Links
- More Links
- Contact Us
You are visitor:
since April 30, 2006
since April 30, 2006
Where are they from?
Samuel E. Shunk[1]
1822 - 1897 (74 years)
Set As Default Person 
1785 - 1844 (59 years)
-
Name Samuel E. Shunk Birth 10 May 1822 ,,Pennsylvania,United States 
Gender Male Death 2 Jan 1897 Headstones 
Submit Headstone Photo Notes - He was a bit of a nomad and scoundrel. He lived in St. Joseph County and then in Miami County Ohio (where he married his brother's widow). I think he spent most of his time there. I also think he had two wives at one time. His cousin (Mrs Kiter) and her husband had a farm in Gratiot county. My Dad always said that Samuel persuaded James and Rachel to take the insurance money they received from the death of their son and buy a farm adjacent to the Kiters. It was a very poor farm. It was in Coe Township near the Isabella County Border. I don't think Samuel ever lived there but his last wife did live there with James and Rachel for a time after his death. They called her "Crazy Sally." I guess the Strong boys teased her unmercifully.
Karen
------------------------------------
My Dad always said no one would claim his body because they detested him. He apparently was a very cruel man. My grandmother told stories about the children going hungry and only have the water the potatoes he ate had been cooked in. She was sent out to work with a Peters family when she was only about 10-11 years old. This man was also very cruel. She told about having to hoe all night because she didn't get it done during the day because the lady of the house left the children with her to watch. She said there was a terrible electrical storm and she would hoe when the lightning would come.
When the family moved from Pennsylvania to Michigan Samuel wanted to leave Rachel in PA with this family and her mother said no so she went with them. On the way she became very ill (the reason she gave for her small stature as she never grew after this). The doctor told her she would never have children. Boy did she fool them.
I think all of the children had very little respect for Samuel. There was a son named Samuel Reuben but he always went by Reuben. He was killed in a fire in a factory in Lansing.
Karen [2, 3]
Person ID I7368 Rgstrong Family genes. Last Modified 22 Jan 2016
Father John Shunk, b. 28 Mar 1785, ,Northumberland,Pennsylvania,United States d. 12 Oct 1853, ,,Pennsylvania,United States (Age 68 years) Relationship natural Mother Hannah, b. 12 Mar 1785 d. 12 Jul 1844 (Age 59 years) Relationship natural Family ID F5263 Group Sheet | Family Chart
Family 1 
Barbara Ann Knepp, b. 1 Apr 1825, ,,Pennsylvania,United States bur. Nottawa,St. Joseph,Michigan,United States Marriage 11 Mar 1845 ,,Pennsylvania,United States [4] Children 
1. Hanna Margaret Shunk, b. 7 Jan 1846 d. Yes, date unknown [Father: natural] [Mother: natural] + 2. Manerva Jane "Jane" Shunk, b. 9 Apr 1847 bur. Colon,St. Joseph,Michigan,United States [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]3. Elizabeth Catherine Shunk, b. 13 Jun 1848 d. Yes, date unknown [Father: natural] [Mother: natural] + 4. Clarissa Ann Shunk, b. 12 Oct 1849, ,Mifflin,Pennsylvania,United States d. 17 Jun 1875, Newton Township,Miami,Ohio,United States (Age 25 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]5. Francis Marian Shunk, b. 7 Mar 1851 d. 1936 (Age 84 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural] 6. Samuel Reuben Shunk, b. 16 Aug 1852 d. Lansing,Ingham,Michigan,United States [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]+ 7. Rachel Melinda Shunk, b. 13 Feb 1854, ,Mifflin,Pennsylvania,United States d. 2 Sep 1935, Saint Louis,Gratiot,Michigan,United States (Age 81 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]8. Mariah Jane Shunk, b. 9 Sep 1855 d. 1915 (Age 59 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural] 9. Nancy Matilda Shunk, b. 5 Jun 1857 d. 1859 (Age 1 year) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural] 10. James Calvin Shunk, b. 23 Jan 1859 d. Yes, date unknown [Father: natural] [Mother: natural] 11. Mary Brown Shunk, b. 21 May 1861 d. Yes, date unknown [Father: natural] [Mother: natural] 12. Alice M. Shunk, b. 9 Sep 1863 d. 1883 (Age 19 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural] Documents 
STRONG Family Bible
James F. and Clarissa Shunk Strong Family Bible Pages listing grandparents and children. Very torn and in disrepair.
Click on the names on the sheet to go to the persons page.Family ID F2793 Group Sheet | Family Chart Last Modified 19 Nov 2013
Family 2 (Divorced) Mahala Rupp bur. Nottawa,St. Joseph,Michigan,United States Marriage 18 Aug 1881 ,St. Joseph,Michigan,United States [4] Divorce Abt 1887 ,St. Joseph,Michigan,United States [4] Marriage Status Abt 1887 Divorced Family ID F4921 Group Sheet | Family Chart Last Modified 19 Nov 2013
Family 3 Sarah M. Bony d. Yes, date unknown Marriage 11 Mar 1885 ,Miami,Ohio,United States [4] - From: kadica@a...
Date: Tue Jul 16, 2002 6:30 pm
Subject: Samuel E. Shunk Children
He also married Sara Bony (he must have liked this name) on 11 March 1885 in Miami County Ohio. Sara was the widow of his brother Jacob. I do not have a death date for her. She left a number of Shunk children including a Samuel.
I think it is possible he married Sarah Shunk before divorcing Mahala. Somewhere I have the divorce date, ..... I think it may have been 1887.
Karen McKellar [4]
Family ID F4920 Group Sheet | Family Chart Last Modified 19 Nov 2013
Family 4 Sarah "Crazy Sally" Cronk Fry, b. 1829, ,,Pennsylvania,United States d. 1913, ,Gratiot,Michigan,United States (Age 84 years) Alternate Marriage 11 Jul 1878 ,Gratiot,Michigan,United States [4] - Samuel E. Shunk was also married to: Sarah Fry 11 July 1878 (this date comes from his military records. Sarah applied for a pension on his service). She has a number of children with surname Knight. Her father's name is given as Cronk. She died in 1913 and is the "Crazy Sally" referred to by the Strong boys.
Marriage 11 Jul 1890 ,Gratiot,Michigan,United States [4] - From: kadica@a...
Date: Tue Jul 16, 2002 6:30 pm
Subject: Samuel E. Shunk Children
Samuel E. Shunk was also married to:: Sarah Fry 11 July 1878 (this date comes from his military records. Sarah applied for a pension on his service). She has a number of children with surname Knight. Her father's name is given as Cronk. She died in 1913 and is the "Crazy Sally" referred to by the Strong boys.
There are two dates for the marriage of Samuel to Sarah Fry - 11 July 1878 and 11 July 1890. One from the military records and one from Gratiot County.
I believe the 11 July 1890 date to be correct and the affidavit in the military records to be incorrect.
She is listed in 1880 Census for Pine River, Gratiot Co.,MI as Sarah Shunk and has Knight children living with her [4]
Family ID F4919 Group Sheet | Family Chart Last Modified 19 Nov 2013
- He was a bit of a nomad and scoundrel. He lived in St. Joseph County and then in Miami County Ohio (where he married his brother's widow). I think he spent most of his time there. I also think he had two wives at one time. His cousin (Mrs Kiter) and her husband had a farm in Gratiot county. My Dad always said that Samuel persuaded James and Rachel to take the insurance money they received from the death of their son and buy a farm adjacent to the Kiters. It was a very poor farm. It was in Coe Township near the Isabella County Border. I don't think Samuel ever lived there but his last wife did live there with James and Rachel for a time after his death. They called her "Crazy Sally." I guess the Strong boys teased her unmercifully.
-
Event Map Click to display 
Birth - 10 May 1822 - ,,Pennsylvania,United States 
Marriage - 11 Mar 1845 - ,,Pennsylvania,United States 
Child - Clarissa Ann Shunk - 12 Oct 1849 - ,Mifflin,Pennsylvania,United States Child - Rachel Melinda Shunk - 13 Feb 1854 - ,Mifflin,Pennsylvania,United States 
Alternate Marriage - 11 Jul 1878 - ,Gratiot,Michigan,United States 
Marriage - 18 Aug 1881 - ,St. Joseph,Michigan,United States 
Marriage - 11 Mar 1885 - ,Miami,Ohio,United States Divorce - Abt 1887 - ,St. Joseph,Michigan,United States Marriage - 11 Jul 1890 - ,Gratiot,Michigan,United States = Link to Google Earth Pin Legend 
Documents STRONG Family Bible
James F. and Clarissa Shunk Strong Family Bible Pages listing grandparents and children. Very torn and in disrepair.
Click on the names on the sheet to go to the persons page.
Sources - [S294] SFAA Update Committee, Lyle A.Strong, member; Robert S. Strong, member, Strong Family Histories, Vol. 5, by The Strong Family Assoc. of America, Inc., (Strong Family Histories Volume V, Recorded Material through 1995 by THE STRONG FAMILY ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, INC) (Reliability: 3).
entered from this source originally. - [S941] <JFStrong group, message list, 15 Jan 2007, Karen McKellar, "Samuel Shunk," >, 16 Jan 2003 7:41 PM (JFStrong@yahoogroups.com : accessed 16 Jan 2003). (Reliability: 3).
He was a bit of a nomad and scoundrel. He lived in St. Joseph County and then in Miami County Ohio (where he married his brother's widow). I think he spent most of his time there. I also think he had two wives at one time. His cousin (Mrs Kiter) and her husband had a farm in Gratiot county. My Dad always said that Samuel persuaded James and Rachel to take the insurance money they received from the death of their son and buy a farm adjacent to the Kiters. It was a very poor farm. It was in Coe Township near the Isabella County Border. I don't think Samuel ever lived there but his last wife did live there with James and Rachel for a time after his death. They called her "Crazy Sally." I guess the Strong boys teased her unmercifully.
Karen - [S941] <JFStrong group, message list, 15 Jan 2007, Karen McKellar, "Samuel Shunk," >, 16 Jan 2003 7:44 PM (JFStrong@yahoogroups.com : accessed 16 Jan 2003). (Reliability: 3).
My Dad always said no one would claim his body because they detested him. He apparently was a very cruel man. My grandmother told stories about the children going hungry and only have the water the potatoes he ate had been cooked in. She was sent out to work with a Peters family when she was only about 10-11 years old. This man was also very cruel. She told about having to hoe all night because she didn't get it done during the day because the lady of the house left the children with her to watch. She said there was a terrible electrical storm and she would hoe when the lightning would come.
When the family moved from Pennsylvania to Michigan Samuel wanted to leave Rachel in PA with this family and her mother said no so she went with them. On the way she became very ill (the reason she gave for her small stature as she never grew after this). The doctor told her she would never have children. Boy did she fool them.
I think all of the children had very little respect for Samuel. There was a son named Samuel Reuben but he always went by Reuben. He was killed in a fire in a factory in Lansing.
Karen - [S941] <JFStrong group, message list, 15 Jan 2007, Karen McKellar, "Samuel E. Shunk Children," >, Jul 16, 2002 6:30 pm (JFStrong@yahoogroups.com : accessed 16 Jul 2002). (Reliability: 3).
Here are the names of the children of Samuel E. Shunk and Barbara Knepp
Hannah Margaret b. 7 Jan 1846 M. Alva West
Minerva Jane b. 9 April 1847 (Jane) M. George Harman 2nd Jonathan Snook
Elizabeth Catherine b. 13 June 1848 m. Samuel Harmon
Clarissa Ann (also called Annie or Anna) b. 12 Oct 1849 M. James Strong
Frances Marian b. 7 March 1851 (Fanny) m. Samuel P. Harman
Samuel Rueben b. 16 August 1852 (Rueben)
Rachel Melinda b. 13 Feb. 1854 m. James F. Strong
Mariah Jane b. 9 Sept 1855 m John Glossop
Nancy Matilda b. 5 June 1857 (died young 1859)
James Calvin b. 23 Jan 1859 (Calvin)
Mary Brown b. 21 May 1861 M. Dr. White 2nd Jacob H. Osborne (no children)
Alice M. b. 9 Sept 1863 died 1883 (no children noted)
Samuel E. Shunk was also married to: Sarah Fry 11 July 1878 (this date comes from his military records. Sarah applied for a pension on his service). She has a number of children with surname Knight. Her father's name is given as Cronk. She died in 1913 and is the "Crazy Sally" referred to by the Strong boys.
He also married Mahala Rupp on 18 August 1881 in St. Joseph County, MI. She is buried on the same lot as Barbara Knepp Shunk.
He also married Sara Bony (he must have liked this name) on 11 March 1885 in Miami County Ohio. Sara was the widow of his brother Jacob. I do not have a death date for her. She left a number of Shunk children including a Samuel.
There are two dates for the marriage of Samuel to Sarah Fry - 11 July 1878 and 11 July 1890. One from the military records and one from Gratiot County.
I believe the 11 July 1890 date to be correct and the affidavit in the military records to be incorrect.
This would position his marriages as follows:
Barbara Knepp 1845 - 1875 The mother of all of his children.
Mahala Rupp 1881 - They were divorced in St. Joseph County.
Sarah Bony Shunk 1885 - ?
Sarah Cronk Fry - 1890 - 1897 (Samuel's death). Sarah survived until at least 1913.
I think it is possible he married Sarah Shunk before divorcing Mahala. Somewhere I have the divorce date, but can't put my fingers on it right now....... I think it may have been 1887.
Samuel's Siblings were:
Johannes ? b. 1809 (probably was known by his middle name)
Catherine b. 1811
Johan George b. 1813 (would have gone by George)
Elizabeth b. 1816
John b. 1818
William b. 1819
David b. 1820
Jacob b. 1825 and
possibly Abraham (no date).
There may have been others.
These birth dates are taken from the Lutheran Church records in Aaronsburg as well as vital dates for William & Jacob. William was the father of Eliza Ann Shunk (better know as "Mam Kiter." She married Corneilus Kiter and had a very large family that lived near the Strongs in Coe Township. Some of the Kiters used to attend the Strong reunions. Frank Kiter was my father's age and a very very good friend.
Karen
Genealogy database software created by: Background graphics provided by: Stop spammers: This site hosted by: 
Learn more about Legacy 9
Get your site today!
This site powered by The Next Generation of Genealogy Sitebuilding v. 14.0.4, written by Darrin Lythgoe © 2001-2024.
R G Strong Family Genealogy - created and maintained by Russell G. Strong Copyright © -2024 All rights reserved. | Data Protection Policy.
.
DISCLAIMER: Not all information presented on this site has been verified. Please verify your information further!
However, if you found the information here then please credit my site as your source. Thank you!
