Orson Edward Bunker
1868-1949
My Husband's Great Great Grandfather
Orson was born on 21 January 1868 to William J Bunker and Elmira Covey in Amboy, Hillsdale, Michigan.
He is listed Michigan Births 1867-1902. Michigan Births - 1867-1902, Orison Bunker. Parents listed are William Bunker and Ermina Bunker.
Orson was listed in the 1870 Federal Census with his parents and also sister Florence. 1870 Federal Census- Amboy Twp, Hillsdale, Michigan
Orson's sister Florence mother is not Elmira. Florence maybe Mina Belle, b. whose mother was Mary Taylor. I have not found Mina Belle in the 1870 or 1880 Federal. Census.
Orson had a number of siblings:
George Willis Bunker (listed in the 1860 Federal Census as George Gannon) b. 28 July 1859-d. 1941.
Mina Belle Bunker b. November 1860-d. 16 March 1918.
William Henry Bunker b. 1 October 1863-d. 30 July 1944
Lucy Della Bunker b. 4 April 1873-before 1930.
Orson was listed in the 1880 1880 Federal Census-Fremont, Steuben, Indiana. He is listed living with Price Pornwall and Axie Pornwall. Also listed was his sister Della. I believe that Axie is Elmira with her 2nd husband.
9 March 1887: The Indiana Herald, Huntington, Indiana. "List of letters remaining in the Post Ofiice at Huntington, Indiana, March 7, 1887:
. . . . . Orson Bunker. 2, . . . . .
He married Rosa Cole b. 1872-1909 on 16 February 1891 in Huntington, Indiana. Indiana Marriages, 1811-2007. Rosa was listed at having a previous marriage.
Orson and Rosa had two sons:
William Wesley Bunker 10 May 1892, Huntington, Huntington, Indiana
Louis Edward Bunker 20 October 1894, Jefferson, Allen, Indiana Ohio, Births and Christenings Index
Orson's father William J. Bunker died 6 March 1898. Obituary listed:
7 March 1898: Daily New Democrat, Huntington, Indiana
"A JAIL SENTENCE
Given Orson Bunker For Assault on His wife.
The motion to quash the affidavit and information in the case of the State of Indiana vs Orson Bunker, charge with assault and battery upon his wife, was overruled by Judge Watkins and but one witness, Mrs. Bunker, was examined in the case after which three-fourths of an hour was given to each side for argument. The jury retunred a verdict of guilty and his punishment was fixed at $5 and a jail sentence of six months."
2 March 1900: Huntington Weekly Herald, Huntington , Indiana, page 5.
"Rosa Bunker has brought suit for a divorce from her husband, Orsen Bunker. The complaint alleges cruel treatment in that defendant struck, beat and kicked the plaintiff on various occasions. Besides a divorce, Mrs. Bunker prays alimony in the sum of $100 and custody of their two children."
13 June 1900: Orson and his family are listed on 1900 Federal Census. Address: 2222 West St, Franklin, Grant, Indiana. Occupation Day Laborer. House rented.
1901 Marion, Indiana Directory: Bunker Arson E (Rosa I), laborer, h s e cor Waite and 23rd.
On 15 February 1902 Orson was incarcerated to Indiana State Prison North in Michigan, LaPorte, Indiana. Sentence 1-3 years. Prisoner #2257. Crime: Petty Larceny. Previous arrest 3 times for intoxication. Indiana State Archives
Parole 1 October 1903. Left on Parole October 14, 1903. Returned from parole 4 May 1904. Discharged 18 March 1905.
Notes: Declared delinquent 1 April 1904. Returned from Peru by Officer 4 May 1904. Has 10 months.
Rosa Cole Bunker Moore died 20 July 1909. Indiana, Death Certificate 1899-2011. Rosa had remarried Frank Moore, 10 November 1908. Delaware County, Indiana.
On 30 April 1910 Orson was again incarcerated to Indiana State Prison North in Michigan, LaPorte, Indiana. Sentence 1-14 years. Prisoner #4502. Crime: Grand Larceny. Previous arrest 8-10 times for intoxication. Indiana State Achives
Here are some newspaper articles about Orson's horse stealing gang:
The Indianapolis News - 22 Jan 1910, Indianapolis, Indiana. Headline: Eight Men Accused of Stealing Horses. Page 11.
The Star Press - 23 Jan 1910, Muncie, Indiana. Headline: Wells County Men Accused By Leader. Page 5.
The Huntington Herald- 24 Jan 1910, Huntington, Indiana. Headline: May Clear Up Some Mysteries. Page 6.
Daily News-Democrat - 23 Feb 1910, Huntington, Indiana. Headline: Tillman Cole Plead Guilty. Page 1.
The Huntington Herald - 11 April 1910, Huntington, Indiana. Headline: Juror was Drunk. Page 3.
The Alexandria Times-Tribune - 19 April 1910, Alexandria, Indiana. Headline: Will Ask New Trial. Page 4.
The Star Press - 28 April 1910, Muncie, Indiana. Headline: Stolen Horse Found. Page 2.
The Huntington Herald - 2 May 1910, Huntington, Indiana. Headline: Bunker is Sentenced; Byrds are Arrested. Page 3.
The Huntington Herald - 2 May 1910, Huntington, Indiana. Headline: Indiana Happenings. Page 8.
The Huntington Herald - 9 May 1910, Huntington, Indiana. Headline: Ferguson Is Out. Page 3.
The Indianapolis News - 30 Nov 1910, Indianapolis, Indiana. Headline: Convict to Testify in Two Trials at Bluffton. Page 5.
The Star Press - 11 Dec 1910, Muncie, Indiana. Headline: Escapes Going To Jail. Page 5.
Transcript of article 22 Jan 1910:
Eight Men Accused of Stealing Horses/ Another Held at Marion for Chicken Stealing/ Worked Northern Indiana.
MARION, Ind. January 22 - Eight men charged with stealing horses and another accused of being a chicken thief are in jail here as the result of the efforts of Sheriff George and his deputies assisted by constables and the police of Miami and Wells counties to roundj up what is believed to be the largest and worst gang of thieves that has operated in the state for many years. The record of the men is said to cover a period of five years and they have worked northern Indiana systematically and thoroughly.
The men under arrest are Oscar Bunker, age thirty-two alleged leader of the gang.arrested Thursday by Sheriff George at Columbus, O., where he is now being held. William and James Byrd brothers, age forty-five and forty-three of Wells county. James Cahill, age forty-six, Orville Bodkins, age twenty-three, Tillman Cole, age twenty-five and Harry Imel, age twenty-seven, all of Marion. Charles Ferguson, age twenty-nine, of Ft. Wayne.
Jack Wilson, who was arrested yesterday, is a member of a local detective agency and recently brought a $10.000 damage suit against Sheriff George for false imprisonment. He has been stealing chickens for some time it is said.
Sheriff George has been working on the horse stealing cases since January 1 and through different lines of investigation he obtained evidence which he hopes will convict every mabn under arrest.
The horse of Alfred Bair of Grant county stolen December 7, 1909 was found at Cuyahoga Falls, O and returned here today. The discovery of this horse was the means by which the other robberies are said to have been traced. The record of the horse thieves as far as known is said to consist of stealing four horses in Grant county, three in Madison, one in Miami and one in Huntington county.
Transcript of article 11 April 1910:
Juror was Drunk/ Oscar Bunker Will Ask For a New Trial/ Guilty of Horse Stealing/ Several of Animals Were Secured in Huntington County Near Warren.
A jury in the Miami circuit court returned a verdict at Peru Saturday morning finding Oscar Bunker, leader of a gang of alleged horse thieves, guilty of grand larceny. The jury reached its decision Friday evening after having been out about eight or nine hours, but the verdict was sealed and not read until the opening of court Saturday morning.
The court did not pass sentence at this time. The statute provides a sentence of from two to fourteen years.
It is said that Bunker's attorney will seek a new trial, basing this motion upon the ground that one of the jurors was intoxicated. One of the jurors is said to have been under the influence of liquor when he reported Friday morning and he slept in his chair during most of the time the attorneys were making their arguments and the court was giving instructions. The jurors were permitted to separate at the close of court each day and it is said that one of them, who is known to addicted to drink, imbibed too freely.
Bunker's conviction was secured largely on the testimony and confession of Charles Ferguson, who already has pleaded guilty in the Grant circuit court. Ferguson said that he first met Bunker in Marion in 1905. He confessed that they stole a horse from near Warren. He also confessed that Bunker and himself stole a horse at Van Wert, Ohio. He told of Bunker stealing a horse in Madison County, at Columbus, O., and in Huntington county. He also told of horses stolen by Harry Imel and Jim Cahill, who have been sentenced to the penitentiary. His confession also includes a charge that the Byrd brothers of Wells county, bought horses they knew had been stolen. The Byrds will be tried in Bluffton for conducting a "fence" as the result of Ferguson's statements. Bunker is wanted a number of places and should he succeed in getting a new trial and finally be acquitted in Miami county he will be rearrested and taken to Ohio for trial.
Orson is listed in the 1910 Federal Census: Peru, Indiana. Miami County Jail. Prisoner, Occupation: Peddler-Medicine. Listed as widowed.
Marriage to Elvira Purdy, 19 February 1915. Michigan Marriage Record: California Twp., Branch, Michigan
Orson and Ella had 8 children:
Geraldine 1915-2006
Charles Laverne 1917-1999
Edith Leone 1930-2007
Eva Belle 1922-2005
Orson Edward 1924-2001
Duane D 1926-1982
Roberta Hope 1927-1974
Carl Edson 1932-1988
1920 Federal Census: Branch, Michigan. Listed with wife Elvira and two children Geraldine (4) and Charles (2). Occupation: Laborer.
1930 Federal Census: California, Branch, Michigan. Listed with wife Elvira and seven children. Geraldine (14), Laverne (13), Leone (9), Eva (8), Orson (5), Duane (4) and Hope (2). Occupation: Laborer, Farm.
1940 Federal Census: Coldwater, Branch, Michigan. Listed with wife Rosa and five children. Eva (18), Orson (15), Duane (14), Hope (12) and Aarl (8). No occupation. Wife's occupation Cook at State School.
Bunker, Orson, 11 Elizabeth St, r (retired)
"" Mrs. Elvira, "" S H (State Hospital ?)
"" Dewayne, " Shaw Shoe Co
"" Hope, " Bronson
"" Carl, " s (student)
Orson died 10 April 1949, Coldwater, Branch, Michigan.
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