Adam Shunk, Sr.
A. SHUNK, SR., Bucyrus, whose portrait appears in the above book, is the son of Simon and Susan (Harmon) Shunk, and was born March 23, 1797, in Somerset Co., Penn. He was raised on a farm, and was denied the advantages of schooling, living at home until he was 21. He then made himself tools and commenced working at the carpenter bench, and for twenty one years followed this occupation in his native State. He seemed especially gifted in this line, for, when only 8 years old, he made a miniature wagon, perfect in every particular. He never served an apprenticeship, a fact which shows his natural skill in the direction of mechanics. In 1843, he bought a patent right for the manufacture of a barshear plow, in Greene Co., Ohio, and, in the following spring, commenced the manufacture of plows at Xenia, Ohio. He also kept a grocery and tannery for three years. He next worked at Canal Fulton, Stark Co., for about a year and a half. In October, 1854, he came to Bucyrus and started a plow factory. He had about $1,000 capital, and built a brick shop the second year of his residence, and then had a surplus of $500. He is now sole owner of the entire block, which has all been made by his own efforts. They turn out about 1,400 plows per year, of six different kinds, and which have quite an extended reputation, there being over 100 local agencies in four different States. Since he made his first plow, he has made all his own patterns, and has, during the last year, invented a pattern which excels them all. We doubt if there are many men, so advanced in years as Mr. Shunk, who display so much business activity. He is a member of the English Lutheran Church, and has been since his 17th year. His father was in the war of the Revolution, serving under the great Washington. He was married, Feb. 1, 1816, to Miss Mary Banfort, of Somerset Co., Penn. There are twelve children living. Of this first marriage there are Delilah, wife of Mr. Stevenson, of Upper Sandusky; Allen, machinist at Fort Wayne; Lavinia, wife of Joseph Miller, of Springfield, Ohio; Marian, wife of N.F. Albee, of Kent, Mich.; and Adam. His wife died Aug. 21, 1844. In 1845, he married Catharine Bauch, of Springfield, Ohio. Of this marriage, there are Francis, Nelson, Theodore, Isaac, Thomas W., John L. and Katie.
From History of Crawford County and Ohio, Part III, Baskin & Battey, Historical Publishers, Chicago, 1881