Member Biography

Biography

Captain Aaron K. Dunkle (R6) Philadelphia County 1875-1878

Early Life: 

Captain Aaron K. Dunkle, born May 27, 1837, Manheim Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania; common school education; printer’s apprentice; engaged, newspaper business, Philadelphia; enlisted, Company H, 114th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, 1862-1864; publisher, Philadelphia Sunday Republic; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1875-1878; appointed, Secretary of Internal Affairs, 1879-1883; married, Pauline Haynes Dunkle; died, August 16, 1890, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania*.  Burial location unknown.

Early Career:

Enlisted, Union Army, Civil War, Company H, 114th Regiment, (Zouaves d' Afrique Collis Zouaves) Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, 2d Lt., August 26, 1862; saw action in the battles at Shenandoah Valley, 2d Bull Run, Chantilly, Antietam, Fredericksburg, the Mud March, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Bristoe Station, Mine Run, the Wilderness and Spotsylvania Court House, Guinea Station, and promoted, captain Cold Harbor surgeon’s discharge, September 22, 1864. 

Pennsylvania Politics: 

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 6th district, Philadelphia County, 1875-1878; committee assignments, Education and Military Affairs, Public Printing (Chairman). 

Appointed, Secretary of Internal Affairs, Governor Henry Martyn Hoyt, Sr., 1879-1883.

Cited: 

Cox, Harold. "Senate Members D". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

Smull’s Legislative Handbook, (1875) Smull, J.A.; pages 606-608; Biographical Sketches of Senators, page 601.

Regiments that fought at Gettysburg | Gettysburg (civilwartalk.com)

*Date of Death, According to Military Pension files. No other information is available.