Biography

09/18/1816 - 10/14/1870

John Christian Kunkel (Whig8) Dauphin and Northumberland Counties 1851-1854

Early Life:

John Christian Kunkel, born September 18, 1816, Harrisburg, Dauphin County Pennsylvania; son of George and Catharine née Ziegler Kunkel; common schools of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania; Jefferson College, Canonsburg, Pennsylvania (later Washington and Jefferson College, Washington), 1839; Dickinson College, 1842; admitted, Dauphin County bar, 1842; elected, Whig, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1845-1846; elected, Whig, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1851; elected, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1852-1854, elected, Speaker of the Senate, April 19, 1853; elected, United States Congress, 1855-1859, not a candidate for reelection, 1859; married, Elizabeth C. Rutherford, 1859, three children; died, October 14, 1870, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania; interment, Harrisburg Cemetery, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania Politics:

Elected, Whig, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, Dauphin County, 1845-1846.

Elected, Whig, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, Dauphin County, 1851.

Elected Pennsylvania State Senate, 8th district, Dauphin and Northumberland Counties, 1852-1854; Judiciary Committee (Chairman) three years of his term; elected, Speaker for one day, April 19, 1853, resignation, Thomas Carson, Speaker the day prior; left office May 9, 1854.

Continued Government Service/National Politics: 

Elected, Opposition Party, United States House of Representatives, Thirty-fourth Congress, 1855-1857; chairman, Committee on Militia; reelected, Republican, United States House of Representatives, Thirty-fifth Congress, 1857-1859.

Official Website - PA House Archives Official Website (state.pa.us)

Legacy:

The Honorable John Christian Kunkel returned to Harrisburg after political life and resumed practicing law. 

Grandson, John Crain Kunkel (1898- 1970), United States House of Representatives nine terms, 1939-1951 and 1961–1966, Dauphin, Cumberland, Lebanon, Perry, and Juniata counties. Dauphin County Commissioner, 1952-1956, helped establish the Harrisburg International Airport, Middletown, Penn State Harrisburg Campus, Middletown. Due to his philanthropic and humanitarian service to the Harrisburg area community, a Foundation was established in his name, as well as an elementary school in Middletown, Pennsylvania. John Crain Kunkel Foundation

Cited:

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

John Christian Kunkel (1816-1870) - Find a Grave Memorial