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William Z. Tunks, Justice of the Peace,
Notary Public, and Collection Agent at Davis, is one of the oldest and
best known Justices of Stephenson County. His official career has
extended over a period of thirty years in this county, of which he became
a resident in 1843, and with the exception of four years has held this
office continuously since 1852. He made his first purchase of land
on section 12, in Rock Run Township, and which consisted mainly of a
timber tract, from which he cleared the trees and prepared the soil for
cultivation. He also added good improvements, and remained in possession
of the home thus established until November, 1877. He then retired
from active labor of the farm, and removing to Davis devoted his entire attention
to the duties of the office. In the meantime he has consolidated his
property interests, selling his land and investing part of the proceeds in
village lots and a comfortable dwelling. He is now quite well
advanced in years, and takes life comparatively easy, enjoying the
affection of his children and the respect of the community at
large.
The birth of our subject took place in
Clarke County, Ohio, March9, 1817. His father, Thomas Tunks, was a
native of Kentucky, born and reared on a farm. The family is of
English ancestry. Thomas Tunks was married in Clarke County, Ohio to
which he had removed in early life. The maiden of his choice, Miss
Anna Wallingsford, who was of Irish parentage, was born in Boonesboro,
Ky., and reared in Clarke County, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. T. began life
together on a farm there, and became the parents of eight children, six
sons, and two daughters. Two of the former and one of the latter are
now deceased. The parents continued on the old homestead in Ohio,
enjoying the good-will and confidence of all who knew them until called to
the rewards of worthy and well-spent lives. The father died when
eighty-two years of age, in 1859, the mother having preceded her husband
to the better land some years before, about 1844. She was a devoted
Christian women, and a member in good standing of the Baptist
Church. Our subject was the fifth child of the parental household of
which he remained a a member until his marriage. The lady who became
his wife on the 5th of October, 1843 was Miss Paulina Winchester, who was
born in Union County, Ohio in 1822, and died at her home in Rock Run
Township this county, in 1849, leaving two children. These were Anna
J, at home, and Albert, who is now in Nebraska. Mr. Tunks was the
second time married, in Winnebago County, to Miss Armadills McIntire, who
was born and reared in Union County, Ohio, and came West after the death
of her parents, locating in Winnebago County, which remained her home
until her marriage. She became the mother of three children and
departed this life at her home in the south part of this township in
1864. Two of her children have since died. The survivng child
is a daughter, Rose, now the wife of William M. Dustin, of Valley County,
Neb.
The present wife of our subject, formerly
Mrs. Candace S. (Emery) Daniels, is a native of Cuyahoga County, Ohio,
whence her parents removed while she was young to this State. She
was at the time of her marriage with our subject, a residence of Rock Run
Township. Of her first marriage there were born six children, of
whom but thee are living, namely Albert, Henry B., and Omni. The
children deceased were daughters-Candace, Fidelia, and Luella.
Mr. Tunks represented Rock Run Township on
the County Board of Supervisors seven terms, and was Township Treasurer
for a period of twenty-four years. He is a solid Republican, politically.
In all respects he is considered a reliable and responsible citizen,
respected for his integrity, and occupies a good position socially and
financially.
Portrait and Biographical Album of Stephenson
County, Ill., containing Full Page Portraits, and Biographical
Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens of the County, together
with Portraits and Biographies of all the governors of Illinois and of the
Presidents of the United States, printed by the Chapman Brothers, Chicago,
IL, 1888
Transcribed by D. Joshua Taylor, May 2005.
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