This story concerning Hartman HUNSAKER and his descendants and in possession of Robert HUNSAKER, a son of Samuel Y. HUNSAKER, and born in this Co. in 1855 (Adams Co. Ill) by Oscar C. HUNSAKER.

The Hunsaker family is well represented in Adams Co. They are of German origin, and probably came from Switzerland. In the year 1730^* Hartman HUNSAKER came to America with his wife and one son, John, who was born in the old fatherland May 22, 1728. They settled down in Pennsylvania where the following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hartman Hunsaker:

Verena, wife of John RALPH
Elizabeth, wife of Jacob GATH or GUTH
Orschel (Ursula) married twice, first husband LANDIS, 2nd KOPF
Marie, wife of Casper ROLAND
Anna, wife of Louis MOHLER

half sisters were:
Catherine, wife of John BIRG
Eva, wife of John WELDY
Elizabeth, wife of Abraham BIRG

Hartman Hunsaker was married twice.

John HUNSAKER, who came to this country with his father in 1730* was maried to Miss Magdalena BIRG May 15 1750. She was the eldest daughte of Nikolaus BIRG and was born Jan 3 1732. The children of John and Magdalena Birg Hunsaker were: Abraham, John, Barbara, Nikolaus, Hartman, Jacob, Joseph, George, Catharien, Magdalena, Andrew and Samuel.

On July 27, 1788 occured the death of Barbara BIRG, nee MILLER, the mother of Magdalena HUNSAKER, nee BIRG, in the 81st year of her life, leaving 120 children, grandchildren and great grand children. The data given in this story concerning Hartman HUNSAKER and his descendants were gleaned from the old Bible, printed in Philadelphia in 1818 and in possession of Robert HUNSAKER, a son of Samuel Y. Hunsaker, and born in this Co. (Adams, Ill) in 1855.

While John HUNSAKER, the second son of the before mentioned John and Magdalena BIRG HUNSAKER, with his wife and child were traveling overland from Pennsylvania to Ill. they were killed by Indians. This occurred April 18 1792, while they were on their way to Union Co. Ill. The wife was Elizabeth, a daughter of Andrew HUBER.

Samuel HUNSAKER, the youngest son of John and Magdalena BIRG HUNSAKER, was born in Pennsylvania Nov 22, 1777 and was married to Hannah RHOADES who was born Jan 4, 1786. Their children were: John, Rachel, Andrew, Hiram, Margaret, Daniel, Susannah, Elizabeth, Katherine, Samuel Y. and Joseph, Samuel Y HUNSAKER being the father of the above mentioned Robert HUNSAKER.

John HUNSAKER, born in Pennsylvania Dec 17 1794 moved to Kentuckey where a son was born to him Oct. 16 1824, who was named Alexander. In the fall of 1829 the family came to Adams Co. (Ill.) where they settled in Liberty Township. Here Alexander grew up and in 1845 married Marly L. FREEMAN, a native of New York. At the age of sixteen Alexander HUNSAKER began learning the blacksmith’s trade at Liberty and worked at it until 1864, when owing to impaired health he abandoned this trade and engaged in general merccantile and milling business, conducting what was known as Havanna Mills in Melrose Township. While the subject of this sketch have departed this life, a number of descendants are still among the living.

Daniel Wilson HUNSAKER, born Sep 25 1820 in Union Co. Ill, at an early age with his parents moved to Jefferson Co. Missouri in 1830. In 1834 the family came to Adams Co. Ill where they located in the Fall Creek Township. July 3, 1850 he married Frances SHUART, a native of South Bend, Indiana. Mar 27 1904 Mr. Hunsaker died and April 18 1906, his wife followed him in death. Geo. HUNSAKER, the only son of Daniel Wilson and Frances SHUART HUNSAKER was born in Fall Creek Township Jan. 15, 1854 and for 16 years was a telegraph operator on the railroad between Quincy and Louisiana MO, serving at every station of the R. R. known as the Louisiana branch of the C. B. and Q. Road. He also worked in the same capacity on the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad in Colorado. In later years he was the town collector of Melrose.

^*other sources have indicated that John (Hannes) Hunsaker son of Hartman, was 17 years old when he came to this country, so with his 1728 birthdate, that would be 1745. In my records I have found both dates, 1730 and 1745 referred to, so it's hard to know.

I have transcribed this as exactly as I could, leaving intact all spellings, etc. This document did not bear a date, but was obviously old.

Pat Alexander