Henry G Gunkel
History of
Kentucky and Kentuckians, E. Polk Johnson, three volumes,
Lewis Publishing Co., New York & Chicago, 1912. Common version, Vol. III,
pp. 1148-49. (Campbell Co.)
For Henry Gunkel, Jr., a prominent attorney of the city, particular sentiment
must attach itself to his home surroundings, for not only was he born in Newport
and lived here the most of his life, but his birth occurred in the very house in
which he now resides. His parentage is
German, that sound and sterling stock which has proved one of the most valuable
elements in the new American civilization.
The name of his
grandfather was Henry Christian Gunkel. When he was a boy Napoleon's army
passed through the village where he lived and confiscated all the property
of value. Young Gunkel was forced to accompany the soldiers, and he
secreted a pair of cuff buttons in his shoes which were the only things he saved
except the clothes he wore. After the downfall of Napoleon he re-turned
home, and when his son, Mr. Gunkel's father, started for the United States he
gave him the cuff buttons, which are still in the possession of
Mr. Gunkel and which he values very highly.
The date of Mr. Gunkel's birth was January 13, 1871,
and he was the son of
Dr. Henry Charles and Catherine (Webber) Gunkel, the
former of whom was born and reared in Germany and the latter in Newport,
Kentucky. The father was thoroughly educated in Germany and was graduated
in medicine and surgery in the Berlin universities. After coming to
America he pursued his studies and also received a degree from the Cincinnati
Eclectic Medical College. He located in Newport and there carried on his
practice for nearly fifty-five years, or until his death, in May 1909, at the
age of eighty-four years.
He was very
successful and was well-known in Newport and its vicinity. While in his
native country he did military service, having been a surgeon in the army.
The mother died in her native place in January, 1893. This estimable
couple were the parents of six children,
three being deceased and Henry G being the youngest born.
Henry Gunkel, Jr., was reared in Newport and attended
the common and high schools, being graduated from the latter. He afterward
took a course at St. Xavier College at Cincinnati and then entered the
Cincinnati law school, when he finished in 1892, having been admitted to the bar
a few months previous to that time.
He has since carried
on a successful practice in Newport and has made an enviable record for himself,
being particularly well fitted for the profession of his choice. He is a
member
of the Campbell County Bar Association, which he assisted in organizing, and in
politics is independent, believing that men and causes outweigh party loyalty.
A great deal of credit and honor is due to Mr. Gunkel
for his organization of the Newport Foundry Company, a purely co-operative stock
company owned entirely by the persons who are employed in it, with limitation of
shares to each individual and no salaried officers. It has
been in successful operation for nearly ten years and gives employment to about
one hundred and fifty men. It is one of the largest and most successful
co-operative companies in this section of the United States and is probably the
only one of its kind in the country.
****************
Kentucky Post, Thursday, 4 August 1904, page 5
A street car hit the buggy of Dr. Henry Gunkel Wednesday. The doctor and his daughter, Mamie, who were in the rig, were thrown to the street, but escaped injury. The buggy was wrecked.
************
Kentucky Post, Thursday, 20 February 1919, page 1
Death claimed one of the most widely known lawyers in this section of the country when Harry Gunkel passed away at his home, Fifth and Overton streets, Newport Thursday morning. Gunkel was 49 and all his life had been a resident of Newport. He had been a leading lawyer in Newport for the past quarter century and enjoyed one of the largest practices in this section.
Gunkel was the son of the late Dr. Henry Gunkel. He was stricken several weeks ago with Spanish Influenza and his death was indirectly the result of after effects of this ailment. He is survived by a widow and a sister, Mrs. Louise Rainey.
A special meeting of the Campbell County Bar Association will be called to take action on the death of the attorney. Funeral arrangements have not been made.