Gunkel Family
There were three, Philip, Daniel, and a nephew of these two, also named Daniel...Philip Gunckel...a few years previous to his removal to Ohio, went to Center County (PA) with his family...from here he immigrated to the Twin Valley. He was then in his 39th year. Gunckel invested in land in German Twp. After his mill was built and provided a center around which a community coud grow, "he lay out his tract of land into a town." With the income from the mill, the sale of land and other investments, Philip Gunckel became "the richest man in the township." He also held public office as an Associate Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, as a delegate to one of the constitutional conventions of the State, and as a representative in the Ohio State Legislature. Philip Gunckel "married thrice, but left no issue except by his first wife, Catherine Schaeffer...she was the mother of eight children. Of these, John Michael, Catherine, Philip, Jacob and Sarah were born in Pennsylvania whilst David and Elizabeth were born in Ohio. Catherine became the wife of Lewis Shue. Sarah was married to Henry Zeller, and Elizbeth to Dr. C.G. Espich......Having been born in Tulpehocken Twp., Berks Co., PA on the 7th of April 1766 and died in Germantown, 24 May 1848, Philip Gunckel attained the age of 82 years and 17 days. His wife, Catherine, born in the same locality on 12 July 1766, died August 2, 1836." Both are buried in the Germantown Cemetery.
Daniel Gunckel was a brother of Philip and came to the Twin Valley in 1811...He built a fulling mill on Mud Lick, where at present stands the distillery of David Rohrer...Daniel Gunckel, the nephew...came to the Twin Valley at a still later period. Like his uncles, he was a miller.
History of the Miami Valley, Abstracts from Hentz.