In April 2023, Darrtown native, Dale Bufler shared the fact that his sister, Corrine Bufler, and Catherine Hunkler were good friends and that Corrine often visited at the Hunkler home. Dale added that his sister attended several Halloween parties at the Hunkler home.
FAMILIES D-H: HUNKLER ~ Pioneer to be determined
If you have information and/or memories to add to this Hunkler family page, please use the link in the footer of this page to contact the webmaster.
HUNKLER FAMILY
Catherine Hunkler
This Hunkler family page evolved from the discovery of a single photo.
In April of 2023, Kim Johnson, the genealogy guru at this website, found the photo at the right among items that belonged to his mother-in-law, Doris Jeanne (McVicker) Rinal. The image was identified as Catherine Hunkler and other family records affirm that Jeanne McVicker and Catherine Hunkler were good friends and classmates at Darrtown high school.
As of April 2023, the following information summarizes research conducted at various Internet resources. As more information becomes available, it will be added.
Ancestry.com records show John Hunkeler (1822-1899) to be the oldest ancestor of the Hunklers who migrated to Milford Township, Butler County, Ohio. [Note that the record spells the family name with an “e” after the “k.”]
Records show that John Hunkeler and his wife, Mary (Blum) Hunkeler (1832-1905) had nine children (six daughters and three sons). One of the sons was Edward Hunkler (1871-1960).
Three of the six sons are named as property owners in section 17 in Milford Township. The three are: John Joseph Hunkler, Lewis B. Hunkler, and Frederick E. Hunkler.
Edward Hunkler and his wife Clara Ruppert (1880-1968) had 15 children (nine daughters and six sons).
Prior to arriving in Milford township, members of the Hunkler family resided in Butler County's Hanover and Ross townships - according to U.S. federal census reports (see the Census Reports section below).
Click the link below to see property ownership records from the Butler County (Ohio) Recorder's office which confirm that the Hunklers owned land in section 17 of Milford townshop.
Public property records and memories of older Darrtowners place the Hunkler farm on the north side of the Oxford-Middletown Road, west of State Route 177. The intersection of 177 and the Oxford-Middletown road is about three miles north of Darrtown.
RIGHT: This 1914 Butler County map shows the names of property owners in the northern part of Hanover Township.
Edward Hunkler is listed as the owner of 72.6 acres located on the east and west side of U.S. Rt. 27, on the northern edge of Section 29.
John Hunkler's name is crossed out on a parcel of land that was located immediately east of Edward's farm (in Section 28). Presumably, John sold this land to a couple named Smith.
Click the following link to see the...
Click the link at the right to see...
Records show that the Hunklers lived in Butler County's Ross and Hanover townships, BEFORE they moved to Milford Township.
U.S. federal census reports for Edward Hunkler appear at the following links.
The 1920 census confirms a Hanover township residence.
The 1930 census names a specific residential location [Colerain Pike; aka St. Rt. 27] in Hanover township. This agrees with the Hanover township map in the "BMT" section below.
The 1940 census confirms a Milford township residence - on the Oxford - Middletown Road
The 1950 census includes an obvious error in reporting Edward's marital status.
NEWSPAPER ITEMS show that, in 1911, the Hunklers lived in ROSS Township, near Layhigh, Ohio.
Layhigh is "an unincorporated crossroads in Section 18 of western Ross Township at the intersection of Layhigh Road and Kirchling Road, southeast of Millville-Shandon Road (Ohio 748). It was named because it is on high ground drained by Paddy's Run, Indian Creek and Dry Run," according to Jim Blount's list of Butler County places.
PROPERTY OWNERSHIP RECORDS from the Butler County Recorder's office indicate that, in 1914, the Hunklers lived in HANOVER Township, along St. Rt. 27, between McGonigle and Millville, Ohio).
..."BEFORE MILFORD TOWNSHIP"
The following links lead to newspaper articles that place the Hunkler family in Ross Township in 1911.
The following link places the Hunkler family in Ross township - if we assume that a place identified as "Sassafras Ridge" was located in Ross Township. The Sassafras Ridge news article (see link below) refers to places in or near Ross Township; such as Millville, Layhigh, Okeana, and St. Charles.
HUNKLER FARM LOCATION IN MILFORD TOWNSHIP
HUNKLER FAMILY CENSUS REPORTS
HUNKLER FAMILY CONNECTIONS TO DARRTOWN AND MILFORD TOWNSHIP
It seems notable that Jim Blount's list of Butler County place names does not include Sassafras Ridge. If you know anything about Sassafras Ridge, please inform the webmaster.
RIGHT: This image shows a westward view of the Oxford-Middletown Road as it ascends from its intersection with the Hamilton-Richmond Road. The Hunkler home sat at the top of the hill on the north side of the road.
BELOW: These photos show the former Hunkler home, as seen in April 2023.
As seen in the photos above, the Hunkler house features a tower-like structure - which some people referred to as a belfry. The towering feature of the house, coupled with the Hunkler Halloween parties, may have been reason that area youngsters regaled in telling others that the Hunkler house was haunted!
Research has uncovered numerous newspaper articles and other documents that attest to Hunkler family members living in Milford Township; attending school in Milford Township; and working in Milford Township. The following links provide a sampling of such articles.
The following link connects to a photo of the Darrtown High School's 1937 graduating class, which included Elsie Hunkler. See: 1937 Senior Class.
