My Genealogy Hound

SAMUEL D. HUNSBERGER. The Hunsbergers are one of the oldest families in that portion of Pennsylvania included in Philadelphia, Bucks and Montgomery counties. The immigrant ancestor was a Mennonite in religious faith, and most of his descendants adhere to that denomination at the present day.

Julius Hunsberger (great-great-grandfather) was the immigrant. He came from Switzerland and located at first in Germantown, near Philadelphia. He was a farmer by occupation, and followed that pursuit for a livelihood. He removed later in life to Franconia township, now Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, where he remained until his death. Among his children, of whom there were a large family, was Christian Hunsberger.

Christian Hunsberger (great-grandfather) was born on the homestead in Franconia township, on the site of the present borough of Souderton. He also was a farmer, and made that pursuit his lifelong occupation, being one of the most worthy and most substantial of the early citizens of Franconia. Among his children was another Christian.

Christian Hunsberger (grandfather) was born on the property which for three generations had been the Hunsberger homestead, he too, like his father and grandfather, being a farmer. He acquired a meager education in the pay schools taught by young men of the vicinity and kept open only a few months in each year, and married Miss Sellers, of Sellersville, Bucks county. Her father was one of, the patriotic Americans of German descent who furnished horses to the continental army during the Revolutionary war. The couple had a large family of children. One of them was Jonathan Hunsberger.

Jonathan Hunsberger (father) was born on the Hunsberger homestead. He was educated in such schools as were, available, and on leaving school learned the carpenter trade. After working at it for some time after he had completed his apprenticeship, he turned his attention, like his family ancestors, to the cultivation of the soil, and was engaged in farming for the remainder of his life. In politics he was an old line Whig, with, however, that distrust of politics and politicians which is inherent in members of the Mennonite denomination even in the present generation. He married Miss Elizabeth Delp, daughter of John Delp, a farmer, originally of Snyder county, Pennsylvania, but later of Franconia. The couple had the following children: John, William, Christian, one who died in infancy, and Samuel D., the subject of this sketch.

Samuel D. Hunsberger was born on the homestead in Franconia, borough of Souderton, February 19, 1835. He was educated in the public schools of Franconia, and at the age of sixteen years learned the trade of carpenter with his father, and followed it through early manhood. He afterwards opened a grain, coal and feed business at Souderton station, on the North Pennsylvania Railroad, and has ever since been engaged in that occupation, having an establishment in Souderton as well as one in the city of Philadelphia. He is one of the most prominent business men in that section of Montgomery county, and does a very extensive and profitable business. He married in 1863 Miss Eliza Krupp, a daughter of William Krupp, of Towamencin township, in Montgomery county. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel D. Hunsberger: William E., Samuel W., Charles O., Sylvania, J. Sydney, and another that died in infancy unnamed.

Mr. Hunsberger is a thoroughgoing Republican, who cast his first vote for General John C. Fremont, the pioneer Republican nominee for the presidency of the United States, and has been voting for its candidates and laboring to secure the triumph of its principles ever since. He has served as a member of the town council of Souderton, and has frequently been mentioned as a candidate for county offices on the Republican ticket. He is a business man of rare judgment and ability, and enjoys the respect and confidence of the entire community.