Life of the Campfires
Morning Sun, Norwich, NY, March 20, 1896
Some of the times, yet thrilling experiences of David K. Bunnell, who was one of the Norwich [Chenango Co., NY] Boys along back in the sixties:
David K. Bunnell will well be remembered by many of the older citizens of Norwich as being one of best of shoemakers along back in the sixties, and as some term it "one of the boys," always jolly and so interesting in telling stories that he has since been named the champion story teller and the life of the campfire. One warm and pleasant summer day just before the war Mr. Bunnell in company with B. Gage Berry, Os Randall and others enjoyed the afternoon in having a jumping match out on the park. B. Gage Berry, who was then connected with the Chenango Telegraph, acted as referee, and as a marker used large spikes which were drove in the ground after each jump. Mr. Bunnell who was considered a good athlete made the best jump and at the same time had the misfortune to land on a small pebble, which threw him to the ground and broke his leg. He was taken to the home of H.C. Wilcox and old Dr. Bailey attended him, where he remained for four months. Another pleasing experience was when Mr. Bunnell went to the National hotel with a two gallon jug after two gallons of cider. William Clark, who was the clerk there at that time, soon returned from the cellar (where cider was always kept in those days) with the jug filled and had scarcely handed the same to Bunnell when all in the room were greatly surprised at seeing the bottom fall out as Bunnell set the jug down heavily on the bar. Then wishing to play a good joke on the bar tender at the Eagle hotel, Bunnell and his friends went over and asked the bar keeper if he would fill the jug with whiskey for fifty cents (and by the way the market price on Whiskey was only 25 cents a gallon in those days). When the bar tender answered in the affirmative and proceeded to fill the jug, then he discovered the bottom was out, it resulted in a hearty laugh and a treat all around.
Mr. Bunnell then enlisted in the army at Elmira and served three years. In 1893 while on his trip to the grand army review at Washington, he was one of the many unfortunates to be in the wreck on the Baltimore & Ohio railroad and at that time had the misfortune to break a leg, shoulder blade, collar bone and three ribs. Notwithstanding the many accidents Mr. Bunnell has had, and although 68 years of age, he is as spry as a boy sixteen years old and only a few evenings ago entertained the G.A.R. boys with singing and dancing the revilee the same as in war times.
Mr. Bunnell is an honored member of the Baldwin G.A.R. Post No. 6, of Elmira, known throughout the state as "Big 6" and is said to be the life of the campfire and as for telling war stories has no equal. After a few days visit with W.B. Stoddard and other prominent G.A.R. men he left for his home in Elmira.
Death Notice
Morning Sun, September 30, 1897
The Binghamton Republican of yesterday chronicled the death of David K. Bunnell who died in Elmira, Sept. 28. He was dismounting from his bicycle at the entrance to the Elmira fair grounds when death overtook him. Mr. Bunnell was a veteran of the Civil War and made a visit to Norwich last spring. He was well known among local Grand Army men.
At the opening of the war in April, 1861, he enlisted in Company K, twenty-[third] regiment, New York Volunteers and after two years service returned to this city. Mr. Bunnell was united in marriage to Miss Caroline Mooers of this city on May 26, 1863, and is survived by her and three children, Miss Esther of New York, Miss Cora of Elmira and Clayton and Lewis of Guilford, Chenango county. During his residence in this city, Mr. Bunnell has been a special police at different intervals, and during Cleveland's first administration was a watchman in the government treasury building at Washington. He was also employed at one time as a cutter in Richardson's factory. The deceased was a member of Baldwin post, G.A.R., of this city, and a former member of the Twenty-sixth and Thirtieth separate companies. The rheumatism had been troubling him lately and symptoms of heart disease had been noticed but no one thought the end so near. He had recently warned a friend that he expect to die suddenly some day. The funeral of Mr. Bunnell will be held at his residence, No. 312 John street, at 3:00 o'clock Thursday.
David K. Bunnell was a unique and lovable personality. He enlisted in the first company which went from this city [Elmira, NY] to the war. He did his duty at the front and since the conflict has been the life of many a camp fire and reunion of the veterans. His memory was an inexhaustible depository of local military history. His fund of anecdote and story never grew scanty. One of his customs was to dress himself in his old uniform, with gun and knapsack, on the occasion of each reunion of his regiment, the 23rd. Fifty of his old comrades were assembled about his grave as Chaplain Beecher delivered prayer. The pall bearers, Hosea H. Rockwell, Seymour Dexter, Lorenzo Howes, Joseph M. Roe, R.B. Van Gorder and Edward B. Pickering, were all members of Company K with whom he marched to the front. The inspired prayer of the old chaplain, the beautiful ritual of the Grand Army, the tender notes of the bugler, the surge of old memories and with all the effulgent baptism of the Autumn sun lifted the souls of comrades and friends to heights but seldom attained in this earthly existence.
Obituary
Elmira Daily Gazette & Free Press, September 29, 1897
A messenger came hurriedly up to the grand stand, asking for Coroner Davis, and saying that a man had dropped dead at the main entrance to the grounds. Investigation showed that at 4:30 o'clock as David K. Bunnell, a well known citizen, was riding his bicycle, just outside the gate, he had stopped and dismounted from his wheel to talk to a friend and fallen to the ground dead. As soon as Coroner Davis arrived, he ordered the body removed to the morgue and there the patrol wagon removed it. The remains were later removed to the home of the deceased, at No. 512 John street. Coroner Davis decided today that as it was evident that Mr. Bunnell had died of heart disease, an inquest was unnecessary, and that no autopsy would be performed. The deceased was a well known resident of this city, and was born at Fairfield, Conn., February 28, 1822. In the fall of 1860 he moved to this city and followed the occupation of a shoemaker for some time.At the opening of the war in April, 1861, he enlisted in Company K, twenty-[third] regiment, New York Volunteers and after two years service returned to this city. Mr. Bunnell was united in marriage to Miss Caroline Mooers of this city on May 26, 1863, and is survived by her and three children, Miss Esther of New York, Miss Cora of Elmira and Clayton and Lewis of Guilford, Chenango county. During his residence in this city, Mr. Bunnell has been a special police at different intervals, and during Cleveland's first administration was a watchman in the government treasury building at Washington. He was also employed at one time as a cutter in Richardson's factory. The deceased was a member of Baldwin post, G.A.R., of this city, and a former member of the Twenty-sixth and Thirtieth separate companies. The rheumatism had been troubling him lately and symptoms of heart disease had been noticed but no one thought the end so near. He had recently warned a friend that he expect to die suddenly some day. The funeral of Mr. Bunnell will be held at his residence, No. 312 John street, at 3:00 o'clock Thursday.
The Burial of D.K. Bunnell
Elmira Daily Gazette & Free Press, October 1, 1897
Those who stood about the grave of David K. Bunnell yesterday afternoon experienced one of the glorifying moments of their lives. Exaltation is a word not too lofty to express the emotion of his comrades as they encircled the last resting place of this gallant soldier while the September sunlight cast its mellow radiance and the bugler softly sounded the melancholy taps.David K. Bunnell was a unique and lovable personality. He enlisted in the first company which went from this city [Elmira, NY] to the war. He did his duty at the front and since the conflict has been the life of many a camp fire and reunion of the veterans. His memory was an inexhaustible depository of local military history. His fund of anecdote and story never grew scanty. One of his customs was to dress himself in his old uniform, with gun and knapsack, on the occasion of each reunion of his regiment, the 23rd. Fifty of his old comrades were assembled about his grave as Chaplain Beecher delivered prayer. The pall bearers, Hosea H. Rockwell, Seymour Dexter, Lorenzo Howes, Joseph M. Roe, R.B. Van Gorder and Edward B. Pickering, were all members of Company K with whom he marched to the front. The inspired prayer of the old chaplain, the beautiful ritual of the Grand Army, the tender notes of the bugler, the surge of old memories and with all the effulgent baptism of the Autumn sun lifted the souls of comrades and friends to heights but seldom attained in this earthly existence.
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