Jacob Michael Kunkel (July 1822 – April 7, 1870) was a U.S. Representative from Maryland.

Jacob M. Kunkel
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Maryland's 5th district
In office
March 4, 1857 – March 3, 1861
Preceded byHenry William Hoffman
Succeeded byFrancis Thomas
Member of the Maryland Senate
from the Frederick County district
In office
1852–1854
Preceded byDavid W. Naill
Succeeded byWilliam Bradley Tyler
Personal details
Born
Jacob Michael Kunkel

July 1822
Frederick, Maryland, U.S.
DiedApril 7, 1870(1870-04-07) (aged 47)
Frederick, Maryland, U.S.
Resting placeMount Olivet Cemetery
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Anna Mary McElfresh
(m. 1849)
Children3
Alma materUniversity of Virginia
ProfessionPolitician, lawyer

Early life

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Jacob Michael Kunkel was born on July 13[1] (or 24[2]), 1822 in Frederick, Maryland, to Elizabeth (née Barker) and John Kunkel. His father served in the War of 1812. His great-grandfather John Kunkel served with Frederick the Great and his maternal grandfather William served in the Revolutionary War.[2] He attended the Frederick Academy for Boys, St. John's Catholic Seminary and Frederick College. He graduated from the University of Virginia at Charlottesville in 1843. He studied law under Joseph M. Palmer and in the office of Francis Thomas and was admitted to the bar in 1845 or 1846.[1][2][3]

Career

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Kunkel began to practice law in Frederick in 1846. He was a law partner with Governor Francis Thomas around the late 1840s. He also partnered with his brother John B. Kunkel in Catoctin Furnace. As a Democrat, he was elected as a member of the Maryland Senate, defeating Gideon Bantz. He represented Frederick County in the senate from 1852 to 1854.[1][2][3][4]

Kunkel was elected as a Democrat to the Thirty-fifth and Thirty-sixth Congresses (March 4, 1857 – March 3, 1861), defeating Henry W. Hoffman.[1][3]

Afterward, he resumed the practice of law in Frederick. He served as delegate to the Loyalist Convention in Philadelphia in 1866.[1]

Personal life

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Grave of Kunkel in Mount Olivet Cemetery

Kunkel married Anna Mary McElfresh, daughter of John H. McElfresh, on January 3, 1849. They had three children.[2] He was a vestryman of the Protestant Episcopal Church.[2]

Kunkel died of consumption[5] at his home in Frederick on April 7, 1870. He was interred in Mount Olivet Cemetery in Frederick.[1][3]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Kunkel, Jacob Michael". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Jacob Michael Kunkel". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. 2005-05-03. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
  3. ^ a b c d "The Death of Col. Kunkel". The Baltimore Sun. 1870-04-09. p. 1. Retrieved 2024-03-04 – via Newspapers.com. 
  4. ^ "Historical List, Senate, Frederick County (1838-1966)". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. 2005-04-20. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
  5. ^ "Death of a Prominent Marylander". The Baltimore Sun. 1970-04-08. p. 2. Retrieved 2024-03-04 – via Newspapers.com. 
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U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Maryland's 5th congressional district

1857–1861
Succeeded by

  This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress