My Genealogy Hound

Hon. Bradley Bunch, a farmer of Carroll County, and one of the most prominent citizens of Northwest Arkansas, was born in Overton county, Tenn., on December 9, 1818. He is a son of Capt. Nathaniel Bunch, a Virginian by birth, who was reared in Tennessee, where he married Sally Ray, also a native of Virginia. Capt. Nathaniel bunch resided in Tennessee till 1841, when he removed to Arkansas and settled in Carroll County. This county was afterward divided, and the part in which he resided was placed in Newton County. There he resided until his death in 1858. While a resident of Tennessee he served as captain of the State militia. Bradley Bunch grew to manhood in his native State, and when eighteen years of age was married to Jane Basswell, who was also born and reared in Tennessee. After their marriage they resided in Tennessee until 1838, when they came to Arkansas and located in Carroll County, in what is now Newton County. In 1846 they removed to a farm in Carroll County, and located on their present farm in the spring of 1851. Here Mr. Bunch has one of the finest and best improved farms of the county. He and wife are the parents of six children living and six dead. Of those dead, two died in early childhood and four after they were grown, one of the latter being married. Those living are Nathaniel C.; Caroline, Mrs. Lafayette Champlin; Lucetta, Mrs. William M. Wood; T. S., now in Arizona; E. C.; Larkin B. and Laura A. Mr. Bunch has filled numerous public offices of honor and trust. For three successive terms he served as justice of the peace of his township, and in 1850 was elected and served four years as associate justice of the county court. In 1854 he was elected to represent Carroll County in the State Legislature, and was three times re-elected to the same position, serving, in all, four consecutive terms. In 1862 he was elected State senator, but owing to military disturbances, did not serve. In 1866 he was again chosen to represent the county the Legislature, and was elected speaker of the House. He was also elected speaker in 1860, and served a term in that capacity. In 1874 he served as a delegate to the State Constitutional Convention, and at the general election, the following September, was again elected State senator. By that body he was elected presiding officer of its deliberations, and served two years in that capacity. In March, 1888, Mr. Bunch was appointed county and probate judge, to fill a vacancy, and still holds the position. In his long public life he has filled every position with satisfaction to his constituents and with credit to himself. Both the Judge and wife are earnest Christians and communicants of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. For many years he has been a Mason.