Philip Gunckel was born in Berks County, Pennsylvania, April 7, 1766, and learned the trade of milling. In 1793 he married Katarina Schaeffer, born July 12, 1766, also in Berks County, Pennsylvania. In 1796 he moved his family to Center County, Pennsylvania, built a mill, and became proprietor of Millheim, Pennsylvania. In the year 1803 Mr. Gunckel and several of his neighbors made a trip to and down the Ohio River, in search of a location for a colony, but not finding a satisfactory place returned home. In 1804 twenty-four families from Berks and Center counties arranged to start west in wagons in two companies to meet at Pittsburg, and from there to travel in company with Philip Gunckel as leader, he probably being the only one that could speak English. The party, with their, horses, wagons, and effects, were loaded on flatboats at Pittsburg, and reached Cincinnati in safety on June 20, 1804. After a short stay they again took up their march northward to Hole's Station, where they camped for about two weeks, living .in their wagons as best they could, while the men prospected for unoccupied land. All the desirable locations on the east side of the river had been taken, but at the forks of the Great and Little Twin creeks Mr. Gunckel finally found the mill site he was in search of, together with good land for farming purposes. The few squatters were soon bought out, and all the land wanted was purchased of the Government by the settlers. This was a strong colony, both as to numbers and money. They built good, warm cabins, and hunting parties were kept out during the winter, all sharing in the supplies brought in, while those at home were kept busy clearing the land and building cabins. Mr. Gunckel built a two-story log house the first winter, and had the best house in the settlement.
Although the colony was composed of quiet, peaceable Christian people, nearly all in some way connected, they very soon found it necessary to have some one to decide points of law, and on December 9, 1804, Mr. Gunckel was elected justice of the peace for German Township. Mr. Gunckel was never known to use profane language, and his even temperament and high standard of morals gave tone and character to the colony. He was soon recognized as one of the most influential men in the county, was referred to in all matters of public improvement, and "was ready and active in all movements for the good and prosperity of the community." It is said he was quite a musician.
In the year 1805 Mr. Gunckel commenced building a saw- and grist-mill, completing the grist-mill in 1806. The same year he purchased land of James Hatfield and Robert Hardin and laid out the town of Germantown, donating lots for school, church, and graveyard purposes on his plat. On October 17, 1806, Mr. Gunckel was elected to represent Montgomery County in the General Assembly, which met at Chillicothe in December, and he and General Munger were chosen to represent Montgomery and Preble counties at the Assembly which met December 5,1808, at Chillicothe. The General Assembly of 1816 appointed Mr. Gunckel associate judge of the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, and he served for fifteen years.
Mr. and Mrs. Gunckel had eight children, six of whom -- John, Michael, Catharine, Philip, Jacob, and Sarah--were born in Pennsylvania, and Daniel P. and Elizabeth were born in Germantown. Mr. Gunckel and his wife were members of the German Reformed church of Germantown, having been instrumental in its organization, and contributing freely of their means to its prosperity, as well as to other church organizations in Germantown. Mrs. Gunckel died at Germantown, August 2, 1836. After her death Mr. Gunckel was twice married, his last wife surviving him. He died May 24, 1848, in his eighty-third year. Judge Philip Gunckel was the grandfather of Hon. Lewis B. Gunckel, of this city, and great-grandfather of 0. I. Gunckel, secretary of the Columbia Insurance Company.
Lewis B. Gunckel was born in Germantown, Ohio, October 15, 1826, and has been a citizen of Dayton since early manhood. In 1860 he married Catharine Winters, a daughter of Valentine Winters, and has had four children - Winters, Katharine, Lewis W., and Percy, the second and third of whom survive, and are now living in the city. Mr. Gunckel was Representative in Congress from the Third Ohio District from 1872 to 1874, a member of the Board of Managers of the National Soldiers' Home for the first twelve years of its existence, and was chiefly instrumental in securing the location of the Central Branch near this city.
Source: Pioneer Life in Dayton and Vicinity: 1796-1840, Chapter 4, Part 2, by John F. Edgar, Dayton, OH: U.B. Publishing House, 1896.