Hines, H. K. "An Illustrated History of the State of Oregon." Chicago: Lewis
Pub. Co. 1893.  p.  621.
 
H. K. HUNSAKER

     descends from essentially pioneer stock, who emigrated from Switzerland to
the United States in 1720, settling in Pennsylvania, and since that day have
been in the front rank of emigration, until they reached the Pacific coast in
1848. Daniel Hunsaker, the father of our subject, was born in Kentucky in 1803,
and inheriting the migratory proclivities of his ancestors, he removed to
Illinois, locating upon the present site of Quincy.  He traded his claim for a
pair of ponies, with which he continued his journeyings. In Illinois he was one
of the volunteers of that State who served during the Black Hawk war. He was
married in Illinois, to Miss Charlotte M. King, a native of South Carolina, and
together they journeyed westward, settling in Missouri, where he followed an
agricultural life until April, 1848, when he decided to cross the plains
to California, to join his son, Nicholas, who had preceded him in 1847. His
outfit was composed of four wagons, sixteen yokes of oxen, and 125 head of loose
cattle. His wife and three children made that long journey with him. They
journeyed with Captain Wambo's Oregon company to Fort Hall, and then took the
California trail. The country was infested with Indians, not very hostile, but
ever watchful for an opportunity to steal the animals, and it was only by the
utmost vigilance that they were preserved. The stealing and hardships of travel
reduced their stock to such an extent that when they reached Benicia.
California, their outfit was reduced to two wagons, with but two yokes of oxen,
and cows attached to each wagon, and a few head of loose cattle. Passing the
winter in Benicia, which was composed of the families of Dr. Simple, Major
Gosper, Hunsaker and Tustin, in the spring of 1849 they crossed the straits to
Contra Costa county, California, and occupied the old ferry house, and
began cutting redwood and splitting out lumber, with which they built the first
house in Martinez, they being the first white family in the settlement. Mr.
Hunsaker helped organize the county, and was the first County Treasurer under
the Territorial government. In 1850 he purchased 1,000 acres of land near
Oakland, which he occupied, engaged in farming and stock-raising, bringing this
farm to a fine state of cultivation. Under the unjust law defending floating
claims, his property was claimed and he was compelled to abandon the product of
his eighteen years' labor. He then removed to Tulare county in 1868, and settled
upon 160 acres near Woodland, where he still resides, aged eighty-nine, with his
faithful wife, the partner of his joys and sorrows, aged eighty-five years. To
this union were added four children, three of whom survive: Nicholas, engaged
in farming and stock-raising in Arizona; Joseph, living with his father; and H.
K., the subject of this sketch. James C. was lost in the fatal wreck of the
Brother Jonathan, in 1864.
     H. K. Hunsaker was born in Missouri, in 1838. He accompanied his father and
family across the plains, and remained with them on the ranch, engaged in farm
work, embracing such primitive educational advantages as were offered him. In
1855 he engaged in mining upon the Merced river, with no great gains. In 1858 he
was sent to the McMinnville College, Yam Hill county. Oregon, which was then
conducted by President Chandler, where were educated some of the most prominent
men of the State. In 1861 he returned to California and engaged in
school-teaching in Contra Costa county. In 1869 he was appointed Under Sheriff
by Warren Brown, and by his successor. M. B. Ivory, remaining in that position
until the spring of 1873, when he came to Oregon and located upon French
prairie, where he farmed for three years, and afterward followed the sheep
business in eastern Oregon until 1879, when he located in Portland and engaged
in the real-estate business until 1890, when he joined the partnership of
Cardwell & Lippincott, in the custom-house, brokerage and general real-estate
business, in which he is still engaged.
     Mr. Hunsaker was married in Marion county, in 1860, to Miss Susanana Jones,
daughter of S. W. R. Jones, a pioneer of 1853. Mr. and Mrs. Hunsaker have had
four children, namely: Silas E.; Ethel L., wife of F. L. Leatherland, of
Portland: Arthur E. and Zoie. The family have a beautiful home at Fulton Park.
Mr. Hunsaker represented the county of Marion in the State Legislature in 1876,
to which position he was elected by the Republican party, to which party he is a
consistent adherent.

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in June 2007 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.