Individual Record 2610
| Name} Bunker, James Lang | Family History} Hancock | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Title} | Race} White | Sex} Male | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Birth: Date} Exa 1 Dec 1861 | Place} Odgen, Weber, Utah | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Marr.: Date} Exa 13 Apr 1891 Dec 1861 | Place} Manti Temple, Sanpete, Utah (Link) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Death: Date} Exa 8 Nov 1936 | Place} At home, St. George, Washington, Utah | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Burial: Date} Exa 10 Nov 1936 | Place} St. George City Cemetery, St. George, Washington, Utah | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Grave Marker} Yes |
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| Parents: } Edward G. Bunker & Sarah Ann Browning Relationship No.} None | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1st Household No.} | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation 1} Farmer and Rancher Occupation 2} Maintenance supervisor | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Religion/Church} Mormon | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouses: Prime}
Nordfors, Catherine Wilhelmina Total Number of} 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notes: James Lang Bunker was born 1 Dec 1861 in a log cabin in Ogden, Weber, Utah Territory, to
Edward Bunker and Sarah Ann Browning Lang. He had at least seven siblings: Eliza Jane, Eliether B.,
William Edward, Clifton Thomas, Sarah Selena, David Alfred and Edith Delilah. He had many more half-siblings,
as his mother Sarah was the second of three wives of Edward, who may have been a polygamist. When James was 9 months, the family moved to Toquerville, Washington County for a year They then moved to Santa Clara, Washington County where his father served as Bishop of the Santa Clara ward from 1862 to 1877. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| James moved with his family several times in his young age. Places included Clover Valley, Nevada,
until the Indian Wars broke out; back to Santa Clara, then to Ogden, Utah where James and his mother
lived with relatives; and to Panguitch, where James lived with a brother Eddie, and back to Santa Clara. In the 1870 U.S. census, James, 8, (listed as "Jane" in the census records), was living with his father Edward Bunker, 48, and family in Clara Town (Santa Clara), Washington, Utah Territory. His fathers first wife, Emily, 43, was the maternal head of the family. James siblings were Elathier, 12, William, 10, Eliza, 10, Clifton, 5, and Salena, 1. Half-siblings included Hamlet, 16, Stephen 12, Celestia, 8, Martin, 7, Silas, 6, Lolela. 3,. Viola, 2, and Kendal 9 months. His father was a farmer and Emily was keeping house. The value of real estate was $1,000; the value of personal property $500. The family was Mormon, and James is listed in a "Membership of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" as a child with Edward and Emily, head and spouse, and 27 other children. About 1879, he worked his endowments in the St. George Temple. In the 1880 U.S. census, J.L. (James) Bunker, 18, was living with his mother, S.A. (Sara Ann) Bunker, 49, in Bunkerville, Lincoln, Nevada. His brother Wm. Bunker, 20 was listed as head of the household. His other siblings were C.T. (Clifton) Bunker, 15, Salina, 11, D.A. (David) Bunker, 10, E.D. (Edith) Bunker, 6. William, James, and Clifton were all farmers. The following year James moved with his mother and some siblings to Richfield, Utah, and finally to Annabella, Sevier, Utah. In Annabella, James met Catherine Wilhelmina Nordfors. They obtained a marriage license in Sevier County on 11 Apr 1889, and were married 13 Apr 1889 in the Manti Temple, Manti, Sanpete, Utah. They had two children: Sarah Catherine, born and died in 1890, and James Leo, born 1891 and died in 1894. James and Catherine lived in Annabella for several years then moved to the Bigelow Ranch near Gunlock, Utah. He served as Bishop's counsel to Franklin O. Holt for twenty years. He was also was the constable, and notably the Poundkeeper, posting "Estray Notices" in the local newspaper when taking possession of stray cattle. In the 1900 U.S. census, James L. Bunker, 38, and Katherine W., 33, were living in Gunlock, Washington, Utah. James was a farmer and they owned their farm free of mortgage. In May 1901, James made a visit to Bunkerville, Nevada, to say good-by to his father who was leaving for Colonia Morelos, Bavispe, Sonoro, Mexico. This was the place settled by Mormons after Polygamy was outlawed in the United States in 1882. His father Edward died there in November 1901 not long after moving. In 1902, James was a founding member of the Gunlock Irrigation company, serving as Vice-president. In the 1910 U.S. census, James L. Bunker, 48, and Catherine, 38, were still living on their farm in Gunlock, Washington, Utah. They now had an adopted son, James R. Bunker, 8. In 1912 and James laid out and established the village of Veyo, Washington County. He built a substantial home, and in 1914 began the work of digging the Veyo Ditch for irrigation. He raised a Jersey Dairy herd. He was ordained Bishop of the Veyo Ward, serving in this capacity for seven years. In the 1920 U.S. census, James L. Bunker, 58, and his wife, Catherine, 52, were living in Veyo. James was still farming, and their home was free of mortgage. Their son, James R., was 14 and attending school. In October 1925, their son developed appendicitis while on a mission in the Southern States, and James and Catherine traveled to Salt Lake City to be with him for several weeks. The couple also spent time in St. George, working in the Temple. In December 1927, James himself was hospitalized in St. George for an operation; and in June 1928 he purchased a new Chevrolet. In the 1930 U.S. census, James L. Bunker, 68, and Catherine, 64, were still farming on their farm in Veyo. They were alone now, as their son had married in Feb 1928. They did not have a radio set. In 1932, They moved to St. George. James Lang Bunker, 74, died suddenly in the living room of his St. George home on 8 Nov 1936. Services were held in the St. George Tabernacle, with many tributes being made. He was buried on 10 Nov 1936 in the St. George City Cemetery, St. George, Washington, Utah. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Time of Birth} | Time of Death} 8:30 p.m. | Fraternal/Social} | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Baptism Date} | Place} | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Confirm. Date} | Photos} None | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Immigr'n Date} N/A | Port} N/A | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Education: Grade} High school or Top 2 Degrees} | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Military: Service} for the State of} | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Health Condition} Cause of Death} Acute heart dilation |
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| Copyright © 2025 by Karen L. Hancock. All Rights Reserved. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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