Samuel Hamilton Bunch was born in Tennessee, the oldest child of Col. John Bunch, Jr and Margaret Muse Clay. They both died in Bolivar, Polk Co Missouri and are buried there, although I haven't located their graves yet.

SAMUEL married his first wife in Grainger County Tennessee on 29 Jan 1828, her name was Parthenia P. Jarnagin. She was born in Grainger County TN and was the daughter of Jeremiah Jarnagin and Elizabeth "Betsy" Hightower. They lived in Tennessee until migrating to Polk County, Missouri in 1834 and had a family of 6 children, four of whom were born in Missouri. The following text gives a small part of the story:

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History and Directory of Springfield and North Springfield
Containing A Historical Sketch Of The Early Settlement, Growth And Business Importance Of These Cities; The Residence And Occupation Of All Heads Of Families And Persons Over Eighteen Years Of Age; The Population At The Time Of Publication, And Other Valuable Information.
Compiled and Published by
George S. Escott


"In 1833, JOHN BUNCH and his son SAMUEL H., came with a number of slaves from East Tennesseee, and selected sites for homes, upon which they erected cabins, and returned for their families, who did not arrive until the following year. JOHN BUNCH settled within the present limits of Polk county, where he remained until his death. SAMUEL made a settlement on a place about ten miles northwest of Springfield, on the place now owned by Mr. Wadlow, on Grand Prairie. MR. BUNCH (Samuel) remained in Greene County the most of the time till the death of his wife, which occurred in April, 1847/6, after which he returned to Tennessee with the younger members of his family, where he still lives.

R.J. McElhaney, who came to Springfield with this family, afterward married MISS CORDELIA BUNCH, a sister of SAMUEL. MRS. LATHAM of Greenfield, and MRS. McBROOM of Polk county, are also sisters, while MRS. ORLENA COLEMAN, of this city (Springfield), is a daughter of SAMUEL BUNCH. His son RUFUS is now in Oregon, JANAGIN in Florida, and ROBERT in Tennessee. He has also two daughters, MARGARET and LOUISA, both married and living in Tennessee.

Although MR. McELHANEY is mentioned as having come here in 1834, with MR. BUNCH'S family, one member of which seems to have possessed special attraction for him, he did not come to remain permanently in Springfield until the following year, 1835. He has ever since remained here with the exception of about two years after the battle of Wilson Creek, during which time he was engaged in business at Rolla, which he considered a safer place during those exciting times, when Springfield was alternately occupied by the contending armies. Mr. M. has developed a shrewd business tact, by which he has risen from small means with which he came here, to be considered one of the "solid men" of the city."

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I have not been able to find the grave of Parthena Bunch but when I do it will be added to this page. If you check out the link to Mary Orlena Coleman's grave, you will see that her parents names are engraved on the stone.

I would love to hear from other descendants of Samuel Hamilton Bunch and either of his wives, so I can provide links for them to this page. Please email me, thru Find-a-Grave, if you would like your ancestor to be added. My ancestor is Cordelia Bunch, Samuel's sister, who married Robert James McElhaney.

Samuel's second wife, Martha ELLIS January Bunch is buried here in Pilot Point Cemetery with him, along with their oldest child, Wyles Latham, his wife, Martha, their son Joe and his wife "Mary Joe".


The names listed below are all children of Samuel Hamilton Bunch. The first six are with his first wife, Parthenia P. Jarnagan. The last two are with his second wife, Martha Ellis, and their third child, William Ashley Bunch has not been located yet.