Thomas P. Gunnell

    Thomas P. Gunnell, one of the few enterprising and wide awake men of Newburgh, was born October 17, 1814, in Augusta County of the Old Dominion, being one in a family of nine children born to Nathaniel and Elizabeth (Patterson) Gunnell, who moved to what is now Kenton County, Kentucky, in 1832. Shortly after their settlement there Mrs. Gunnell died. Mr. Gunnell then went to Missouri, where he resided the remainder of his days.

    At eighteen years of age our subject began the blacksmith's trade at Chillicothe, Ohio. He subsequently worked one year at his trade at home, two years at Cincinnati, and in 1837 went to Evansville, Indiana, and from there, in August of the same year, settled at Newburgh, which has ever since been his home. For years he has been engaged in blacksmithing, manufacturing and dealing in plows, wagons, buggies, etc.

    In September, 1836, he was first married, his wife dying, leaving one son, William D., since deceased. He was married October 23, 1861, to Miss Martha Kelley, of Louisville, Kentucky, daughter of Samuel A. Kelley, and the following named children have been born to them: Sarah K., Kittie, Elizabeth, Samuel P. and Thomas H.

     The parents belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which Mr. Gunnell is Trustee and Steward. In politics he is a Republican, formerly a Whig; has served as Township Trustee, and represented his district in the National Convention of the Whig party that nominated Fillmore for the Presidency. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and takes an active part in the workings of the Subordinate Lodge and the Encampment of that organization.

Source: History of Warrick, Spencer, and Perry Counties, Indiana, By: Goodspeed Bros. & Co., 1885.