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Franklin O. Bunting From "History of Central Oregon," published 1906
Biographical Sketches of Lake County, pg. 904 Franklin O. Bunting was born September 9, 1868, near Virginia City, Nevada, the son of Alexander J. and Mary M. (Schalk) Bunting. The father was born in Ohio and crossed the plains to California in 1852, and after residing short periods in different parts of the state removed to Virginia City, Nevada, where he engaged in the freighting business. From Virginia City he removed to Asutin, Nevada, thence to Reno. From the latter city he at length returned to the state of California, founded the town of Buntingville and entered the general merchandise business. He came to Lake county, Oregon in 1883 and located at Lakeiew where he lived until 1900, when on account of failing health he went to San Francisco. He died in a hospital in that city at the age of seventy years. Our subject's mother was a native of Louisville, Kentucky, and emigrated to the west with her parents during the pioneer days. The brothers and sisters of Mr. Bunting are: Charles A., of Merrill, Oregon; Mrs. Kate E. Hazelton, of Lakeview; and Edward R., of Reno. When at the age of sixteen years, shortly after coming to Lake county, Mr. Bunting started in life for himself. He had no means, so in order to get a start, he worked for a time on salary for a stock man. In 1894 he took a contract to run a stage line between Lakeview and Paisley and Plush, the latter a small town in Lake county. Four years later he began running a stage from Lakeview to Alturas, California. This line he conducted until 1902, when he retired from the stage business. In 1900 he went to Missouri and purchased a herd of pure bred Herford cattle, ever since which time he has made a specialty of raising that paticular strain of stock. He has the largest herd of pedigree Hereford cattle in the state of Oregon, numbering two hundred and thirty head,-- all pure bred Herefords. Of lands he has in all on thousand acres in Drew's valley twenty-three miles west from Lakeview, and a small hay ranch six miles southwest from Lakeview. All of his land is fenced and well improved, yielding him all the feed required for his stock. His large farm is know far and wide by the name of "The Bunting Stock Farm." In addition to his property Mr. Bunting has a modern home in Lakeview, where he spends the winter each year in order to give his children the benefit of the city schools, and the summer months are spent on the farm. On December 9, 1897, occurred the marriage of Mr. Bunting and Miss Alice Rebecca Tullock, a native of Drew's valley, Lake county, Oregon. Mrs. Bunting's father and mother, William and Armona Rebecca (Chandler) Tullock were the first settlers in Drew's valley, where they followed the stock business during their residence there. The last ten years of their lives they spent in Lakeview. The father died in 1899 and the mother in 1898. Mrs. Bunting was their only child. To Mr. and Mrs. Bunting have been born two children, Frederick Oscar and Ruby Armona, though they have another child, Elma Chandler by name, whom they are caring for as their own. Mr. Bunting is one of the most prominent stock men in his state. He enjoys a wide circle of aquaintances and is a man of great popularity owing to his public spirit and his many acts of kindness and generosity. He is also a prominent Odd Fellow, being a member of Lakeview lodge, No. 63, of which he is a past grand. He is also a past chief patriarch of the encampment No. 18, of Oregon. |