Robert Bunts III - Grave stone

Robert Bunts III died on June 24, 1925.

He is buried at the Oakwood Cemetery in Pulaski, VA.

Robert Bunts III - "What's in Your Wallet?"

Kind of interesting the cards and things we might keep in our wallet.  Here's some of the things that my great-grandfather kept.

The name Robert was very popular in the Bunts family and it was often confusing because there were lots of "Robert Bunts' " even in the same town.  Even though my great grandfather was officially Robert the III, he became known as "Robert Jr."

He was a busy and popular guy, judging be this information:

Excerpts from History of Virginia, Virginia Biography, Vol VI, pgs. 621-622, 1924:

"He is an uncompromising democrat, and a loyal and sincere member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and has been one of its stewards for over twenty years. Well known in Masonry, he belongs to Pythagoras Lodge No. 239, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of Pulaski; Pulaski Chapter No. 39, Royal Arch Masons; Lynn Commandery No. 9, Knights Templar, of Marion, Virginia; and Kazim Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Roanoke, Virginia. He is also a member of Pulaski Lodge No. 1067, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and is president of the Kiwanis Club of Pulaski."

 

Robert Bunts III - Photos

Here's some photos of my great-grandfather, Robert Bunts III:

Here's Robert as a teenager.



And here's a picture that I'm sure he probably didn't like:

But everybody needs to relax sometimes, don't they?

Robert Bunts III - Pulaski Foundry & Machine Company

I'm continuing to add info on my great-grandfather. Robert Bunts III.

Excerpts from History of Virginia, Virginia Biography, Vol VI, pgs. 621-622, 1924:

"Although he attended the public schools of Wythe County, Virginia, Robert Bunts III is largely selfeducated. At the age of eighteen years he left the farm and went to Ivanhoe, Virginia, where he took up foundry and general manufacturing work. After serving a four years' apprenticeship there he then entered the employ of the Mathieson Alkali Works at Saltville, Virginia, and in the meantime he took up a correspondence school course in mechanical engineering with the International Correspondence School of Scranton, Pennsylvania, to which he devoted much of his spare time for several years following.

He remained with the Mathieson Alkali Works in its various mechanical departments from 1895 to 1900, when he came to Pulaski and became master mechanic of the shops of the Virginia Iron, Coal & Coke Company, continuing with them until 1906, when he went with the Alabama Consolidated Coal & Iron Company at Ironton, Alabama, being chief engineer for that company's blast furnaces and mines for two years.

In 1908 Mr. Bunts returned to Pulaski and organized the company and built die plant of the Pulaski Foundry & Machine Company, continuing its vice president and general manager until 1916, when it was sold to the General Chemical Company."

Here's some stock from that company:

Robert Bunts III - Draft Card

I know a draft card doesn't sound like much, but it seems to me like there's some good info in there.

Since he filled this out at age 44, it means this was probably done in 1918.

He lists his occupation as the Superintendent of the Pulaski Foundry and Manufacturing Company, a business that he started in Pulaski, Virginia.

Looks like he called his wife "Susie" - my great grandmother, Susannah Ward Bunts.

The back of the card reveals that he was tall and slender. 

He also had black hair and blue eyes.

The card also has a section about if there are any physical disqualifications and the answer is

"Yes, he has crippled legs, caused by vericose veins."

Family story was that he hurt his legs as a kid jumping from the hayloft of a barn.

Robert Bunts III

 I've never done a blog, and I'm not real knowledgable about how to construct a family history.

But I want to share the things I have found with others.  I wasn't quite sure where to start, so I just figured I might start here.
This is a picture of my great grandfather, Robert Bunts.

He was born September 22, 1874 and he died June 24, 1925.

Here's some info:

Excerpts from History of Virginia, Virginia Biography, Vol VI, pgs. 621-622, 1924:

"ROBERT BUNTS III, now generally known as Robert Bunts, Jr., president of the Pulaski Foundry Manufacturing Corporation, vice president of the Peoples National Bank of Pulaski, vice, president of The High Carbon Coal Company, and senior member of the Robert Bunts Engineering Company, is one of the substantial business men and public-spirited citizens of Pulaski County, whose standing is a high and unquestioned one.

He was born on a, farm near Max Meadows, Virginia, September 22, 1874, the son of John Mathas Bunts, whose grandfather immigrated from Germany and established his residence near Wytheville, Virginia, about 1804."