Quotes from Bess Ernest Brown Hunker approx. 1987. " The family resided on the farm next door to the General Store and Post office, which father owned. On March 16, 1908 there was a dynamite explosion killing father and my two oldest brothers, Roy and Clark. Mother sold the store and we moved to the family farm in Acme, PA. Approximately 1909 we moved to Foxtown, PA and resided there until 1916. We moved to New Stanton in Sept. 1916.
I attended Acme Elementary County School then Foxtown Elementary School for grades 4 through 8. I went to Youngwood High School and graduated May, 1920, majoring in the Commercial Course. I was valedictorian of the class.
I worked at Jake Ruben's Fresh Fish and Fruit Market while going to high school. I scaled fish and even seeded bananas. I also worked at Bob Georges Grocery and Bill Davis Grocery while in high school. From 1920-22, I worked at Kelly & Jones as a secretary in the Purchasing Dept. In 1922-23 I worked for Marker & Rial Law Firm then married John Dudley Hunker and became a housewife and mother. We moved to Akron, Ohio.
While living in New Stanton, I played basketball with the Kelly & Jones team, taught Sunday school, painted china, and took classes in millenary, because I loved to wear hats.
In the fall of 1943 I began working at Coventry High School, Portage Lakes, Ohio. I worked as the school secretary until 1952. At this time I resigned and worked for our son as his bookkeeper and general manager. I retired in 1971.
It wasn’t all work. I learned to cane chairs, experimented with the first plastic boxes, was active in Lockwood PTA, United Brethern Church and Ladies Aide. I was president of the Portage Lakes Republican Club and Allenside Garden Club, Treasurer of the Portage Lakes Historical Society, Republican Club and the Turkeyfoot Island Club (12 years). I also served as an officer in the DAR and Daughters’ of America Lodge.
I was married at the Pittsburgh, PA East Liberty Methodist Church. We lived in Canada for a while where Dud worked. We moved to Long Lake; Portage Lakes OH, then built our own home at 889 Robinson Ave, Barberton, OH. We had five acres including a service station. We moved in on Bob's third birthday, 3/2/1930.
We had exciting times there. First the gas station was held-up and robbers took Lover Boy's car and he drove into our driveway, thinking Dud would help him. The robbers shot Lover Boy in the head. I ran to the gas station to call the police, locking the door behind me. I could not get back in the house. Bob was awake but did not know to open the door. Finally a passing motorist who had stopped to see what was going on, crawled up the post of the airing porch and opened the door for me.
During prohibition, there was a bootleg joint just up the street. They had a red/green light system that worked out with the gas station for liquor delivery. Wild chases would take place. One drove all around the house and mowed down the new cherry tree, but Dud replanted it and we had lots of good pies in later years.
In Nov. 1952 we moved to our newly remodeled home at 4564 Lahm Dr. Turkeyfoot Island. Here we enjoyed the canoeing, sailing, fishing and ice skating and ice fishing."

Martha Marks- Bess became the Brown baby for the second time after the death of Jimmie. Her father spoiled her and gave her even more attention after his death. Her middle name is that of the doctor who delivered her. That was his last name and I could never understand why anyone would name a child after the family physician. She finished grade school at Kemer School in Foxtown. She went to Youngwood High and graduated with honors

Lived at Long Lake, Akron,Ohio for eight years. They moved on March 2 1930(Robert Hunker's 3rd birthday) to the big brick home that they had built at 889 Robinson Ave at the corner of Manchester Rd. (rt 93). They owned five acres of land which included a gas station that was eventually bought by John B.Brown. They moved to 4564 Lahm Dr. Turkeyfoot Island; Portage Lakes; Akron, Ohio. in Nov. 1952; Eisenhower was in office!

History written by John Dudley Hunker,
"John Dudley Hunker - born to Nancy Jane Lewis Hunker and John Lewis Hunker, Nov.7, 1897, in New Stanton, Pa. Father sold his oil lease near Tidioute, Pa. and we moved to a small farm in New Stanton, Pa.. when father retired from oil business about 1901. Started school the fall of 1903 . Took the Westmorland Co. Examinations to enter High School. Passed with the highest grade in the county. Went to Youngwood, PA High School and graduated with class of 1916 as valedictorian. Dad wanted me to work at Kelly and Jones and farm the small farm. I got a job in the brass foundry and fumes made me sick. My brother Jim was a machinist in Firestone Tire and Rubber Co. in Akron, Ohio. He came home for a visit and I came to Akron with him. Got a job at Goodrich-10 hours a day. Worked there three months then they were going to put me on night shift- 12 hours a night. My brother-in-law , Stanley Hower, came to Akron to get a job building tires. I went with him to Goodyear. He got a job easily as he was experienced and they gave me a job laying up tire plys-8 hours a day. I went back to Goodrich and told the foreman I was quitting. He offered to keep me on day shift if I would stay. I tried laying plys, but I didn’t like it - too tedious, so he gave me a fob in the tube room. Worked there three years then went to Firestone on the squadron. Filled in anywhere a man was off. I worked at that some time then they sent me to Canada to start the tube room in a new plant. Was there 3-4 months then brought back to Akron.
The next spring, Jim and I made a Model T Ford into a camper and went West.
We worked wheat harvest in Kansas. Traveled around and wintered in San Diego. Worked the harvests on the way back to Akron and Firestone. June 2 1923 I married Bess Ernest Brown. In about a year the manager recommended me to the manager of a small plant as foreman. They had a lot of rush orders so I agreed to increase production and do better work if they wouldn't cut the piecework rate. That made the manager about the same as at a large plant. In about three months they ran out of orders and laid all the men off. I stayed and cured rubber. Then I asked for a week off to visit Akron. They didn't want to do it but did. Then they got a lot more orders and called all the men back. Most of them were from down south. They all came back and the company cut their rates so they couldn't make anymore than they did when I started. So I quit and went back to Firestone as Supervisor. Stayed there until I retired in 1959 to help Bob in his business. Then, when he was in good shape I retired and my wife kept on for some time then she retired. We are getting old."

Doris Hunker-June, 1997- The Little Farm was bought and is now part of the PA Turnpike. The family home is now owned by Sarah and Wilbur Bussard, 101 Sewickley St. New Stanton, PA. Sarah is the daughter of Sally Hunker Hower. Dad loved living on Turkeyfoot Lake and went fishing almost everyday. He also looked forward to the hunting trips each fall. He returned to New Stanton and went out with his nephews . Mom had fun visiting her brothers and sister as well as the Hower Girls!
Clubs: Boy Scouts, Portage Path Conew Club 1918-1920, Jr. Order of Mechanics, Turkeyfoot Island Club, Portage Lakes Historical Society and Firestone Tuberoom Retirees.