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Henry Clay Bunting
Henry Clay Bunting, fourth child of Redding Bunting, was born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, August 4, 1839. He was educated in the public school and at Madison College, Uniontown. In 1857 he went west, locating in Bonaparte, Iowa, but after two years returned to Fayette county, where he farmed near Oak Grove cemetery, until the outbreak of the civil war.
He enlisted April 18, 1861, in the Fayette Guards, the first company raised in the county. The same day they went to Pittsburgh, where on April 22, 1861, they were mustered into the United States army as Company G, Eighth Regiment, 8th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry.
He served until February 28, 1864, and on the following day re-enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and Ninety-first Regiment Pennsylvania Infantry, 191st regiment, serving until June 28, 1865, and was mustered out at Malvern Hill, Virginia. He fought with his regiment at the Second Bull Run, Antietam, the seven days' fighting before Richmond and on the retreat from the Peninsula; Fredericksburg, Cold Harbor, Deep Bottom, campaign of the Wilderness, and Appomattox.
He was three days a prisoner at Laurel Hill, but was recaptured and rejoined his regiment. He saw all the lights and shadows of a soldier's life, bore himself well, and made a good record as a brave and willing soldier.
After the war he returned to Fayette county, where he followed building and contracting until his retirement a few years ago. He has erected many homes and buildings in Uniontown and vicinity, including his own home, built in 1898, on Woodvale avenue, Dunbar, where he has since resided, though Dunbar has been his home for forty years.
For twenty years he was in the employ of the Dunbar Furnace Company, and for four years, 1889 to 1893, was postmaster at Dunbar, appointed under the administration of President Benjamin Harrison.
In 1895 he was elected justice of the peace, serving until 1900. He served as burgess of the village two terms, and for two years was truant officer, a position he then resigned. He is a Republican, and a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and the Union Veteran Legion.
He married, in 1867, Phoebe Jane, daughter of Robert and Harriet (Strickler) Wood, both deceased. Children: 1. Harriet, now bookkeeper for George Swearingen, general merchant, of Dunbar, 2. Mary, married Bert Wood, whom she survives. 3. Anna, deceased; married George Tarr, of Uniontown. 4. Ella, married I. M. Hodgson. 5. Redding, residing at Pittsburgh. 6. Harry, a patternmaker residing at home. 7. Joseph, who clerked three years in store at Dunbar, worked at the carpenter's trade two years and is now farming. 8. Robert, died in infancy. 9. Ried.
Source: Genealogical and Personal History of Fayette County, John W. Jordan, Lewis Historical Publishing Co., 1912.