Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2013,
                           All Rights Reserved
                          U.S. Data Repository

    Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page:
                <http://www.us-data.org/fineprint.html>

Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott
for the US Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/
=========================================================================
U.S. Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced
in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization.
Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain
the consent of the transcriber prior to use.
Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so.
=========================================================================
Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott
All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded.
===========================================================================
SOURCE: History of St. Clair County, Mich.
        A. T. Andreas & Co., Chicago - 1883

  [561]

         JUDGE ZEPHANIAH WEBSTER BUNCE, Section 29, of the town of Port
      Huron, is the oldest settler now living in the State of Michigan.  He
      is a native of Connecticut, and was born in the city of Hartford Nov-
      ember 14, 1787.  When five years of age he went to Windsor, Vt., and
      lived there some years, then removed to Albany, N.Y.  From there he
      started West on a one-horse wagon, and came to Rochester and Buffalo,
      and from there he came on a sail vessel to Detroit, and reached that
      place May 15, 1817, and was there a short time, and in the fall of
      the same year came to Port Huron, and selected the land where he now
      lives, and located three miles fronting on the river by half mile
      wide.  There was not a house where the city of Port Huron now stands.
      Until two years after he came, his nearest neighbor south of him was
      an old Frenchman near St. Clair, and none nearer than Fort Gratiot on
      the north.  He built saw mills near where he now lives, and afterward
      built mills at Abbottsford, and carried on the business there for
      fourteen years, and also at Burtsville, on the lake.  After coming
      here he lived a bachelor for some nine years, and only had one man
      with him.  There were plenty of Indians here at that time; they were
      always friendly.  He gained their confidence to such an extent that
      they had a wholesome fear of him, and would listen to his advice.
      With the aid of Col. McNeal, who was in command at Fort Gratiot, he
      built the first wagon road at Fort Gratiot.  Then Judge BUNCE built
      the road twenty miles below his place.  Ten years after coming here,
      in 1827, he married Miss LOUISA ANN DURYEA, of New York.  She died
      January 27, 1861.  They had three children - two sons, MUMFORD L. and
      LEFFERTS, and one daughter, LOUISE ANN, now Mrs. SLUSSER, living in
      Alpena.  Judge BUNCE has held the office of Justice of the Peace, and
      was Colonel of the Third Michigan Militia.  He was Associate Judge at
      Mt. Clemens before the county was divided, and after this county was
      set off he was Chief Justice of the courts here, and was afterward
      Judge of Probate.  Judge BUNCE was engaged in manufacturing lumber,
      and connected with that business over fifty years.  He has lived on
      the land he first located over sixty-five years.  Was in the Legis-
      lature as long as Michigan was a Territory, and is the last surviving
      member of that body.  He has passed his ninety-fifth birthday, and
      there are very few twenty years younger who are as well preserved,
      and as active mentally and physically.

===========================================================================