This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Strunk, Van Vleck, Putnam, Scofield, Brunson Classification: Biography Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/SRB.2ACE/5423.2 Message Board Post: Alvin Strunk - Prominent among the many successful farmers of Ellicott township, Chautauqua county, N.Y. one of the richest agricultural regions of the country, a man whose entire success has been due to his own efforts, his indefatigable industry and intelligence. Mr. Strunk is a native of this country, having been born in Ellicott township, Oct. 27, 1836, a son of William H. Strunk, one of the old farmers of the region, and of Jane Ann (Van Vleck) Strunk his wife. His childhood and early youth was passed on the old homestead, where he learned farming methods in the great school of experience and under the capable direction of his father, and attended the local public schools. Later he became the owner of his present farm property, which is located two and one-half miles north of Jamestown, which he has kept in the highest state of cultivation even since and where hs met with notable success with his operatiions. Mr. Strunk is a Republican in politics, and was the assessor in Ellicott township for twenty-two years; he always maintained a strong and intelligent interest in the general situation and given much interest to the situation and given much attention to the issues of the times. He is a member of Union Grange, Jamestown, N. Y., and has been active in the membership in doing his share in promoting the general agricultural welfare of the community of which he is so highly valued a member. Alvin Strunk was united in marriage, April 2, 1864, at Randolph, N.Y., with Maria Putnam, a native of Chautauqua county, having been born in Stockton township, N.Y., having been born September 24, 1843, a daughter of Rev. Oren Putnam, born in Brookfield, Madison county, N.Y., and Alvira (Scofield) Putnam, of Saratoga county, N.Y., his wife. Mr. and Mrs. Strunk are the parents of one child, Bert C., born June 8, 1867, who married Myrtie Brunson, Sept. 1, 1892, who was born in South Stockton, Chautauqua county, N.Y., Sept. 29, 1870. Bert C. Strunk has always lived on the farm with his father; is a Free and Accepted Mason; Royal Arch Mason; Knights Templar of Jamestown, NY.; thirty-second degree Mason and Mystic Shriner of Buffalo, N.Y. History of Chautauqua County And Its People - 1921 - John P. Downs, Editor-in-Charge