JOSEPH P. HUNSAKER is one of the substantial and well known citizens of Prineville. He was born in Illinois, on February 11, 1827, the son of JACOB and ELIZABETH (BROWN) HUNSAKER, the father was a native of Pennsylvania and descended from Dutch stock. He came to Illinois as a pioneer and settled near Quincy and there grew to be a prominent and well-to-do man. Our subject was educated in a little log school house in Adams county and there grew up on a farm. It was 1850 that he crossed the plains, first coming to Oregon City in an ox team train. The next year, he returned to Illinois and in 1852, crossed the plains with ox teams a second time, landing in Oregon City. Then he journeyed on to Linn county and took up a ranch, which occupied his attention until 1873. In that year, he put into execution a plan he had formed previously, that of exploring central Oregon and afterward selected a ranch on the Ochoco. He immediately began the good work of building a home and opening up a farm. Since that time, he has given his entire attention to stock raising and general farming and now he has splendid property some nine miles out from Prineville on Combs Flat. He also owns a residence in Prineville, where he makes his headquarters and resides most of the time. He has achieved success in this country and has gained his property through his wise labors here. For over thirty years, Mr. Hunsaker has dwelt here and during all that time he has shown an industry and ability to build up and improve the country, second to none. Much credit is due him for his labors and he certainly deserves a conspicuous place in the front ranks of pioneers.

On 29 May 1853, JOSEPH P. HUNSAKER married ELIZABETH CAMPBELL, who crossed the plains in 1852 with her parents, being in the same train with Mr. Hunsaker. Her parents are JOHN and NANCY (SHOOK) CAMPBELL, natives of Kentucky. To our subject and his wife, the following named children have been born: MRS. ALICE OMAN, living in Portland; MRS. ANNIE GRAY, living on a ranch in Crook county; and MRS. IDA MEREDITH, in Prineville.

Mr. Hunsaker has so conducted himself in his long residence in Crook county that he today enjoys a splendid reputation and is known as a man of uprightness and integrity.

Source: Published in "An Illustrated History of Central Oregon, embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam, Wheeler, Crook, Lake, and Kalamath Counties, State of Oregon", p. 763, Western Historical Publishing Co., Spokane, Washington, 1905.
Also found on the Crook county, Oregon USGenWeb website - Bios of persons in 1905 - with additions from the biography in the History of Crook County, Oregon 1981.

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Joseph P. and Elizabeth (Campbell) Hunsaker left Linn County in 1872 and came to the settlement called Ochoco, Wasco County. Mr. Hunsaker had twice crossed the plains, coming west from Ohio to Oregon. In 1850 with a small group of men they sought a route for a wagon train of immigrants to come to a new territory.

In 1852, as captain of the train, they left Ohio and crossed the plains and came to Oregon City, then on to Brownsville where many settlers found homes. En-route, Joseph's intended bride died of Cholera. In 1853, he married her sister, and to them four children were born: Rebecca Ann (Mrs. Henry Gray); Ida May (Mrs. Albert Wilson); Alice Oman; and John.

Source: Published in "The History of Crook County, Oregon" published by Crook County Historical Society, Prineville, Oregon, 1981.

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1850 US Census Oregon City, Clackamas, Oregon Territory
Joseph Huntsucker abt 1828 Illinois
George B Huntsucker abt 1825 Illinois

1850 US Census Liberty, Adams, Illinois
Joseph Hunsaker abt 1826 Illinois
Mary Hunsaker abt 1850 Illinois
Eliza Hunsaker abt 1835 Illinois
Minerva Hunsaker abt 1839 Illinois

1860 US Census, Hillsboro, Washington, Oregon
Jos. Hunsaker, age 33, blacksmith, ILL
Elizabeth, age 28, ILL
Mary, age 6, OR
Rebecca, age 4, OR
Ida, age 3, OR
Jonathon Thorp, age 28, ILL

1870 Oregon Census, Harrrisburg Precinct, Linn, Oregon
Joseph Hunsaker, age 43, Blacksmith, Illinois
Elizabeth Hunsaker, age 38, Keeping House, Illinois
Alice Hunsaker, age 16, Oregon
Rebecca Hunsaker, age 14, Oregon
Ida M. Hunsaker, age 12, Oregon
John E. Hunsaker, age 9, Oregon

1880 US Oregon Census, Prineville Precinct Wasco, Oregon
Joseph Hunsaker 53 Head Druggist ILL, PENN, -
Elizabeth Hunsaker 47 Wife ILL, KEN, KEN
Mary Hunsaker 24 Daughter Oregon, ILL, ILL
Ida Hunsaker 20 Daughter, Oregon, ILL, ILL
John Hunsaker 19 Son Farmer Oregon, ILL, ILL