Jacob M. Kunkel's early education was obtained at St. John's Catholic Seminary. Ill health obliged him to desist from his studies, and in 1835, he journeyed to the West in company with Rev. Charles Reighly, a former pastor of the German Reformed Church of Frederick, and under his tuition pursued his education at Monroe, Mich., during the following two or three years. Upon his return to Frederick about 1838 he entered Frederick College, and completed his education at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, where he graduated with high honors. He was a member of the Jefferson Literary Society of the university, and one of its officers.
In 1844 he entered upon the study of the law with Joseph M. Palmer, and in October, 1845, was admitted to the Frederick bar. Later he became a law partner of ex-Governor Francis Thomas, and for many years conducted a successful legal practice. Jan. 3, 1848, in Frederick, he married Anna Mary, eldest daughter of Dr. John H. McElfresh, of Frederick City, one of the wealthiest and most influential landholders of Frederick County.
In 1840, Jacob M. Kunkel was nominated by the Democratic party to the State Senate, having for his opponent the late Gideon Bantz, reputed at that time to be the most popular Whig in the county, and gaining the election, served during his four years' term with much distinction. In 1857 he was elected by the Democracy to the Thirty-fifth Congress, defeating Hon. H. W. Hoffman, the Know-Nothing candidate, who had himself in 1855 beaten Hon. W. T. Hamilton for Congress. In 1859, Messrs. Kunkel and Hoffman were again rival congressional candidates, and, as before, Hoffman was compelled to strike his colors to his old competitor. Mr. Kunkel participated in the exciting incidents of 1861, and true to the doctrine of States rights, vehemently opposed the theory of coercion and centralization. At the expiration of his congressional term, with the session of 1861, he found his health sorely impaired, and thenceforward held himself retired from active political life, albeit he continued zealously to advocate, by such means as lay in his power, the principles of Democracy and the interests of his party's candidates. He was esteemed throughout the State as a conscientious politician of high integrity and patriotic purposes. In bearing he was the polished and scholarly gentleman, genial in his hospitality and warm and lasting in his friendships. The latter years of his life were mainly spent in literary and scientific pursuits, amid the treasures of a large and valuable private library. Until 1866 he was a partner with his brother, John B., at Catoctin Furnace, and found occupation for his leisure also in the management of his landed estates. He was a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and at one time a vestryman therein. As already recorded, he died April 7, 1870. His widow survived him a little more than eight years, dying Dec. 12, 1878. Of their three children, a son and daughter died in youth. The remaining son, John I. Kunkel, resides with his family in the old Kunkel mansion in Frederick.
When it became definitely settled that Lafayette would visit Frederick, triumphal arches were erected, and the town was handsomely decorated with flags, bunting, etc. A handsome pavilion was also erected at the corner of Market and West Church Streets, the interior being tastefully ornamented with crimson silk, banners, etc.
Messrs. George Baer, Dr. John Tyler, Col. John McPherson, Gen. Thomas Contee Worthington, John L. Harding, and James F. Houston were appointed a committee to visit Baltimore and see Gen. Lafayette in order to perfect the arrangements for his visit. The day was fixed, and everything made ready for the demonstration. On the 29th of December, 1824, Gen. Lafayette, accompanied by his suite and Col. John H. Barney, Capt. Dubois, Mr. Matelin, Hezekiah Niles, Gen. Shepherd C. Leakin, John S. Skinner, and others, arrived in a stage at the Monocacy bridge late in the evening, where a large crowd was gathered to greet him. By the time Lafayette and his escort reached the city Frederick was thronged with an immense concourse of people. All sections of the county and adjoining counties were represented, and many had come from Virginia, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and other States.
On the following day a dinner was given Lafayette at Talbott's City Hotel, Col. John McPherson presiding. A grand ball concluded the festivities.
After the general had left the country and returned to France, John S. Skinner, of Baltimore, had a number of agricultural seeds, and a collection of fowls, live 'possums, partridges, 'coons, etc., forwarded to him by a ship laden with tokens of national esteem. Among others, Mr. Philip Reich, of Frederick, sent him four or five ears of corn of a fine variety. This was highly prized, as the general had heartily enjoyed some corn-bread which he had eaten at Talbott's hotel. The receipt of the corn was acknowledged in his own handwriting, as follows:
" Philip Reich, Esq."
" Lagrange, May 29, 1827. "I am to acknowledge your kind letter of November 18th, and the welcome receipt of several precious kinds of corn, which are just arrived in time to be seasonably planted. While I feel as a farmer the merit of this gift, I have a particular pleasure in this obligation to you, and beg you, my dear sir, to accept my best thanks, with the assurance of my most sincere and friendly regard.
" Lafayette.
The original of this letter is now in the hands of the Engelbrecht family, of Frederick.
The general left Frederick on the last day of December, 182-t, accompanied by the mayor and some members of the committee of arrangements. He arrived at Rockville the same evening, and reached Georgetown on the 1st of January, 1825, where he was met by his old friend, James Monroe, the President of the United States. In a letter from Lagrange to a lady of Frederick, he declared that his reception there, on account of the incidents connected with it, was the most agreeable to his feelings of any he had received while in this country.
Gen. Lafayette was a very prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, and the apron which he wore while here among his brethren was presented to him by the late William Baer, and is now in possession of Columbia Lodge, of Frederick.
Centennial Celebration at Frederick, — On the 28th of June, 1876, was celebrated the one hundredth anniversary of the adoption by the Maryland Convention at Frederick of the resolution instructing the Maryland delegates to Congress to vote for the resolution declaring the provinces free and independent States. The convention assembled at Frederick on the 21st of June, 1776, and took the first decided action on the part of the colony looking to an armed contest with Great Britain. In the early part of 1876 a notice was issued calling for a meeting of citizens to take steps to commemorate the centennial anniversary of the county. On February 22nd a meeting was accordingly held at the court-house. Gen. John A. Steiner was made temporary chairman, and the following permanent organization effected: President, Hon. John Ritchie; Vice-Presidents, James H. Gambrill and Col. Wm. Richardson; Secretary, H. K. Carmack; Treasurer, Wm. H. Falconer.
On the 25th of March (1876), the two hundred and forty-second anniversary of the landing of the Maryland Pilgrims, the committee met, and determined to hold the celebration in Frederick on the 28th of June, the hundredth anniversary of the order of the Convention of Maryland to her delegates to the Provincial Congress to vote for the declaration severing the connection of this with the mother-country.
At a subsequent meeting of the central committee, sub-committees were appointed to solicit contributions to defray the expenses necessarily incident to a proper observance of the day, and a programme was adopted, Col. S. Carmack being appointed chief marshal, with Col. Wm. Richardson and Lewis S. Clingan as aides, and Gen. Edward Shriver officer of the day.
It is needless to say that the citizens responded liberally to the solicitation for material aid, as they were determined to make their celebration in every way worthy of the event commemorated, and their patriotic efforts were crowned with the most gratifying success.
At three o'clock on the morning of the 28th the bells rang