The Alexander Bunts family ancestors were among the first settlers in the Cleveland, Ohio area. Levi Johnson (1786-1891), great-great-grandfather of Alexander Bunts, was born in Herkimer County, New York. Encouraged by reports describing Ohio as a land of opportunity, Johnson emigrated to the Western Reserve in 1808. He remained in Cleveland for the rest of his life and is remembered for numerous accomplishments. He built the first Cuyahoga County Court House in 1812, was the first county coroner, and was also Cuyahoga County's first deputy sheriff.
Other family members achieved prominence in Cleveland. Virgil C. Taylor (1838-1924), grandfather of Dr. Alexander Bunts, was born in Summit County, Ohio. In 1856 he came to Cleveland and found employment in a dry goods business. At the outbreak of the American Civil War, Taylor enlisted in Company E. 84th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He received a commission as first lieutenant, and took part in the various campaigns of the Army of the Potomac. As the close of the war, he returned to Cleveland as cashier of the Farmers Bank of Cleveland, where he remained for eight years. In 1872 he established a real estate business which emphasized the development of Euclid Avenue property. In 1892, with the assistance of 13 other notable Clevelanders, Virgil C. Taylor founded the Cleveland Real Estate Board.
Alexander Bunts (1897-1972) was the son of Dr. Frank Bunts, on of the founders of the Cleveland Clinic. Alexander emulated his father, became a neurosurgeon, and was also associated with the Cleveland Clinic. He was an amateur historian and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Western Reserve Historical Society.
click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for Frank Bunts
The Alexander Bunts Family Photographs, ca. 1860-1950, consist of photographs and albums of activities, friends, and members of the Bunts family of Cleveland, Ohio. Included are various scenic and vacation views, home interiors, group portraits, and individual portraits. Other families whose photographs are contained in the collection include the Shafer, Barnhisel-Harmon, Johnson, Sacket, Rumbaugh, and Taylor families. Vacation destinations depicted include Hot Springs, North Carolina; Block Island, Rhode Island; Mackinac Island, Michigan; Niagara on the Lake, New York; Salt Lake City, Utah; Evanston, Illinois; Brandon, Ohio; Mt. Washington, New Hampshire; and Cheneaux Island, Canada. The first card photograph album contains 38 black and white photographs and measures 8 x 10.75 inches. The second card photograph album contains 97 carte de visite and cabinet card photographs and measures 9 x 11.5 inches. The collection also contains approximately 620 loose black and white photographs that measure 5 x 7 inches and smaller.
The collection is arranged by subject.
The researcher should also consult MS 3590 Alexander Bunts Family Papers; and PG 93 Levi Johnson Family Photographs.
None.
[Container ___, Folder ___ ] PG 112 Alexander Bunts Family Photographs, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio
These photographs were removed from MS 3590 Alexander Bunts Family Papers. Gift of Mrs. Alexander Bunts in 1973.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.