Jamestown Paper, Nov. 24, 1927.
Alvin Strunk, 91 years old, West Oak Hill Road farmer who was among the pioneers who helped pull stumps to make a site for the present city of Jamestown, died at his home at 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon. He had lived for 63 years on his 147-acre farm. For 22 years he served as Assessor of the Town of Ellicott.

Mr. Strunk was firm of step and retained his sight and hearing to the end. As late as three weeks ago he was strong and well and assisted with the chores on the farm.

Surviving Mr. Strunk are his wife, Mrs. Maria Putnam Strunk; an only son, Bert Clarence Strunk; a brother, Frank W. Strunk, and several nephews and nieces. Mrs. Strunk is 84 years old and in good health. She and Mr. Strunk were married April 2, 1864, which was 63 years ago last April. Then she was 20 years old and Mr. Strunk was 27. That was during the Civil War. During the period Mr. Strunk served as assessor in the Town of Ellicott he won an enviable record as a careful and fair estimator of property values.

Mr. Strunk was born Oct. 27, 1836, in a little log cabin that had been built in 1816 by his grandfather, Jacob Strunk. The grandfather had brought to Chautauqua County, a large family from Rensselaer Counbty and settled on a farm adjoining the one upon which Alvin Strunk died yeserday. Mr. Stunk spent practically his entire life upon those two farms.

When Mr. Strunk became of age he decided to set out for himself and he went to Sinclairville, where he obtained work upon what was then called the Love farm. His ambition and ability was demonstrated when he established a record by husking 97 bushels of corn in one cay.

Mr. Strunk's widow is a direct descendant of Israel Putnam, hero of the Revolutionary War. Her maternal grandfather was Samuel Waterbury, who fought in the Revolutionary War and who is buried in Pleasantville Cemetery, two miles from Dewittville. Her father was Rev. Oren Putnam, a Baptist minister at Stockton. At the time of their marriage in 1864, Mr. and Mrs. Strunk settled upon the present farm in West Oak Hill Road.

Despite his 91 years, Mr. Strunk was able to pick pins from the floor without glasses and pull on high boots without supporting himself except upon his feet. He wore glasses only when reading.

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Alvin Strunk was the son of William H. & Jane Ann (VanVleck) Strunk. Maria Putnam Strunk is buried in the Lake View Cemetery, Jamesown, NY. I believe that Alvin Strunk, her husband, is also buried there. Maria Putnam Strunk was the daughter of Rev. Oren P. & Alvira (Scofield) Putnam. The son of Alvin & Maria Putnam Strunk was Bert Clarence Strunk. He was born June 8, 1867. He married Sept. l, 1892 Myrtie Brunson of South Stockton.