Our Arklahoma Heritage: Bunch family brought generational growth to the town of Kingston in Madison County
- Dennis McCaslin
- Jul 25, 2025
- 3 min read
In the Ozark highlands, tucked within Madison County’s rolling valleys, one building and one man remain etched into Arkansas’s frontier history. That man is Joel Nathaniel “Joe” Bunch (1856–1927)-merchant, millwright, Mason, and community architect of Kingston.
And that building is the iconic Bunch Store, tilted by six inches but grounded in legacy.
Joel N. Bunch was born on April 21, 1856, in Dinsmore, Newton County, the son of Captain Larkin C. Bunch, a Confederate officer lost at Pilot Knob, Missouri, and Eliza Maxwell, a pioneer woman of Illinois stock.
Raised among the rugged hills, Joel learned resilience early--a trait that would define his business and his town.
Joel and Margaret Bunch had seven children who carried forward the family’s entrepreneurial and civic legacy. Their first, Elmorlou, passed in infancy—a tragedy that deepened their resolve.
Alvin Burr Bunch emerged as a pillar of local finance, eventually serving as president of the Kingston Bank.
Their daughter Ora Belle married and settled nearby, while Mary Viola “Ola” Bunch lived to 100, witnessing a century of transformation sparked by her father’s era.
Sons William Larkin Sr. and Robert Carlyle “Carl” Bunch extended the family’s reach across Arkansas and beyond, with Carl’s achievements later featured in National Geographic. Each child bore the imprint of Joel’s industrious character and Margaret’s quiet strength.'
By 1880, Bunch had saved $1,000, enough to launch a modest general store in Kingston, a settlement still reeling from Civil War destruction and marauding bandits. He hauled goods by wagon across treacherous terrain to Springfield, Missouri, a three-week round trip that would challenge even seasoned teamsters.
But Joel persisted. His store sold dry goods, tools, pelts, leather, and local specialties like ginseng and molasses, which he shipped to St. Louis and pharmaceutical houses back East, integrating Kingston into a national trade network. He didn’t just sell good--he marketed dignity, offering credit in hard times and presenting his wares with precision and care.
In 1890, Bunch constructed the two-story Bunch Store at 100 Public Square in Kingston. Notably, the building emerged 6 inches out of plumb, tilting slightly but remaining structurally sound. Despite this quirk, the windows and doorways stayed square, making it one of the Ozarks’ most beloved architectural curiosities.
This structure wasn’t merely a store—it was a community hub, where families gathered, business was done, and town life pulsed. It became a symbol of survival and entrepreneurship, a visible reminder that perfection is overrated when purpose is achieved.
On November 26, 1999, the Bunch Store was recognized as a National Historic Place, listed for its role in commerce, architecture, and local heritage under reference number 99001350. It now stands as one of Arkansas's rare surviving examples of early frontier enterprise.
Bunch also founded the Kingston Milling Co., encompassing saw, grist, and flour mills, and launched the town’s first industry--a wagon spoke factory. These ventures solidified Kingston’s economic base, transforming it from a war-torn shadow into a bustling trade town.
A dedicated Freemason, Joel Bunch was buried under Masonic rites at Liberty Cemetery in Dinsmore after his death on August 14, 1927, at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis, following surgery for stomach cancer.
His obituary remembered him not just for his business acumen but for his integrity, efficiency, and unwavering commitment to Kingston’s future.
He was survived by Margaret Elizabeth Boatright, his wife, and a large family, including Alvin Burr Bunch, future president of the Kingston Bank, and Hugh Bunch, later featured in National Geographic. His descendants preserved the store until its closure in the 1990s, with contents auctioned in 1998 to collectors across the country.
Joel N. Bunch's life reads like a frontier epic==crafted by wagon wheels, sustained by communal trust, and tilted toward progress. Today, the Bunch Store still stands, quietly leaning into history. Not just out of plumb, but perfectly aligned with the spirit of Arkansas resilience.
