NameHon. Charles Owen Hunsicker
Birth18 Aug 1878, Allentown, PA
Death27 Sep 1941, Allentown, PA
FatherJames F. Hunsicker (1852-1926)
MotherMary Hannah Schrader (1851-1915)
Misc. Notes
Hon. Charles O. Hunsicker, the youngest mayor in Allentown's history, died in the Allentown Hospital on Sept. 27, 1941, of a heart ailment, at the age of 63 years.

He served as Allentown's mayor, beginning Feb. 20, 1909, just a few months before his 31st birthday anniversary.

Unique also is the fact that Mr. Hunsicker became the fourth mayor to serve the city within a year's time. Dr. C. D. Schaeffer had served until April 1908, when he was succeeded by Harry G. Stiles. Stiles died in November of the same year, and city council appointed Dr. H. H. Herbst to fulfill the office until the election in February. Hunsicker opposed Herbst in the election and won to serve the unexpired term of Stiles, which extended until April of 1911.

After his term of office he returned to his practice as an attorney, continuing this until the time of his death. His offices were located in the Hunsicker building, 17 N. 7th St. He achieved much success and honor as a lawyer, and in 1933 was named president of the Lehigh County Bar Association.

It was during the same period of the early 1930's that he held office with the Chronicle and News Publishing Co., serving as vice president until the time of the newspaper's purchase by the Morning Call in 1935.

Mr. Hunsicker was probably most widely known as a developer of real estate, and it is estimated that he built more than 1,000 homes in the city.

A life-long member of Salem Evangelical and Reformed church, where he served for some time as a Sunday school teacher, Mr. Hunsicker had also been active in the civic and social life of the city, serving as a member of the board of directors of Allentown hospital and of the board of Cedar Crest college. He was also chairman of the board of the Allen Laundry, Inc., and of the Allen Mutual Insurance Co.

Born Aug. 18, 1878, a son of James F. and Mary Hannah, nee Schrader, Hunsicker, he had been a lifelong resident of Allentown. He attended Allentown High School and in 1896 was graduated from Mercersburg academy. He continued his studies at Franklin and Marshall, where he graduated in 1900, and three years later finished his education at the University of Pennsylvania Law school. It was then he set up his law practice.

He is survived by his wife, Lillian L., nee Henninger, Hunsicker: two children: Mary Hunsicker Bond and Robert Hunsicker; a grandchild, Robert Charles Hunsicker; and one brother, Herbert J. Hunsicker, all of Allentown. A brother, George, preceded him in death.
Spouses
1Lillian L. Henninger
Birth1888
Death1971
ChildrenMary Elisabeth
 Robert Franklin (1913-2000)
 Anna (Died as Infant)
Last Modified 9 Nov 2017Created 7 May 2020 using Reunion for Macintosh