G. W. Tunks, treasurer of Grant Township, was born in Clark County, Ohio, on August 10, 1823. He is the eighth of ten children born to Philip and Phebe (Wallingsford) Tunks. The father was born in Virginia, on March 1, 1783. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, volunteering from Clark County, Ohio. He is a farmer and also a tanner. He died in Shelby County, Ohio, on April 15, 1845, to which county he had removed in 1827. The mother was born in Kentucky on September 3, 1788. She died in Shelby County, Ohio, on November 5, 1862. G. W. was reared on the farm, and received his education in the public schools. He remained on the farm with his parents until their deaths. On January 10, 1850, he was united in marriage with Silence B. Beazley, who was also born in Shelby County, Ohio, on June 15, 1826. Mr. Tunks removed to Missouri in the fall of 1869, and located in Grant Township, where he has since resided engaged in farming. While a citizen of Ohio, he served for several terms as trustee of his township, and also as assessor. Since residing in Missouri, he has served as assessor of Grant Township, and in March, 1883, was elected as a Republican to the office he now fills. He has since been twice re-elected—in 1885 and in 1887. He and wife are both members of the Missionary Baptist Church. They have had seven children born to them as follows: Caroline, December 5, 1850, died August 8, 1851; Mary E., December 20, 1851; John, August 14, 1854; Phebe, July 4, 1857, deceased; David, September 10, 1859; Maggie, October 30, 1865, and Mark, October 30, 1865. Mr. Tunks is an enterprising and progressive citizen, and is respected and esteemed by all who know him.
Source: History of Andrew and DeKalb Counties, Missouri (Chicago: Goodspeed Publishing Company, 1888), p. 589.