Herbert B. Shonk

Herbert Bronson Shonk (October 28, 1881 – September 26, 1930) was an American lawyer, businessman and politician from New York.

Life

He was born on October 28, 1881, in Plymouth, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, the son of Congressman George W. Shonk (1850–1900) and Ida Elizabeth (Klotz) Shonk (1856–1911). He graduated from Wesleyan University in 1903; and from Harvard Law School in 1906.[1] In 1907, he married Gertrude Knight (1885–1938), daughter of State Comptroller Erastus C. Knight (1857–1923); and they had four children.[2]

On June 20, 1917, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. From January 13, 1918, to March 13, 1919, he fought overseas in World War I.[3] He finished the war as a major, and was awarded the Croix de Guerre. Afterwards he engaged in the oil business.

Shonk was a member of the New York State Assembly (Westchester Co., 2nd D.) in 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929 and 1930; and was Chairman of the Committee on Aviation from 1928 to 1930.[4]

He died on September 26, 1930, in White Plains Hospital in White Plains, New York, after an operation for appendicitis;[5] and was buried at the St. James the Less Cemetery in Scarsdale.

His son Herbert Bronson Shonk (1916–1943) served as a bomber pilot in World War II, and died when falling with his airplane into the Pacific Ocean.[6]

Sources

  1. ↑ HERBERT SHONK DIES FOLLOWING OPERATION in The Cornell Daily Sun on September 27, 1930
  2. ↑ Shonk genealogy at Family Tree Maker
  3. ↑ His Veteran Card
  4. ↑ ASSEMBLY CREATES AIR COMMITTEE; Shonk Named Its Chairman in the New York Times on January 10, 1928 (subscription required)
  5. ↑ MAJOR SHONK DIES AFTER OPERATION in the New York Times on September 27, 1930 (subscription required)
  6. ↑ "Herbert Bronson Shonk, Jr." in St. Paul's School archive [with portrait]
New York Assembly
Preceded by
Walter W. Westall		 New York State Assembly
Queens County, 2nd District
1923–1930 		Succeeded by
Ralph A. Gamble
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