He was an early settler of the Wisconsin territory and served in the Vermont House of Representatives.
He was the third son of Captain Robert Hunkins and his second wife, Lydia Chamberlin.
[6] Three of Hunkins' sons, Sargeant, Robert and Benjamin, moved to the Wisconsin Territory.
In 1839 Hunkins followed them and set up a large farm that he worked alongside his two other sons James and Hazen.
[8] On November 15, 1798 Hunkins married Hannah, the daughter of Watts Emerson and Lois Trussel.