ɡˈʌŋkəl pɚsˈuːd pɹɪpˈæɹətˌoːɹi stˈʌdiz ɪnðə lˈoʊkəl skˈuːlz, ɐtˈɛndᵻd maɪˈæmi jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi ænd wʌz ɡɹˈædjuːˌeɪɾᵻd fɹʌm fˈɑːɹmɚz kˈɑːlɪdʒ æt kˈɑːlɪdʒ hˈɪl ɪn sˌɪnsɪnˈæɾi, oʊhˈaɪoʊ, ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi ˈeɪt.
Gunckel pursued preparatory studies in the local schools, attended Miami University and was graduated from Farmer's College at College Hill in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1848.