Herbert E. Gunn was born in 1869 to Charles A. Gunn, a Civil War veteran and Holt farmer.

Gunn served as Ingham County Clerk (1897-1898); Delhi Township Treasurer (1900); Delhi Township Supervisor and member of the Ingham County Board of Supervisors (1901-1916), chairman (1905-1907); Holt Board of Education (1903-1916); Ingham County Farmer Mutual Fire Insurance Co., director (1911-1934); Postmaster of Holt (1915-1940); Holt State Bank/American State Bank, board of directors (1922-1956).

The home at 4375 West Holt Road was built in 1918 for the family of Herbert E. Gunn.