Biography of John B. Funk
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Biography of John B. Funk
| WellsVolunteer (View posts) | Posted: 24 Mar 2008 1:59PM GMT |
Classification: Biography
Surnames: FUNK, BOWER, GARRETT, BOWMAN, MORRISON, RINEAR, JOHNSON
Biographical Memoirs of Wells County, Indiana, 1903. pp. 366-368.
JOHN B. FUNK.
This popular young druggist at Liberty Center, Wells County, Indiana, is a native of Wayne county, Ohio, where he was born June 11, 1862, a son of Absalom and Anna (Bower) Funk, the former of whom was a native of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and a son of Benjamin Funk, and the latter, also a native of the Keystone state, a daughter of Jacob Bower. From Pennsylvania Absalom Funk was taken to Ohio, where he grew to manhood and married Miss Bower. He there followed farming and milling until November, 1866, when he came to Liberty township, Wells County, Indiana, and purchased three hundred and twenty acres of woodland, on which, in 1867, he erected a saw-mill, which, in 1868, was destroyed by fire. Within two years, however Mr. Funk had another mill running, and continued to operate it until 1874, when he removed to Lancaster township, Wells County, and engaged in farming and the nursery business. His death, which occurred July 9, 1875, was caused by exposure while at work in his nursery, the shock of the fatality being a severe one to his family and numerous friends. The children born to Absalom and Anna Funk were eight in number, and in order of birth were named as follows: Mary, who died in infancy, in Ohio; W. H., now in Bluffton, Wells county; Martin, a miller in Liberty Center; Benjamin F., a farmer in Wayne county, Ohio; Jacob A., a resident of Rock Creek township, Wells County, Indiana; Susan M., wife of Dr. Garrett, of Liberty Center; John B., whose name opens this biographical sketch, and Rachel M., wife of William Bowman. Absalom Funk was a Republican in politics and while living in Ohio served as a justice of the peace under the auspices of his party; his widow is now seventy-seven years old and is still quite active.
John B. Funk attended the public schools of Liberty township until twelve years of age and then entered the Bluffton city schools, in which his education was completed in its literary elements, and he next attended the normal school one term, to be the better prepared for the profession of teaching. The winter following his graduation from this institution Mr. Funk taught school, and the following July (1883) he was engaged by Dr. F. W. Garrett and Dr. Morrison as a clerk in their drug store. Within a short time thereafter Mr. Funk purchased Dr. Morrison's interest in the stock, later bought one-half of the building, and finally, in 1888, purchased Dr. Garrett's interest and for a short time conducted the business alone. Mr. Funk's next partner in business was J. W. Rinear, father-in-law of Mr. Funk, who bought a one-half interest. This partnership was maintained for two years, when Mr. Rinear sold out to Dr. Edwin Rinear in 1892, but a year later Mr. Funk bought out the Doctor and has since had sole control of the business, of which he has made a thorough success. In 1895 Mr. Funk purchased a forty-acre tract of land in section 16, Liberty township, Wells County, to which, in 1901, he added thirty-two acres adjoining, and also purchased a one-and-three-quarter-acre lot, on which stood a barn. He rents out this land, but reserves the right of raising some stock for his own use.
John B. Funk's marriage was solemnized April 2, 1885, with Miss Hannah S. Rinear, who was born December 28, 1866, and is a daughter of Senator J. W. and Sarah Rinear, Mrs. Funk being the first white child born in Liberty Center. At their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Funk went to housekeeping in their present handsome dwelling in Liberty Center and here they have been blessed with three children, namely John A. J., born May 22, 1886, now in his second year in the high school, having attended one term at the Marion Normal School; Mabel, born December 13, 1888, and now in her eighth year at school; and Charles Rinear, born February 2, 1892, in the fifth grade at school.
Mrs. Funk is an active worker in the Baptist church and Mr. Funk is a member of Liberty Center Lodge No. 747, I. O. O. F.; he is also a member of the Bluffton Encampment No. 141. He has passed the chairs in the camp, to attend which ceremony he was compelled to travel eight miles. It may also be added that Mr. and Mrs. Funk are members of Rebekah Lodge No. 83 of Bluffton, in which lodge Mrs. Funk is particularly active.
In politics Mr. Funk is a warm Republican, and in 1889 was appointed postmaster of Liberty Center, a position he held for four years and two months to the entire satisfaction of the people and the postoffice department, the result being that he was retained by his successor, H. J. Johnson, as deputy, for another term of four years; he was then again commissioned postmaster of Liberty Center and still holds that responsible office, a continuous term of fourteen years in all, as either principal or deputy. It was through his strenuous efforts that the office at Liberty Center has been made a money order office, Mr. Funk has also been successful in his efforts to establish the rural postal route connected with Liberty Center. He has held a notary public's commission for four years, and in serving the interests of his party has been a delegate to numerous county and congressional conventions, in which his voice was always heard in the best interests of his party.
JOHN B. FUNK.
This popular young druggist at Liberty Center, Wells County, Indiana, is a native of Wayne county, Ohio, where he was born June 11, 1862, a son of Absalom and Anna (Bower) Funk, the former of whom was a native of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and a son of Benjamin Funk, and the latter, also a native of the Keystone state, a daughter of Jacob Bower. From Pennsylvania Absalom Funk was taken to Ohio, where he grew to manhood and married Miss Bower. He there followed farming and milling until November, 1866, when he came to Liberty township, Wells County, Indiana, and purchased three hundred and twenty acres of woodland, on which, in 1867, he erected a saw-mill, which, in 1868, was destroyed by fire. Within two years, however Mr. Funk had another mill running, and continued to operate it until 1874, when he removed to Lancaster township, Wells County, and engaged in farming and the nursery business. His death, which occurred July 9, 1875, was caused by exposure while at work in his nursery, the shock of the fatality being a severe one to his family and numerous friends. The children born to Absalom and Anna Funk were eight in number, and in order of birth were named as follows: Mary, who died in infancy, in Ohio; W. H., now in Bluffton, Wells county; Martin, a miller in Liberty Center; Benjamin F., a farmer in Wayne county, Ohio; Jacob A., a resident of Rock Creek township, Wells County, Indiana; Susan M., wife of Dr. Garrett, of Liberty Center; John B., whose name opens this biographical sketch, and Rachel M., wife of William Bowman. Absalom Funk was a Republican in politics and while living in Ohio served as a justice of the peace under the auspices of his party; his widow is now seventy-seven years old and is still quite active.
John B. Funk attended the public schools of Liberty township until twelve years of age and then entered the Bluffton city schools, in which his education was completed in its literary elements, and he next attended the normal school one term, to be the better prepared for the profession of teaching. The winter following his graduation from this institution Mr. Funk taught school, and the following July (1883) he was engaged by Dr. F. W. Garrett and Dr. Morrison as a clerk in their drug store. Within a short time thereafter Mr. Funk purchased Dr. Morrison's interest in the stock, later bought one-half of the building, and finally, in 1888, purchased Dr. Garrett's interest and for a short time conducted the business alone. Mr. Funk's next partner in business was J. W. Rinear, father-in-law of Mr. Funk, who bought a one-half interest. This partnership was maintained for two years, when Mr. Rinear sold out to Dr. Edwin Rinear in 1892, but a year later Mr. Funk bought out the Doctor and has since had sole control of the business, of which he has made a thorough success. In 1895 Mr. Funk purchased a forty-acre tract of land in section 16, Liberty township, Wells County, to which, in 1901, he added thirty-two acres adjoining, and also purchased a one-and-three-quarter-acre lot, on which stood a barn. He rents out this land, but reserves the right of raising some stock for his own use.
John B. Funk's marriage was solemnized April 2, 1885, with Miss Hannah S. Rinear, who was born December 28, 1866, and is a daughter of Senator J. W. and Sarah Rinear, Mrs. Funk being the first white child born in Liberty Center. At their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Funk went to housekeeping in their present handsome dwelling in Liberty Center and here they have been blessed with three children, namely John A. J., born May 22, 1886, now in his second year in the high school, having attended one term at the Marion Normal School; Mabel, born December 13, 1888, and now in her eighth year at school; and Charles Rinear, born February 2, 1892, in the fifth grade at school.
Mrs. Funk is an active worker in the Baptist church and Mr. Funk is a member of Liberty Center Lodge No. 747, I. O. O. F.; he is also a member of the Bluffton Encampment No. 141. He has passed the chairs in the camp, to attend which ceremony he was compelled to travel eight miles. It may also be added that Mr. and Mrs. Funk are members of Rebekah Lodge No. 83 of Bluffton, in which lodge Mrs. Funk is particularly active.
In politics Mr. Funk is a warm Republican, and in 1889 was appointed postmaster of Liberty Center, a position he held for four years and two months to the entire satisfaction of the people and the postoffice department, the result being that he was retained by his successor, H. J. Johnson, as deputy, for another term of four years; he was then again commissioned postmaster of Liberty Center and still holds that responsible office, a continuous term of fourteen years in all, as either principal or deputy. It was through his strenuous efforts that the office at Liberty Center has been made a money order office, Mr. Funk has also been successful in his efforts to establish the rural postal route connected with Liberty Center. He has held a notary public's commission for four years, and in serving the interests of his party has been a delegate to numerous county and congressional conventions, in which his voice was always heard in the best interests of his party.