Funke, Henry 1853 - 1935

FUNKE, FELLER, DESSEL, FOX, FREIRCH, HOLTHAUS, EGGSTULER, BUCHIED

Posted By: Bill Waters (email)
Date: 4/25/2014 at 20:27:11

Henry Funke is living practically retired upon a farm of forty acres in Military Township, his period of leisure and rest following many years of prominent and active identification with agricultural interests of that part of Winneshiek County. He was born in Germany on the 4th of April, 1853, and is a son of Clemence and Gertrude (Feller) Funke, also natives of that country. The father came to America in June, 1853, and settled first in St. Louis, Missouri, whence in 1854 he came to Iowa, locating in Washington township, Winneshiek county, where he engaged in farming for some time. In 1865 he removed to Military Township and here made his home until his death on the 6th of June, 1884. His widow survives him and lives near Festina in Winneshiek County. To them were born ten children: Henry of this review'; William, who is operating the old homestead farm in Military township; Clemence, steward at the county poor house; Mary, the wife of Frank Dessel of California; Lizzie, who married Joseph Fox of Norfolk, Nebraska; Herman, of Cottonwood, Idaho; Annie, the widow of Louis Freirch of Ossian; John, also of Cottonwood, Idaho; Josephine, who married A. Holthaus of Washington township, Winneshiek county; and Gertrude, who has passed away.

Henry Funke spent his childhood upon his father's farm and throughout the period of his boyhood and youth assisted with its operation, continuing to aid his father until he was twenty-five years of age. He became a practical and able agriculturist and in 1878 purchased land of his own, buying eighty acres in Springfield Township and turning his attention to its cultivation. This work he steadily carried forward until 1887, when he purchased two hundred and ninety-five acres in Military Township. Upon this he made substantial improvements, erecting barns and outbuildings and installing modern machinery and making it altogether one of the finest farms in the vicinity. His labors through the years were rewarded by a substantial measure of success and he accumulated a comfortable competency, enabling him eventually to retire from active life. He still resides upon forty acres of his farm but the remainder has been divided among his sons, who are ably carrying forward the work of its cultivation. Mr. Funke is a director in the Silver Springs Creamery Company of Ossian and in that city is known as a resourceful and enterprising business man as well as a public-spirited and progressive citizen.
In 1878 Mr. Funke married Miss Maggie Eggstuler, who passed away in 1894, leaving nine children: Maggie, the wife of Castro Buchied, of Washington township; Annie, who is in a convent at La Crosse, Wisconsin; Barbara, also a nun in the convent at La Crosse; Mary, who lives at home; Henry W., who is engaged in farming; Albert H., at home; Herman C. and Otilda, also at home; and Agnes, a nun in the convent at La Crosse.

Mr. Funke is a member of the Roman Catholic Church and fraternally is connected with the Catholic Order of Foresters. Politically he gives his allegiance to the Democratic Party and is interested and active in public affairs, especially those relating to public education. Along this line he has done a great deal of constructive and beneficial work as treasurer of school district No. 3, a position which he now holds and which he is filling with signal ability. In Military Township his name is known as a synonym for business and personal integrity, for industry, honesty and straightforward dealing, and he commands and holds the confidence and regard of all who are in any way associated with him.

Source: History of Winneshiek County, Iowa Vol. II Chicago the S. J. Clark publishing Company 1913

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