Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1889

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 198
GEORGE F. FUNCK, who resides on section 6, Fruitland Township, was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, May 5, 1824, and was the youngest in a family of four children born to Adam and Maggie Funck, who were also natives of Germany. Adam Funck was a merchant and starch manufacturer in his native country, and was also the owner of a farm. In 1850 Mrs. Funck died in Germany, and in 1851 Adam Funck came to America, coming directly to Muscatine Iowa, where he lived a retired life. His death occurred in the fall of 1856.

The subject of this sketch was reared to farm life, and was educated in the district schools of Germany. In 1848 he came to this country, locating in Muscatine, where he engaged in the grocery business, in connection with steamboat supplies. In 1851 he returned to Germany, where he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Hartmann, a native of Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, and daughter of Adam Hartmann. Her parents died in Germany years ago. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Funck came to Muscatine, Iowa. Two children were born unto them: Henrietta, who resides at home; and George August, who died in 1854, at the age of nine months. Mrs. Funck died in 1855, after an illness of some months.

In 1857 Mr. Funck was again united in marriage, in Bloomington Township, with Rosa Ann Huber, a native of Burlington, Iowa, and daughter of John and Emma C. ( Hamilton ) Huber, the former a native of Switzerland, and the latter of Ohio. Their wedding occurrred on the 28th of May, 1857. Mrs. Funck's father was a farmer and school teacher. In 1835 he moved to Burlington, Iowa, and in 1836 came to Muscatine County, where he purchased land from the government. At that time Muscatine was called Case's Landing. He improved a farm, upon which he resided until his death, which occurred in 1861. Mrs. Funck's mother died when she was an infant.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Funck settled in Muscatine, where for thirty-one years he was engaged in business. in 1880 he moved to the farm where he now resides and where he owns 170 acres of fine arable land, well improved, with two good residences and a good barn, all of which he erected within four years. Mr. Funck is engaged in gardening, and keeps one team carrying produce from the farm to Muscatine, supplying the home trade.

Mr. and Mrs. Funck are members of the Lutheran Church. In politics he is a Democrat. To them have been born five children: Rose, who married Charles Dold, a brewer of Kansas City, Mo.; Henry W. married Fannie White, and now resides in Muscatine County; Kate B. has successfully engaged in teaching, and is at present in Kansas City learning stenography; Cora resides at home.

Mr. Funck has one sister, Mrs. Henry Funck, who resides in Muscatine. Elizabeth, who married Jacob Shafnitz, died about 1880, in Muscatine.

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