The Funke Family of Winneshiek County, Iowa

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.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

Among Winneshiek county's most progressive, able and successful native sons is numbered William Funke, who since 1871 has been engaged in farming in this part of Iowa, his activities in the development of two farms forming important elements in the general agricultural development. He now owns two hundred and eighty acres of land lying partly in Military township and partly in Springfield and his well directed and practical labors have made it one of the finest properties in that locality.

He was born in Winneshiek county, Washington township, on the 15th of August, 1855, and is a son of Clemence and Gertrude (Feller) Funke, natives of Germany. The father came to America in June, 1853, and after spending one year in St. Louis came to Winneshiek county, locating in Washington township. He there remained until 18(15 and then moved to Military township, where he engaged in farming until his death, which occurred on the 6th of June, 1884. His wife survives him and makes her home in Winneshiek county. To their union were born ten children: Henry, a farmer in the vicinity of Calmar; William, of this review; Clemence A., who is connected with the Winneshiek county poor house; Mary, the wife of Frank Dessel, of California; Lizzie, who married Joseph Fox, of Norfolk, Nebraska; Herman, a resident of Cottonwood, Idaho; Annie, the wife of Louis Freich, of Ossian, Iowa; John, who makes his home in Cottonwood. Idaho; Josephine, who married A. Holthouse, a farmer in Washington township; and Gertrude, who has passed away.

William Funke acquired his education in the public schools of Washington and Military townships and in his childhood assisted with the operation of the homestead. At the age of twenty-one he purchased one hundred and fifty-two acres in Springfield township and for thirteen years thereafter developed and improved this property. When he sold it he bought one hundred and sixty acres on section 5, Military township, and to this has added from time to time until he now owns two hundred and eighty acres, one hundred and twenty of which are located in Springfield township and the remainder in Military township. Upon this fine property Mr. Funke engaged in general farming and stock-raising and success has steadily attended his well directed labors through the years, his interests being today profitable and important. In addition to his farming operations he is also a director of the Farmers Produce Company of Ossian and his ability is widely recognized in business circles.

On the 4th of November, 1876, Mr. Funke married Miss Louise Bock, who died May 13. 1910. They became the parents of eleven children: Clemence J., of Dubuque, Iowa; Stephanie, the wife of Joseph J. Schissel, of Military township; George and Joseph, both of whom reside in Hutchinson county, South Dakota; and Tillie. Annie, William H., Mary, Leo, Adolph and Angeline, all at home.

Mr. Funke is a stanch supporter of the democratic party and has held responsible public positions, serving for twelve years as township trustee and for four years as a member of the school board. He is a member of the Catholic church, is affiliated with the Catholic Order of Foresters and is a man of exemplary moral character, respected in business circles and honored and esteemed wherever he is known.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

HENRY W. FUNKE, Jr.

Winneshiek county has its full quota of progressive farmers who have contributed their share toward the upbuilding and development of the community. Among their number is Henry W. Funke, Jr.. now living in Springfield township, where his time and energies are fully occupied with the care and cultivation of a farm of one hundred acres, which presents a neat and attractive appearance and is a visible evidence of his life of well directed thrift. Mr. Funke is a native son of this part of Iowa, born in Springfield township, June JO. 1885, his parents being Henry and Maggie I Eggstuler 1 Funke, the former born in germany, April 4, 1853. He was brought by his parents to America in the same year and in 1854 to Winneshiek count)', where he grew to manhood and where lie is now a prosperous and successful farmer. In his family are nine children: Maggie, the wife of Castro Buchied, of Washington township; Annie, in a convent at La Crosse. Wiso mein; Barbara, also a nun in a convent at La Crosse; Mary, who lives at home; Henry W., of this review; Albert H.. Herman C. and Otilda, all of whom live at home; and Agnes, who is in a convent at La Crosse.

Henry W. Funke, Jr., was reared upon his father's farm and acquired his education in the district schools of Springfield township. From his childhood lie assisted with the operation of the farm and in 1908 began his independent career, buying one hundred acres of land, of which eighty are in Springfield township and twenty in Military township. Upon this land he still resides. Here he carries on general farming and stock-raising and both branches of his business under his able management have proven extremely profitable. Substantial improvements have been made upon the farm, everything is kept in good repair and the machinery is of the modern and labor-saving kind. Mr. Funke gives practically all of his attention to making his farm productive and profitable and the result of his care is seen in the neat and attractive appearance of the place, which ione of the finest agricultural properties in his section of the county.

Mr. Funke married Miss Johanna Zweibahmer, a daughter of Fred and Annie Zweibahmer, natives of Germany. To Mr. and Mrs. Funke were born five children: Joseph, who lives at home; Rosie and Regina, twins; Hugo; and Victoria.

.Mr. Funke is a member of the Roman Catholic church, holding membership in the Roman Catholic Association, and he is a democrat in his political beliefs. He is interested in all that pertains to the general progress and cooperates in many movements for the good of the community, being at all times a progressive and public-spirited citizen as well as a farsighted and discriminating business man.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.