Mecosta County MI Archives Biographies.....Runyan, John P. August 18, 1822 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Jan Cortez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00020.html#0004939 March 31, 2009, 1:23 am

Author: Chapman Brothers

JOHN P. RUNYAN, farmer on sec. 19, Deerfield Tp., was born in Franklin Co., 
Ind., Aug. 18, 1822.  He is a 

son of Thomas and Hannah (Stein) Runyan, both natives of New Jersey, where 
they were married. In the year 

1812 they removed to Indiana and there resided 14 years, going thence to Ohio, 
where they remained till 

death.  Mr. Runyan was born two years before the admission of Indiana into the 
Union, and accompanied his 

parents to Ohio.  He was at home until the age of 19, attending school and 
working on a farm with his 

father.  At that age he was employed on the public works, building locks three 
years.  Afterward he 

followed the occupation of carpenter and joiner until 1878, with the exception 
of the period spent in the 

Union army.  In May, 1861, he enlisted in the 14th Reg. Ohio Vol. Inf., Co. 
A., and was in the serice four 

years, receiving honorable discharge in October, 1865.  Among other 
engagements he was on duty in the 

battle of the Wilderness, siege of Richmond and before Petersburg.  He 
received a slight saber wound by 

accident, which was his sole casualty.

Mr. Runyan came from Ohio to Michigan in 1878 and bought 40 acres of land, 
which had been partly improved, 

on sec. 30.  This he afterwards sold and bought property in Morley, of which 
he retained possession but a 

short time.  In politics he is a Republican, and is a member of the Order of 
Odd FEllows.  He was Deputy 

Sheriff while in Ohio and filled several minor offices.  He was married in 
Indiana, Oct. 5, 1844, to 

Lizzie, daughter of Platt and Orilla Squires.  She died Sept. 18, 1881.  Two 
children born of this 

marriage are both deceased.  He was again married June 29, 1882, in Big 
Rapids, to Sarah J., daughter of 

John H. and Minerva (Bullock) Underwood, and widow of Erastus A. Watrous, who 
died Aug. 19, 1880.  The 

parents of Mrs. Runyan were natives of New York, where the mother died, in 
Chautauqua County.  The father 

died near Petersburg, Va.  Hale S. Watrous, born May 18, 1880, was the only 
issue of the first marriage of 

Mrs. Runyan.  She is prominent in the Baptist Church.

Additional Comments:
1883 Portrait & Bio Album of Mecosta Co.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/mecosta/bios/runyan443nbs.txt

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