OBIT: James FUNK, 1899, Duncansville, Blair County, PA

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JAMES FUNK DEAD
A Prominent Resident of Blair County Passes Away
HE HAD BEEN ILL THREE WEEKS
Held Various Offices in the Gift of the People - Was at One Time a Whig 
but Later on of the Democratic Party

  James Funk, a gentleman closely identified with the political history 
of Blair county and one of its foremost citizens, died at his home in 
Duncansville on Sunday morning at 12.30 o'clock, of Bright's disease.  
The deceased had been ill for three weeks.  His decline in health was 
rapid and his sorrowing friends saw that the final summons was 
inevitable.
  Mr. Funk was born in Black Log valley, Huntingdon county, April 17, 
1823, and was the oldest son of John and Jane Goshorn Funk.  The Funks 
were of German ancestry, and Mr. Funk's paternal grandfather, Jacob 
Funk, was born in Frankstown, Washington county, Maryland, where his 
ancestors had settled at an early day, and where the Funk family had 
become prominent in the history of Western Maryland.
  John Funk was an old line whig and afterwards a democrat in politics 
and had been a zealous member of the German Baptist or Dunkard church.  
He married Jane Goshorn, who was a daughter of --- Goshorn, who was an 
early settler of the Tuscarora valley.  James Funk received a good 
English education, and resided with his father at Duncansville, (to 
which place he removed in 1836) and reaching his 21st year, he became 
conductor on the old Portage railroad, where he remained a year.
  --- he engaged in the business of manufacturing lime.  At one time he 
managed lime kilns at four different areas? Of the county, whose 
aggregate --- was 1,200 bushels per day.  He constructed two lime kilns 
at Frankstown which cost over $12,000 and are claimed to be the largest 
kilns in America.  A few years ago Mr. Funk retired from the lime 
business, his successor at Frankstown being J. King McLanahan.
  Mr. Funk was a democrat in politics.  He served seventeen years as a 
school director and then declined another re-election.  He was shortly 
afterward --- a justice of the peace, but refused to take out his 
commission.  He was elected coroner in 1855 on the American ticket, and 
before his term closed, in 1858, he was elected sheriff as the fusion 
candidate on the people's ticket.  Mr. Funk was the first democratic 
jury commissioner elected in the county; was defeated as the democratic 
candidate for the state assembly, although --- lacking but 100 votes of 
being successful, and was once defeated for associate judge, though 
running ahead of his ---.  He was a member of the present board of 
county commissioners, having served two terms in that capacity, and was 
the candidate of his party for a third term.  He was popular with a 
large constituency? And was known throughout the --- and breadth of the 
county.
  Deceased was for forty-one years a member of Juniata lodge No. 282 
Free and Accepted Masons, of Hollidaysburg, and was a past master of  
the lodge for thirty-? Years.  He was also a past high --- of Mount 
Moriah chapter No. 166, --- member of Mountain commandery of the 
Knights Templar.
  Mr. Funk married Susan J. Long, who ---, and left nine children, -- 
Margaret, wife of J. Rock ---, of Humboldt, Neb.; Mis? -- of William P. 
Irvin, depot --- Altoona, Matilda, wife of --- McCormick, of Altoona; 
John S., --- Edward, Landis and James.  After his first wife's death 
Mr. Funk was united in marriage with Mary Dasher, who survives him with 
the following three children: May, Ira and ---.
  Funeral services will be held at the residence in Duncansville on 
Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock.  Interment in the Presbyterian cemetery 
at Hollidaysburg.

Morning Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Monday, August 7, 1899

HOLLIDAYSBURG HAPPENINGS.

  The funeral services of the late James Funk were conducted at the 
home in Duncansville yesterday afternoon by Rev. Isaac Krider, pastor 
of the Lutheran church, and Rev. George A. Joplin, pastor of the 
Presbyterian church, of that town.  There were many elegant floral 
tributes.  The funeral cortege extended a mile in length and numbered 
eighty-three carriages.  A special train was run to Duncansville for 
the convenience of the Altoona and Hollidaysburg attendants.  The court 
house was closed during the time of the funeral.  At the family burial 
lot in the Presbyterian cemetery, the impressive Masonic ritualistic 
ceremonies were performed by the brethren of Juniata lodge No. 282 Free 
and Accepted Masons.

Morning Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Wednesday, August 9, 1899

1880 Allegheny Township, Blair County census -
James Funk, Sr., 57, lime manufr.  
Mollie Funk, 44  
John S. Funk, 27, supt. lime works  
Landes Funk, 14, at school 
May Funk, 7, at school  
Iva Funk, 4, not at school  
Nannie Funk, 1, not at school  
Levinia Gable, 32, servant  
Jacob Shiffler, 34, servant