Biographical Sketch of Jacob L. FUNK (1893); Chester County, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by John Morris . *********************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: Printing this file within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** Source: "Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chester County, Pennsyl- vania, comprising a historical sketch of the county," by Samuel T. Wiley and edited by Winfield Scott Garner, Gresham Publishing Company, Phila- delphia, PA, 1893, pp. 239-41. "JACOB L. FUNK, one of the solid and substantial citizens of East Coventry township, this county, and a leading member of the Mennonite church, is the eldest son of John and Susan (Latshaw) Funk, and was born April 4, 1824, in Washington township, Berks county, Pennsylvania. His paternal great-grandfather was Henry Funk, who removed to Buckingham county, Vir- ginia, about 1786, and resided there until his death. he married Barbara Showalter, a native of Germany, who died in 1824. They had eleven chil- dren: Jacob, Christian, John, Henry, Daniel, Joseph, Susan, Elizabeth, Hester, Samuel, and Catherine. "Their eldest son, Rev. Jacob Funk (grandfather), was born May 30, 1761, in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, but removed in early life to East Vincent township, this county, where he passed the remainder of his life, and died July 22, 1817, aged fifty-six years. He was a member and minister of the Mennonite church, and died immediately after returning home from preaching a friend's funeral. He was twice married, first wedding Mary Shelly, who died April 27, 1809, leaving a family of nine children: Elizabeth, who married Abram Haldeman, a minister of the Mennonite church, who preached in Chester and Juniata counties; Susan, married John Longacee, a farmer of Montgomery county; Fannie, married Benjamin Haldeman, who was a farmer residing at Vincent, this county; Mary, married John Wise, a farmer of Butler county; Barbara, married John Showalter, and lives near Phoenixville, this county; Katie, married Frank Shelley, a prosperous farmer of Berks county; Jacob, married Anna Heistand, and resided in East Vincent township, this county, where he was engaged in farming; John, father of the subject of this sketch; and Rev. Henry, who united in marriage with a Miss High, and resided in Berks county. All the family were strict members of the Mennonite church. After the death of Mrs. Funk, Rev. Jacob Funk wedded the second time, but had no children by his second marriage. "John Funk (father) was born July 12, 1800, in that part of Vincent which is now East Vincent township, this county, where he resided until a short time before his marriage, when he removed to Washington township, Berks county. In 1825 he returned to Chester county, locating in East Coventry township, and later went to North Coventry, where he died October 26, 1877, aged seventy-seven years. He was a farmer all his life, a republi- can in political faith, and in religion a strict member of the Mennonite church, in the various interests of which he was always active and ever ready to do his part in any good work. On March 2, 1823, he married Susan Latshaw, who was born March 11, 1800, and died August 2, 1885. They had two children: Jacob L., the subject of this sketch, and Hannah, who was born January 23, 1831, and on December 22, 1853, married George W. Landis, who was born June 13, 1832, and is now feed and stock agent for the Phila- delphia and Reading railroad. Mr. and Mrs. Landis had two children: John D., born June 29, 1859; and Sue, born December 8, 1861. The former mar- ried Florence May Swindles, of Philadelphia, on October 14, 1886, by whom he has one child - Harold Landis, born July 18, 1887 - and he is now chief clerk in the passenger agents' department of the Philadelphia & Reading railroad, and resides in Philadelphia. "Jacob L. Funk was reared partly in East and partly in North Coventry townships, receiving his education in the common schools. He has been a farmer, fruit grower, and stockman all his life, and owns a large lumber yard and four houses. In political sentiment he is a stanch republican, and in religious belief follows the traditions of his ancestors, and is a prominent member of the Mennonite church of which he is treasurer. "On May 6, 1847, Mr. Funk married Elizabeth Gable, a daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Gable, who was born October 29, 1827, and died June 1, 1881, aged fifty-four years. By this marriage he had a family of five children: (1) Lavina, born July 20, 1848, and died May 19, 1857; (2) John, a farmer of East Coventry township, who was born June 9, 1851, and on September 14, 1876, married Kate Delwiter, by whom he has two children - Emma L., born June 17, 1877, and Etna E., born May 6, 1879; (3) Hannah L., born July 29, 1858, married John Haldeman September 28, 1882, and has three children - Ollie R., born July 28, 1884; Florence M., born November 1, 1886; and Martha L., born October 19, 1887; (4) Hattie, born September 12, 1863, married W. H. Saylor September 11, 1884, and has four children; and (5) Sue, born October 17, 1865, and on July 19, 1892, married John E. Latshaw, of Spring City, who was born August 1, 1865, and is a carpenter employed in the foundry of Buckwalter & Slauffer."