Biographical Sketch of Thomas D. FUNK (1893); Chester County, PA

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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, page 835.

"THOMAS D. FUNK, one of the young and prosperous farmers of the Pickering
Creek valley, is a son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Davis) Funk, and was born
on the farm on which he now resides, in Schuylkill township, Chester
county, Pennsylvania, December 21, 1862.  He was reared on his father's
farm, received his education in the common schools of Charlestown town-
ship, and assisted his father in farming until the death of the latter
in 1890.  He then purchased the home farm, and has been successfully
engaged in farming and dairying up to the present time.  His farm contains
one hundred and fifty-six acres of land, well adapted to grain raising and
grazing.  It is situated in Schuylkill township, within convenient dis-
tance of church and school.  The dairy business of Chester county has
assumed large proportions, and Philadelphia depends upon it to a large
extent.  The superior dairy products of the county are in great demand,
and Mr. Funk is one of the many farmers of Schuylkill township who help
to keep up this demand, by the purity and excellence of the products
which they daily ship to the Quaker city.  Mr. Funk is a republican in
politics, and while never neglecting the support of his party, yet gives
his time principally to business affairs.

"The Funks of Chester county are descendants of Elijah Funk, who came
from Germany about 1750.  He purchased the farm on which the subject of
this sketch now resides, and built for his first house a small, round-log
cabin, which is still standing.  He afterward erected good buildings, and
in 1797 built the present large stone barn that is on the property.  His
son, Benjamin Funk (grandfather), was a native and life-long resident of
Schuylkill township, where he was a farmer by occupation.  Benjamin Funk
was born in 1781.  He purchased the home farm, was a well-to-do man for
his day, married and reared a family of eight children, five sons and
three daughters: Eliza, Joseph, John, Jacob, William, George, Margaret
Entriken, and Mary Jenkinson.  Joseph Funk (father), the eldest son, was
born in 1816, and learned the trade of saddler, which he followed but a
short time.  He then turned his attention to farming, purchased the old
homestead, and became one of the most successful and wealthy farmers of
Schuylkill township.  He was a republican in politics, and died December
10, 1878.  He was twice married, first to Elizabeth Davis, and after her
death he wedded Caroline Rhodes, who is still living.  By his first mar-
riage he had five children, four sons and one daughters: Mary, wife of
Elwood Fisher of Charlestown village; William, who died in childhood;
John, Thomas D., the subject of this sketch, and one other."