Funks Grove Township

Funks Grove Township

Isaac Funk was born November 17, 1797, in Clark County, Kentucky. His ancestors were of German extraction, his grandfather, Adam Funk, having emigrated from Germany at an early day. His mother, whose maiden name was Sarah Moore, was also of German descent. Adam Funk, jr., the father of Isaac, was raised in Virginia, and was, at one time, quite wealthy ; but misfortunes came and he lost his property and died poor. Isaac Funk was one of nine children, six boys and three girls. He had very little schooling, but was prepared for the struggle of life by the roughest out-door education, where his muscles were developed, and his practical good sense was brought into exercise.

In 1807 his father moved to Fayette County, Ohio ; but when Isaac was twenty-three years of age he went back to Virginia to the Kanawha Salt Works, where he remained one year. He then returned to Ohio, where, for the next two years, he worked on a farm for eight or ten dollars per month.

In the year 1823, Mr. Funk set out for Illinois, but did not arrive there until the following April, as he was detained by high water in the Wabash River. He first went to Sangamon County, but on the third of May he settled in Funk's Grove, in the present McLean County. Here he and his brother Absalom, who had accompanied him from Ohio, and Mr. William Brock, built a little pole shanty, twelve by fourteen feet, at the southeast side of the grove, a short distance from the homestead of the Funk family. This little shanty is described as "a small pole cabin, twelve by fourteen feet, covered by riven four feet clapboards, with a roof put on with weight poles instead of nails, floor laid with peeled elm bark, Indian fashion, no window, and one door made of clapboards." The Funks then went to breaking prairie and buying and selling cattle. Mr. Stubblefield and Mrs. Stubblefield, their sister, came out from Ohio and kept their house for them for one year, and after this they hired various families to keep the shanty for another year.

In June, 1826, Isaac Funk married Miss Cassandra Sharp of Fort Clark (Peoria). This lady was born in Baltimore, Maryland. When she was only three years of age her father emigrated to Ohio, and sixteen years afterwards to Fort Clark, Ills., where, at the age of twenty-four, she became Mrs. Funk. The dowry which Mr. Funk obtained with his wife was a cow, a spinning-wheel and a bed. But he obtained with his wife something better than money ; he found in her a noble-minded woman. She was an active, stirring woman, and possessed of the best of sense and discretion ; and perhaps it was in some measure due to her influence that Mr. Funk was afterwards so remarkably successful.

Absalom Funk was ten years older than Isaac, and was not married until 1840. At his death he left no children. Absalom and Isaac continued their business, farming, raising stock and buying and selling cattle, horses, mules, hogs, etc., etc., until 1838, when they dissolved partnership. They had many hard times and were often in difficult situations, but their good judgment and determined wills always carried them triumphantly through. At one time they met with a very severe loss. In 1837 they considered themselves worth about eighteen thousand dollars. During this year, Archibald Clybourne, the oldest settler in Chicago, failed, and the Funks lost seven thousand dollars by him. Not long after this, a man named Doyle absconded from Chicago without paying his debts, and took with him two thousand dollars belonging to the Funks. This loss seemed to affect Absalom very much. He had remained in Chicago to settle with Doyle after selling him two thousand dollars worth of hogs, while Isaac had returned to his home. But Doyle gave Absalom the slip and got away, and as the latter had not money enough to follow, he came to Isaac Funk's to relate the misfortune. He came in, and, after sitting uneasily by the fire, exclaimed : " Well, Ike, that Doyle has run away with every cent of money he owed us. I'd have followed him to - (a very warm place) if I had have had money enough to have traveled." Absalom regretted the loss, not so much on his own account, as on account of Isaac, who had a wife and children growing up around him. But Isaac took the matter coolly and hopefully, and went to work with all his energy to repair the misfortune.

Not long after this they dissolved partnership, dividing their goods by the lump rule. Isaac obtained rather the best of the bargain, as he had a family to support.

While the Funks were in partnership they drove cattle and horses and other stock to Galena, Chicago, Ohio and wherever they could find a market. They traveled in all kinds of weather and took their provisions with them from home. In the winter of 1841-2 Isaac started for Chicago with a drove of five hundred hogs, and, while in Livingston County, was overtaken by a sleet-storm. The ground became so slippery that it seemed impossible to proceed. After waiting a few days he determined to go on and was obliged to cut the ice in many places with an axe in order. to give the hogs a foothold. He was obliged to exercise a great deal of ingenuity and use many new devices. He tied the legs of some of the hogs together to prevent them from slipping too much. But notwithstanding all his exertions he could only go a short distance, and was detained eighteen days. At the end of that time a heavy fall of snow covered the ground and made it easy for his hogs to travel, and he succeeded in reaching Chicago without further trouble.

The season of 1844 was the one known as the wet season. It commenced to rain in May and continued all summer until August. The creeks and rivers were all overflowed, and a large part of the country was under water. The crops raised that year were very poor, as the excessive rain almost ruined them. During that season Mr. Funk went to Missouri to buy cattle. He started in May and was gone about five months, and his family almost despaired of ever hearing of him again. But in October he returned with seven hundred head of cattle. He had, while gone, traveled over a large extent of country; he had crossed creeks and rivers and by his great exertions had overcome all difficulties. Although he could not swim he crossed streams of water every day by hanging to the mane of his horse and allowing the animal to carry him over. But the speculation was not a fortunate one. Owing to the wet season many of his cattle took the foot-evil and the sore tongue and became poor and died. During this season he lost about eleven hundred dollars.

We can only obtain some small idea by making comparisons and looking at particular things. It is said of Mr. Funk that he "did not own a wagon for seven years ; went to mill near Sprinfield, fifty miles, with oxen ; took from ten to fourteen bushels of corn (no wheat then) part of the way with a cart and sled ; carried a plough thirty miles on a horse to get it sharpened, and carried a barrel for Sauerkraut ten miles home on horseback."

The result of all this energy and industry was that Mr. Funk became worth, at the time of his death, a large fortune, perhaps not far from two millions of dollars. Perhaps some one will think that Mr. Funk must have kept a corps of clerks and bookkeepers to know where all his property was, and to keep the matter clearly in mind. But on the contrary he never kept a diary or memorandum book or a regular account book.

In politics Mr. Funk was positive and decided in his views. He was a staunch Whig up to the year 1854, when the Republican party was formed, and then he joined it and remained an honored member of that organization until the day of his death. In 1840 he was elected to the Legislature of the State, but no particular note is made of his connection with politics at that time. In 1862 he was elected to the State Senate to fill the unexpired term of General Oglesby, and at the expiration of his term was re-elected and remained a member until his death. It was in February, 1863, while he was in the State Senate that he made his celebrated speech in favor of an appropriation for the Sanitary Commission. The circumstances under which the speech was made were these : The opponents of the war had a majority in the Legislature and were determined to prevent the passage of an appropriation in aid of the Sanitary Commission. They tried to prevent the matter from coming to a vote by making all kinds of dilatory motions, and they also discussed the propriety of sending commissioners to a peace convention which was to meet at Louisville. All of this aroused Mr. Funk's temper, and he made his knock-down speech, which was published immediately all over the country. The following is the speech as reported :

" I say that there are traitors and secessionists at heart in this Senate. Their actions prove it. Their speeches prove it. Their gibes and laughter and cheers here nightly, when their speakers get up in this hall and denounce the war and the administration, prove it.

" I can sit here no longer, and not tell these traitors what I think of them. And while so telling them, I am responsible myself for what I say. I stand upon my own bottom. I am ready to meet any man on this floor, in any manner, from a pin's point to the mouth of a cannon, upon this charge against these traitors. [Tremendous applause from the galleries]. I am an old man of sixty-five. I came to Illinois a poor boy. I have made a little something for myself and family. I pay $3,000 a year in taxes. I am willing to pay §6,000, aye, §12,000. [Great cheering, the old gentleman bringing down his fist upon his desk with a blow that would knock down a bullock, and causing the inkstand to bound a half dozen inches in the air] ; aye, I am willing to pay my whole fortune, and then give my life to save my country from these traitors that are seeking to destroy it. [Tremendous cheers and applause, which the speaker could not subdue],

"Mr. Speaker, you must please excuse me. I could not sit longer in my seat and calmly listen to these traitors. My heart, that feels for my poor country, would not let me. My heart that cries out for the lives of our brave volunteers in the field, that these traitors at home are destroying by thousands, would not let me. My heart that bleeds for the widows and orphans at home, would not let me. Yes, these villains and traitors and secessionists in this Senate [striking his clenched fist on the desk with a blow that made the house ring again] are killing my neighbors' boys, now fighting in the field. I dare to tell this to these traitors, to their faces, and that I am responsible for what I say to one or all of them. [Cheers.] Let them come on, right here. I am sixty-five years old, and T have made up my mind to risk my life right here, on this floor, for my country.

" Mr. Speaker, these traitors on this floor should be provided with hempen collars. They deserve them. They deserve them. They deserve hanging, I say. [Raising his voice and violently striking the desk.] The country would be better off to swing them up. I go for hanging them, and I dare to tell them so, right here, to their traitors' faces. Traitors should be hung. It would be the salvation of the country, to hang them. For that reason I would rejoice at it. [Tremendous cheering.]

"Mr. Speaker: I beg pardon of the gentlemen in the Senate who are not traitors, but true, loyal men, for what I have said. I only intend it and mean it for secessionists at heart. They are here, in this Senate. I see them joke, and smirk, and grin at a true Union man. But I defy them. I stand here ready for them and dare them to come on. [Great cheering.] What man with the heart of a patriot could stand this treason any longer ? I have stood it long enough. I will stand it no longer. [Cheers.] I denounce these men and their aiders and abettors as rank traitors and secessionists. Hell itself could not spew out a more traitorous crew than some of the men who disgrace this legislature, this state and this country. For myself, I protest against and denounce their treasonable acts. I have voted against their measures. I will do so to the end. I will denounce them as long as God gives me breath. And lam ready to meet the traitors themselves here or anywhere, and fight them to the death. [Prolonged cheers and shouts.]

" I said I paid three thousand dollars a year taxes. I do not say it to brag- of it. It is my duty - yes, Mr. Speaker, my privilege to do it. But some of the traitors here, who are working night and day to get their miserable little bills and claims through the legislature, to take money out of the pockets of the people, are talking about high taxes. They are hypocrites, as well as traitors. I heard some of them talking about high taxes in this way, who do not pay five dollars to support the government. I denounce them as hypocrites as well as traitors. [Cheers.]

" The reason that they pretend to be afraid of high taxes is, that they do not want to vote money for the relief of the soldiers. They want also to embarrass the government and stop the war. They want to aid the secessionists to conquer our boys in the field. They care about taxes ? They are picayune men any how. They pay no taxes at all, and never did, and never hope to, unless they can manage to plunder the government. [Cheers.] This is an excuse of traitors.

-' Mr. Speaker : Excuse me. I feel for my country in this her hour of danger ; I feel for her from the tips of my toes to the ends of my hair. That is the reason that I speak as I do. I cannot help it. I am bound to tell these men to their teeth what they are, and what the people, the true loyal people, think of them.

" Mr. Speaker : I have said my say. I am no speaker. This is the only speech I have made ; and I do not know that it deserves to be called a speech. I could not sit still any longer, and see these scoundrels and traitors work out their selfish schemes to destroy the Union. They have my sentiments. Let them one and all make the most of them. I am ready to back up all I say, and I repeat it, to meet these traitors in any manner they may choose, from a pin's point to the mouth of a cannon." The legislature was sometimes a little more sharp than honest, and it is refreshing to hear the opinion of an honest farmer spoken boldly and fearlessly, with regard to some of its acts and doings. The following is "Senator Funk's protest against the bill providing for the payment of the salaries of officers in gold, delivered in the Senate of the State, Januaryl4th, 1865" :

Mr. Funk : Those lawyers understand these awkward words, and can sift them out, and arrange them, and comprehend them better than I can. But I want to inquire whether it has ever been the practice for a member who does not have his vote rem'lean county. 587

Mr. Funk : I am opposed to that measure. I oppose it on principle. I think that we were sent here to legislate ; to set good examples ; to correct errors and wrongs ; to do justice to the community, and to ourselves also. Now, if a law had been passed to pay all debts in gold, I would not say much about it ; but when this honorable body passed a law to pay itself in gold, I think it is setting a very poor example. Not but what they deserve more pay than they get, but what they get is no object to any member here, I am sure. The little, pitiful sum that any man gets who represents the State of Illinois in the General Assembly, every one of us ought to disdain to stoop down and pick up in the road. Xow, for my own part, I am willing to receive my pay as a senator, just as they pay me at home for my cattle and my hogs, my wheat and my corn. My hired men I pay in common currency, and I do not think we are any better than the laboring man. I think that the labor of ourselves should be paid in the same kind of mone}^ that pays for other things. Now, if this becomes a law, it will come up from the ostler and the hired men in this State, and will they will say to us, "Why, my dear sir, you voted yourselves pay in gold, won't you give it to us ?" What kind of a position will that be ? I would rather go without a cent than have my pay in that way. I object to it on principle. I do not mean to insinuate anything against any man, but I do think that men have voted without thinking upon the evil consequences. Not but that there are men here who can tell as much in a few minutes as I expect to speak in all my life, but when I say "yes," I mean "yes," and when I say "no," I mean "no." It is the most outrageous thing I ever heard of, and I want it branded upon my forehead in letters as big as the moon, that 1 am against it, and shall ever be against it."

It was not until 1864, when Mr. Funk had become very wealthy, that he built his large house, the homestead of the family at Funk's Grove. He did not live long to enjoy it, and only slept in it twice previous to his death. The circumstances of his death arc as follows : He came from his attendance at the legislature at Springfield on Saturday, January 21, 1865, to his residence at Funk's Grove. On the following day his health seemed poorly, and on Monday he came to Bloomington, where he was taken sick abed at the residence of his son Duncan. His disease was erysipelas, and he was also affected with diptheria. On Wednesday his wife came to see him and was taken sick the following day, because of anxiety for her husband. They both had all the care and attention which medical skill could give ; but all was unavailing. Mr. Funk died at five o'clock on Sunday morning the twenty-ninth day of January, 1865, and Mrs. Funk died at about nine o'clock. They were both buried at Funk's Grove in a burying ground selected by Mr. Funk's father.

Mr. Funk was about five feet ten and one-half inches in height and weighed about two hundred pounds. He had keen, black eyes, which were very expressive, especially when aroused. His hair was jet black and curly, but had become gray at the time of his death. His nose was rather prominent and somewhat Roman. His forehead was full but retreating, showing a very practical turn of mind. He was very quick and loud spoken and was exceedingly independent. He had a great deal of push and drive about him ; indeed, his energy was wonderful. He was very quick tempered, but his anger did not last long. He was good-humored and appreciated a joke as well as any one. He was very accommodating as a neighbor, but would stand no imposition from anyone. He loved his brothers and his family, all of his relatives : and indeed the family has always been remarkable for the entire absence of any quarrelsome disposition. The tender affection existing between Isaac Funk and his brother Absalom was indeed remarkable. The latter never had any children, and all of his fatherly feeling seemed lavished upon the children of his In-other. Isaac Funk never made any will. At his death his property was divided by his children among themselves, without any difficulty, and without any administration, or the intervention of any outside parties.

Since the death of Mr. Funk his family have subscribed ten thousand dollars to endow the Isaac Funk Professorship of Agriculture at the Wesleyan University, which is a fine testimonial to the worth of their father.

George "W. Funk, the eldest, was born on the fourteenth of May, 1827. He is about five feet ten and a half inches high, heavy set, broad-shouldered, weighs about two hundred pounds, rather full, though slightly retreating forehead, gray eyes, coal black hair, well-formed nose, rather prominent and a little Roman (all the Funk noses are alike), an active man, good business capacity, very cautious, perhaps a little too much so, and not very talkative. He was married, but his wife is now dead ; he has one child living. He resides at Funk's Grove, about fifteen miles from Bloomington. He lived at home until the death of his father, and for ten years before that time attended to his father's business.

Adam Funk was born on the twenty-seventh of August, 1828, and died at the age of nineteen in 1847. He was full six feet high, a little round-shouldered, and had black hair and dark eyes. He was a remarkably promising young man.

Jacob Funk was born on the seventh of April, 1880. He is about five feet and ten or ten and a half inches high ; his hair is dark, and his eyes are grayish ; he is a little round-shouldered, weighs one hundred and eighty pounds, is a good business man, a stock-raiser and farmer, lives at Funk's Grove, is married, and has a family of three promising children.

Duncan McArthur Funk was born on the first of June, 1832. He is five feet and nine and a half inches high, weighs one hundred and sixty pounds, has black hair, the Funk nose, gray eyes, prominent cheek-bones, has first-rate business capacity, (this is characteristic of all the Funks,) is a farmer and stock-raiser, lives in Bloomington, is married and has a family of two fine children.

Marquis De Lafayette Funk was born on the twentieth of Janmuw, 1834. He is six feet in height, has dark hair and dark eyes, is straight built, weighs from one hundred and eighty-five to one hundred and ninety pounds, has the best improved farm

Francis Marion Funk was born on the thirteenth of August, 1836. He is about five feet eight and a half inches high, small bones, weighs one hundred and forty pounds, has dark hair and dark eyes, has all the marks and traits of character for which the Funks are distinguished, including good business capacity and the Funk nose ! He is married and has two children.

Benjamin Franklin Funk was born on the seventeenth of October, 1837. He is six feet in height, has dark hair and eyes, is straight and well proportioned, is a man of good judgment, served for a while in the army, has been four times chosen mayor ofBloomington, the three last times without opposition, and fills the position with credit to the city. He is married and has one child.

Absalom Funk was born on the third of March, 1842. He is about five feet and ten inches high, weighs one hundred and sixty pounds, is straight built, served for a while in the army, is a good business man, of course, is married and lives in Blooniington.

Isaac Funk, jr., was born on the thirteenth of May, 1844. He is the youngest son. He is five feet ten and one half inches in height, is straight built, has dark hair and eyes, served for a while in the army, is married and has two children, is a farmer, and lives on the homestead at Funk's Grove.

Sarah Funk, now Mrs. Kerrick, was born on the fourteenth of May, 1846. She is the only daughter. She is married to Hon. L. II. Kerrick, lately a member of the legislature.

The family of Isaac Funk is, indeed, a happy one ; happy in the affection which each of its members have for the others ; and they form a monument to the worth of their father more beautiful and more enduring than can be chiseled from marble.

Robert P. Funk was born November 14, 1805, in Clark County, Kentucky. When he was two years old the family moved to Fayette County, Ohio. Two of his brothers, John and Jacob Funk, were soldiers in the war of 1812. The Funk family farmed and raised stock in Ohio and hunted bear, deer, panthers, wolves, coons and foxes. They often had great fun with bears, when the latter were tackled by dogs. The unfortunate dog, that fell into the clutches of a wounded hear, was squeezed to death. The dogs worried the hears by taking hold of their hindquarters, and when the bears turned, the dogs let loose. Mr. Funk has often hunted deer and greatly enjoyed the sport. He has seen deer with their antlers locked together and unable to loosen themselves. The first deer he killed were fastened together in this way. He has had some lively adventures with deer. He once caught a wounded buck in a creek, and partly cut its throat with his knife, when the lively animal knocked the knife from his hand and tore the clothes nearly off from him ; but he succeeded in drowning it in the creek. This incident happened after he came to Funk's Grove. Mr. Funk has often chased wolves with hounds, but the wolves were so large and strong that the dogs could make no fight. The hunters killed the wolves after the dogs ran them down. Mr. Funk chased the first wolf he killed about twenty-five miles. He has often hunted coons, going after them in the night-time, during summer, and in the day-time during winter. They keep pretty close in their quarters during winter, but occasionally come out to look around. The foxes were hunted with hounds and would play the most cunning tricks to elude pursuit. They would walk out on a fallen tree and jump from a limb and the hounds would be puzzled for a long time in finding the trail, and the foxes in the mean while would be running at the top of their speed. AVhen foxes are pressed very hard in the race, they take refuge in holes and, when caught, make a hard fight. It requires a very good dog to master one of them. Foxes are proverbially cunning in their depredations. Mr. Funk once watched a fox, as it stole a goose. It came up a short distance very slyly, then stopped and looked around, then came closer and made another halt, and in this way approached and at last jumped up quickly, grabbed a goose and ran without looking to the right or left.

Mr. Funk came to what is now McLean County, Illinois, in the fall of 1824 with his brother Jesse and their father Adam Funk, liobert lived three years with his brother Isaac and then went with a team to the mining country, where he hauled mineral. There he succeeded well. The mining country was the abode of the hardest characters, and sometimes the party to which

Mr. Funk belonged had trouble. The miners would fight with any thing they could lay their hands on, clubs, stones, guns, frying pans, skillets, in fact anything, which could be handled. But it was very seldom, that any shooting was done. At one time Jacob Funk sold beef to some miners on credit and they refused to pay. After a little talk he threatened to whip a few of them. They said that was what they wanted, and they grasped their clubs and skillets and attacked him and his party and tried to clear the room. But the ceiling of the house, where they were haying the difficulty, was low, and when they attempted to strike with their skillets, they hit the wall above and soon found themselves badlv whipped. On the following day they asked for a pitched battle, but at last concluded to pay the bill and let the matter drop. Robert Funk often went back and forth from Funk's Grove to Galena with droves of swine for his brothers Isaac, Absalom and Jesse. In December, 1830, Robert Funk went with Jesse Funk, James Burlinson and two others to take a drove of swine belonging to Jesse Funk, to Galena. When they crossed the Illinois River, some of the pigs collected together in a huddle and broke through the ice and were drowned. Thev went on past Crow Creek timber to Smith's Grove, thence on to Inlet Creek and a mile beyond. But it was now intensely cold and the snow was deep, as this was the celebrated winter of the deep snow. The party had no shelter and left the pigs in some slough grass and started back to Smith's Grove. They had difficult}' in finding the road, and on account of the bitter cold some proposed to kill a horse and put their feet into it to keep from freezing, and it was suggested that they draw lots to decide whose horse should be killed. But this idea was abandoned. Late at night thev found a home at Smith's Grove. The next day they went to Rock River and crossed at Ogee's Ferry, where Dixon now stands, and remained there two days. Then they went to what was called "White Oak Grove and stayed three days. While there, a man came to them with an ox-load of corn from Ogee's Ferrv, and after delivering the corn started back; but he became so cold that he unyoked his oxen and went to the ferry on foot. His feet were severely frozen and his oxen were frozen to death. When Jesse Funk and his party started out from White Oak Grove to go to Burr Oak, lie hired a man, named

Gratiot, to go ahead and break the road with his wagon. The latter did so for a short distance, but he became so cold, that he put the whip to his horses and went on in a hurry. The snow drifted in the track and covered it up, and the party did not arrive at Burr Oak Grove until late. While on this day's journey, one of the men in the party was about to freeze to death, when Jesse Funk threatened to thrash him and made him run around and get warm. This was a terrible day's journey and many of the hogs were frozen to death. They would put their long snouts in the snow and squeal and freeze and fall over dead ; and before the party could go fifty steps from them the wolves would be on them eating them up. Sometimes the wolves would begin eating the hogs before the latter were fairly dead. About fifty hogs were left eight miles south of Burr Oak Grove, as they had their eyes frozen up. At Burr Oak Grove the swine received a feed of blue Indian corn, for which Jesse Funk paid one dollar and a half per bushel. They started away from Burr Oak Grove to Apple River, and again Mr. Gratiot was hired to break the way with his wagon. He started out and again ran away from the party, leaving them with the cold wind and the snow drifts on the prairie. They went to Apple River and there found a man severely frozen, who said his partner was out in the snow frozen to death. Search was made for the missing man and he was found dead and stiff. The party went on to Wildcat Creek and sold forty of the pigs and then traveled to Galena. Here the hogs were butchered and sold out. At the commencement of the journey they weighed from two hundred and fifty to three hundred pounds, but on their arrival at Galena, after a journey of fortyfive days, they weighed from one hundred and fifty to one hundred and eighty pounds each.

Jesse and Robert Funk started home. When they arrived at Crow Creek they found a party, who were going through from Peoria to Galena in four sleighs, but who had broken down, while about two miles from Crow Creek. All of the party had walked in, except two women, and help was sent out for them. One was carried in for about half a mile on a sheet and Robert Funk carried her the remainder of the way on his horse ; he also carried the other woman some distance on his horse. They were both severely frozen, and the first one was not able to speak for eight hours. It was during this severe winter that Mr. Gratiot, the Indian agent, had a party of five men with twenty-one yoke of oxen drawing goods from Peoria to near Galena. Four of the men and all hut three of the oxen were frozen to death. The goods remained for two or three weeks on the prairie before they could be brought in.

During this same winter two men, who were traveling, came within two miles of Smith's Grove, which is south of Inlet Creek. There they became very cold and crawled under the snow to get warm. Soon they became very warm and comfortable, but the snow melted down on them and made them wet, and when they started for Smith's Grove, one of them froze to death. Jesse and Robert Funk came home without further adventure.

The settlers were, in the early days, much troubled by wolves, which killed the sheep and little pigs ; but Robert Funk had a plucky merino ram, which would drive oft* the wolves and protect the flock. It was a very fine one, which had been brought from Ohio. Mr. Funk remembers particularly how this ram managed the fight, when the flock was attacked by a wolf. It ran out boldly at the wolf and kept it back until the flock retreated three or four hundred yards, when the ram also retreated and again faced about towards the wolf. This process was repeated until the flock was clear out of danger. But the ram kept up the fight until the wolf was worried out and panted for breath, and then the victorious ram frisked his heels and shook his tail triumphantly and went to the flock.

It was a great source of amusement for the settlers to chase wolves. The settlers around Funk's Grove were particularly troubled by a large gray wolf, which they chased man}* times, but could never catch. At last they got up a great chase and went after it. They started it near Funk's Grove and chased it to Kickapoo timber, thence to Randolph's Grove, thence to south end of Blooming Grove, thence down to Atlanta, thence up eighteen miles to Twin Grove, thence back to Short Point on the Kickapoo, thence down below the present village of McLean, thence up towards Blooming Grove, where the long-winded wolf was caught. During this long chase the wolf kept the sloughs as much as possible, and when it did so, it gained on its pursuers. It ran on that day fully fifty miles, but was utterly broken down and could run no more.

The settlers, while riding around the country, always expected to chase wolves. At one time, when Robert Funk went to make a visit, he caught a wolf and brought it in for the admiration of the good looking young lady, who afterwards became Mrs. Funk.

The large gray wolves sometimes collected in packs and were dangerous. At one time a daughter of James Murphy, about fiiteen years of age, when about two miles from home, was chased by a pack of eleven large gray wolves. She ran towards home ; but when within half a mile of the house, she was compelled to climb a tree. She hallooed to her father and the old gentleman came with his gun to her assistance. But the wolves refused to retreat, until he had shot down two or three of them. Tins happened about the year 1838.

Robert Funk is about five feet and ten inches in height, is very muscular and tough, can endure heat, cold and fatigue, has an enormous head of hair, which shows his great vitality. He is kind-hearted, generous and hospitable, and has that quality, which is so marked a characteristic of the family, of which he is a member, that is - courage. He has seen some of the rougher phases of frontier life, but lives quietly and contentedly at his home in Funk's Grove.

"Robert Stubblefield was born November 23, 1793, in the county of Halifax, Virginia. He was the son of Edward Stubblefield, sen., who was the son of John Stubblefied, who, with two brothers, Edward and William, came from England. Edward Stubblefield, sen., the father of Robert Stubblefield, married Miss Lightfoot Munford, daughter of William Green Munford. His wife's maiden name was Ann Stanhope ; their daughter, Mary Lightfoot, in the Revolutionary war, acted as private secretary to her father. Mr. Robert Stubblefield, the subject of this memoir, was therefore a grandson of Mr. William Green and Ann Munford. Mr. Munford was from England and served his adopted country as a colonel in the Revolutionary war. The colonel not only devoted his personal energies, but loaned the government a large amount of his means (and he was wealthy) towards freeing his country from the Brittanic yoke.

"This loan, in consequence of the loss of the papers by fire,, was never recovered; but in virtue of a provision made by Congress for the compensation of the Revolutionary soldiers and officers, Mrs. Mary Lightfoot Stubblefield, after the death of her lather, Col. Munford, and being at the time his onlv surviving' child, applied for and obtained a land warrant from the government for 6,666 acres of land. This warrant was laid on land in Ohio, which is now worth, perhaps, more than half a million of dollars, (the writer's supposition,) to which the heirs of Mr. Robert Stubblefield, and those of his brother John Stubblefield, who have never received any portion thereof, are entitled, to say the least of it, to a pro rata interest therein with the other heirs of Col. Munford, who have, at least a part of them, shared the whole of it.

"In his nineteenth year, at the first call for volunteers, Robert Stubblefield entered the service of his country, in the war of 1812. His company, consisting of ninety-six men, exclusive of officers, was stationed at Norfolk, Virginia, and all, except himself and one other soldier, soon died of the yellow fever, and he himself came very near dying of that fearful malady. He was regularly dism'lean county. 507 charged, though by the death of his captain he failed to obtain his discharge papers ; and by the authorities was conveyed to the place of his enlistment to die, as it was supposed, among his friends. By this removal and the attention of his friends, with the blessing of God, his life was preserved. His friends again - removed him to the home of his brother Edward Stubblefield ; here he soon recovered his health, and his brother, having located land in Ohio, and wishing to see after it, and Robert desiring to see the country, accompanied him in 1812. He married Miss Sarah Funk the 14th day of April, 1814, who died December 13, 1821. She was the daughter of Adam Funk, and sister to Isaac, Jesse and Robert Funk, whose sketches appear in this volume. She died in Ohio. By this first marriage Mr. Stubblefield had four children: Absalom, Ann, Mary and John.

On the 29th day of July, 1822, he married Miss Dorothy Funk, sister of his former wife. By this latter marriage Mr. Stubblefield had nine other children. They are : George Maley, Jesse, Francis, Adam, Eve, Edward, Isaac, William Royal Chase and Charles Wesley, in all, thirteen children. Jesse, the sixth child of Mr. Stubblefield, was the first white child born in Funk's Grove. Adam died, returning from Memphis, whither he had gone to visit Isaac, his sick soldier brother, and to seek for him a furlough and bring him home."

Robert Stubblefield came to Funk's Grove in December, 1824, and settled first in the north end. In 1825 he settled in the place, Avhere he lived until his death. He went to farming immediately. He was a man of great powers of endurance and thought little of the very severe hardships to which the early settlers were subjected. In the spring of 1825 he went to Springfield for iron to make a plow and carried it home on horseback. His wheat was ground at Blooming Grove, on Ebenezer Rhodes' hand-mill,which was made in 1824.

During the winter of the deep snow Robert Stubblefield and his brother John went to mill, and on their return were cauffht in the first great heavy snow fall and were unable to bring home their grist, but forced to throw their sacks of meal out in the snow and bury them for a few days; but they afterwards returned and brought the sacks home.

number of others, were taking some pigs to Galena and were lost in the snow. The stage, which carried the mail, passed the party and went on to Gratiot's Grove and gave news of their coming to a man named Chambers. The latter fired guns as signals and late at night the party came in. They went on to Galena, after some delay and made beds in the snow to camp out at night. On their return from Galena they became lost once more, when Mr. Stubblefield gave the reins to his horse and the intelligent animal brought out his rider safely to Mr. Chambers' house. Mr. Stubblefield often drove stock of various kind to Chicago, Peoria and other points. During one winter, while driving a load of pork across Peoria Lake, the ice began to crack beneath. He hurried up his team and arrived at the shore just as the ice broke up.

During the sudden change of the weather in December, 1836, Mr. Stubblefield was coming: home from Peoria. When the cold wind struck him he drove to a mill about three miles distant, but came near freezing to death before arriving there. He came home the next day, but could not cross Sugar Creek with his team, for the stream had overflowed and was half a mile wide and was a glare of ice, on which his horses could not stand. He went home on foot and returned with help, ran his wagon over on the ice, cut the ice and made it rough for his horses to walk and brought them across. His stock suffered severely and many of his pigs were frozen to death.

Robert Stubblefield died June 8, 1870, while talking to his son Jesse, sitting on the porch of his new house at Funk's Grove. He was fully six feet in height, and was heavy in build, weighing about two hundred pounds. He was a very muscular and determined man and not afraid of anything. He was very successful in life, was one of the best and kindest of neighbors, and stood high in the confidence of the community. He was a very conscientious man, and decided in his religious opinions. He was scrupulously honest in all his transactions and had a thorough contempt for meanness and dishonesty in others.

Absalom Stubblefield, eldest son of Robert Stubblefield, was born November 27, 1815, in Fayette County, Ohio. In 1824 he came with the Stubblefield family to Funk's Grove, in what is now McLean County, Illinois. The family traveled with an oxteam, as was usual in those days. They came first to Randolph and afterwards to Blooming Grove, by mistake, then went to Funk's Grove. Mr. Stubblefield's first experience was a hard wrestle with a little Indian boy, a son of Jim Buck, one of the chiefs of the Ivickapoos. The boys were of about the same age and size, but Absalom had the muscle and brought the little Indian to the ground. This was at Blooming Grove, whither the family had gone, when it first came to McLean County, thinking it Funk's Grove, being misled by their directions. When they saw their mistake they came to Funk's Grove. The only family then living at the latter grove was that of William Brock. Isaac and Absalom Funk were then living- with Brock. The Stubblefield family arrived there December 18, 1824, and immediately began farming. When Absalom Stubblefield became old enough he hunted wolves, which he killed with a hickory club. The Kickapoo Indians were then plentier than game. Old Machina, the chief, was very friendly. During the war of 1812 he fought against the United States, as he was promised a great many ponies by the British, if he would whip the whites. In the war of 1812 he led on his warriors to the fight, but saw them fearfully cut to pieces at Tippecanoe, and he received no compensation for his trouble or his losses, and he declared that he would never again fight against the whites. During the winter of the deep snow, Absalom Stubblefield went to mill ten miles distant on the Kickapoo. He was obliged to break the way with horses, and as the horses on the lead became tired, those in the rear were put ahead to break the wav. During this winter the horses and cattle were fed on a piece of ground, which was tramped over and over again, and the ice, where they stood, was not thawed until in June and July. In December, 1836, when the sudden change in the weather came, Mr. Stubblefield was at the house of Robert Funk, where had been snowballing. Suddenly the wind came cold from the west. Mr. Stubblefield mounted his horse and rode home, and on his arrival there, was frozen fast to his saddle, and was obliged to give himself a hard wrench to get loose.

When Absalom Stubblefield was only nine or ten years old, he selected the place, where he determined to have his farm, and was advised by his grandfather to deal in stock, to raise calves and sell them, and when they became large, to buy his land. He made some money by splitting rails, then bought calves, raised and sold them, and earned fifty dollars, with which he entered forty acres of land.

Mr. Stubblefield has had some experience with fires on the prairie, though he has always been well protected by Sugar Creek, as the forks are on the east and west. But he has often been called on to fight fire for his neighbors. At the south end of Funk's Grove the settlers were unprotected, and those across the prairie on the Kickapoo were also exposed to fire, and the settlers on each side were anxious to have it fired in the fall, when the wind was blowing away towards the other side of the prairie. When the wind blew from the south, the settlers on Ivickapoo were likely to take advantage of it, and send the fire rolling up to Funk's Grove ; but if it blew from the north, some one at Funk's Grove was likely to fire the prairie and send the fire over to " those fellows on Ivickapoo."

The old settlers loved their practical jokes, and Mr. Stubblefield tells a good one, which was played upon a " fresh" young man, who wished to steal watermelons. James Biggs told the young man of the sight, and so aroused his imagination, that he determined to go after them. They were on the premises near where Mr. Delavan now lives. The young man went for them, and Biggs, who was secreted near by, watching the performance, fired a charge at him. The " fresh" young gentleman ran for home, but in his fright fell into a pond of water and lost his watch, but found his way out and reached home covered with mud.

Mr. Stubblefield has led a hardy out-of-door life, and has become very well developed. He is six feet and one inch in height, and weighs two hundred and seventy-six pounds. He is very muscular, and in his youth practised wrestling, which was considered by the early settlers the best of sport. He is exceedingly humorous, and never likes to see a joke spoiled for relation's sake. He has been a successful farmer, is very prompt to meet his obligations, and his word is as good as the best security. He has been married three times, and has always been happy in his domestic life.

Asa, "William J., Lafayette, Charlotte and Mary A. Stubblefield, all of whom live at home. Mrs. Alley Stubblefield died April 18, 1869. On the twenty-fourth of January, 1870, Mr. Stubblefield married Mrs. Campbell, widow of Mark Campbell of Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Xo children have been born by the latter marriage. She has three children : David, Mary Bell and William Wilson Campbell.

John Stubblefield, second son of Robert Stubblefield, was born June 4, 1820, in Fayette County, Ohio. The family came to Funk's Grove in December, 1824, as stated in other sketches.

He remembers very clearly the Indians, and particularly recollects seeing the squaws dry the venison on sticks over coals of fire, in order to preserve it. He remembers many curious matters of the early days, which are very uncommon with the changed condition of the country. He remembers the wild pea-vines, which once grew in the timber and bore a fruit, which he liked to eat, and which furnished food for horses and cattle in early spring time. The nettles were then thick, the grass on the prairie was high and its roots were strong and fibrous, making it very hard work indeed to break the ground. This difficulty was then far greater than it would be now, as the settlers were then obliged to use the old bar-shear plow, which was not a convenient implement to turn the sod. The vegetation has changed with the coming of civilization, even where the ground has been left uncultivated. The horseweed, which the horses liked so well, is now never seen. The prairie grass is gone, and the fine blue grass takes its place. He remembers the deep snow, and how the people beat their corn in a mortar and sifted out the finest for bread and kept the coarsest for hominy. The settlers raised their own cotton and flax ; they pulled the flax, rotted it, broke it, worked off the shives with a wooden knife over a scutcheon board, and passed it through a coarse and a fine hackle. The flax was spun and woven, and the tow, which was hackled out was used for filling, and the fine flax was used for the warp. The fine flax made the best of thread ; it was spun on a little wheel. The shirts made of flax were very strong. [Sometimes shirts were made of cotton and flax mixed. Cotton could never be raised with advantage. The jeans was made of wool for filling and cotton for warp. The pioneer children did not wear overcoats; but when they became large enough to go to mill, from ten to fifty or perhaps even a hundred miles distant, they had overcoats sometimes. The first overcoat was made in Buckles' Grove, and was all of wool. The cloth for overcoats was first woven, then fulled, then pressed, then colored drab or London brown. These fulled overcoats would turn water almost as well as water proof.

Mr. Stubblefield says, women worked hard in the early days, and he thinks it almost unaccountable, that thev are unable now to do as much as formerly. They do no spinning, nor milking, nor weaving now, but they have a great many little notions and trinkets, which occupy their minds.

Sugar Creek had more water in it forty years ago than now, and fish would run up. lie has often seen suckers and redhorse three feet long in the creek. He used to fish for them with a hook and line and with a gig, which is a little spear with three tines to it. It was great fun to spear them, particularly on the shoals, where they could be plainly seen.

During the sudden change in December, 1836, much of the stock of the Stubblefields was out in the timber, and was frozen. The chickens froze on their perches, and many of the hogs, which were kept in the timber, died partly because of their piling up one on top of another, and partly because of the intense cold. Many of the bogs, which were not frozen to death, had their ears and tails frozen, and these useful and ornamental appendages afterwards dropped off.

Mr. Stubblefield went to Pekin to do his trading, hauled his corn there, and there bought his pine lumber. He occasionally went to Chicago with wheat, bringing back salt.

As Mr. George Stubblefield has told so many jokes in his sketch about others, Mr. John Stubblefield thinks it only fair that one or two of George's peculiarities should be published. John Stubblefield says that George was a cunning youngster, and in his youthful days liked fishing much better than study. His health was subject to the most remarkable changes. In the morning, when it was time for children to go to school, young

George would become desperately sick with the headache, and would be obliged to stay at home, but in the evening he would become so well that he could take his pole and line and go fishing. In the morning at about nine o'clock the headache would return again with its usual intensity. Young George was a very ingenious boy, and at one time taught a pet calf to act as a ridinghorse. At one time, while displaying his horsemanship on the back of the calf, Absalom Stubblefield (the mischievous Ab.) twisted its tail. It jumped around, and George was thrown forward. He grasped the horns of the calf in terror, crying : " Oh, Lord, I'm killed ! I'm killed!" But no serious results followed.

John Stubblefield is six feet in height, is rather slim, and likes fun as well as the rest of the Stubblefield family. He enjoys a practical joke and loves to tell it. He is a hard working man, has been remarkably successful as a farmer, and is very w^ell to do in the world. He is pretty cautious in the management of his property, but exercises good judgment.