John Wilhelm Runkel (1836 - 1914)

Born 17 May 1836 in Rengsdorf, Neuwied, Rhineland, Prussia, Germany

Ancestors

Husband of Mary (Weber) Runkel — married [date unknown] in Dodge County, Wisconsin

Descendants

Died 20 Mar 1914 at age 77 in Oshkosh, Winnebago, Wisconsin, United States

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Biography

Surviving children are:

• Mrs. Thomas Ryan, Oshkosh, Wisconsin
• Mrs. John C Zentner, Oshkosh, Wisconsin
• Miss Alberta Runkel, Oshkosh, Wisconsin
• Fred W Runkel, Waukegan
• J. W. Runkel, Jr. < Oconto, Wisconsin
• George Runkel, Brokaw, Wisconsin
• Jacob Runkel, Mahma, Michigan
• Mrs. Roland Smith, Oconto Falls,
• Mrs. R. B. Ellis, Appleton, Wisconsin
• Mrs. B. D. Brophy, Mahma, Michigan
• Mrs. A. J. Davenport, Dixon, Montana

Surviving siblings are:

• F. W. Runkel, Superior, Wisconsin
• George Runkel, Mason, Wisconsin

"Hon. John Runkel, of the firm J. & L. Runkel, dealers in general merchandise, also manufacturers, Lowell; Mr. Runkel was born near Coblenz, Prussia, in 1837; in 1847, he emigrated to this (Lowell) township with his parents, Jacob and Maria K. Runkel. He married Miss Mary Weber in 1847 [mistake - was 10 yrs old]; they have ten children -- Eddie [sic - Ettie], Fred [Alfred] Lena, Bertha, John, Jacob, George, Mary, Minnie and Katie. Mr. Runkel is a Democrat in politics; he has filled various local offices, and was elected a member of the Wisconsin Assembly one term; he has been in business in Lowell and vicinity for over twenty years and enjoys the confidence and esteem of his fellow-citizens."^[1]

"...In the year 1867 A.D. or thereabouts J. and L. Runkel whose names are somewhat conspicuous in this work, purchased the interest in the land owned by Mr. Reese and platted the grounds on the east side of the street running north to Lowell village and gave it the appropriate name of the first addition to the village of Reeseville. ...Messrs. Runkles engaged themselves in various pursuits such as buying and shipping wheat, cattle and swine. In 1860 they erected a store on the north side of the track and carried on a mercantile business, I believe the post office for a while was kept in their store but was soon taken to the south side of the track and kept in a harness shop where Ernest Swanitz was post master. ...The store kept by Runkles has, for awhile past been kept by Wm. Polifka and Fred Runkle, a brother of J. and L. Runkle but at this writing the building is not used for that purpose."^[2]

Immigration: Port of New York, Ship Zurich, 30 October 1847.^[3]

Residence

1850 Lowell, Dodge, Wisconsin^[4]

1860 Lowell, Dodge, Wisconsin^[5]

1870 Lowell, Dodge, Wisconsin^[6]

1880 Lowell, Dodge, Wisconsin^[7]

November 1892 Oconto, Wisconsin^[8]

1900 Oconto, Wisconsin^[9]

Public Office: Wisconsin State Assemblymember, 1873, Dodge, Wisconsin^[10]

John Runkle, the second child of six of Mary Katherine nee Runkle and John Jacob Runkle, had en children:

• Etta R. (married someone surnamed Smith)
• Lena (married someone surnamed Ryan and had three children)
• John W. (had one child, Nina Leone Mary)
• Mary C. (married someone surnamed Ellis and had one child: Asher R.
• Minnie W. (married someone surnamed Brophy)^[11]

Sources

• Obituary found on newspapers.com in The Oshkosh Northwestern, Oshkosh, Wisconsin on Friday, March 20, 1914, p 4

1. ↑ "The History of Dodge County, Wisconsin, containing a history of Dodge County, its early settlement, growth, development, resources, etc.", (archive.org), Western Historical Co. Chicago, published 1880, p. 739.
2. ↑ "Beginning of Reeseville - as Told by an Early Settler," Reeseville Review, April 29, 1915.
3. ↑ "New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1891," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/27G5-C2V), Wilhelm Crunkel, age 11; citing NARA microfilm publication M237 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.)
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M4DF-T42), John Rongel in household of Jacob Rongel, Lowell, Dodge, Wisconsin, United States; citing family 586, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.)
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MWMT-3RM), John Runkle.
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MN9Z-KXF), John N Rinakle, Wisconsin, United States; citing p. 28, family 215, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 553,210.
7. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MN46-VNY), John W Runkle, Lowell, Dodge, Wisconsin, United States; citing enumeration district ED 20, sheet 310B, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 1423; FHL microfilm 1,255,423.
8. ↑ Father's obituary, "Reeseville Review" 4 Nov 1892. "DIED - Jacob Runkel, at his home north of this village, on Tuesday November 1st 1892. Age 85 years 6 months and 29 days. Mr. Runkel was an old and respected citizen, having came from Germany and settled here in 1847. He was born in Renksdorf, near the Rhine, April 2nd, 1807. Married there in 1831, and came to America in 1847. His wife died some 12 years ago, since which time he has lived with his son, George. Six children survive to mourn his loss - Philip and George, of this place, John, of Oconto, Louis, of Gillet, Fred, of West Superior, and Mrs. Fred Voedisch, of Park Rapids, Minn. The bereaved relatives have the sympathy of the community. The funeral takes place at Lowell, at one o'clock to-day."
9. ↑ "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MMKT-RS6), John Runkel, Oconto city Ward North, Oconto, Wisconsin, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 141, sheet 3B, family 55, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,808.
10. ↑ "Those Who Served: Wisconsin Legislators 1848-2007," Michael J. Keane, Legislative Reference Bureau
11. ↑ The Runkle Family: Being an account of the Runkels in Europe, and their descendants in America, by Fisher, Ben van Doren, New York: T.A. Wright, 1899. via https://archive.org/details/runklefamilybein00fish/page/n675/mode/2up