USA > Illinois > McLean County > The good old times in McLean County, Illinois : containing two hundred and sixty-one sketches of old settlers, a complete historical sketch of the Black Hawk war and descriptions of all matters of interest relating to McLean County > Part 52
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78
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 Broek, built a little pole shanty, twelve by fourteen feet, at the south- east 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 win- dow, and one door made of clapboards." The Funks then went to breaking prairie and buying and selling cattle. Mr. Stubble- field 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.
581
M'LEAN COUNTY.
In June, 1826, Isaac Funk married Miss Cassandra Sharp of Fort Clark (Peoria). This lady was born in Baltimore, Mary- land. When she was only three years of age her father emi- grated 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 some- thing 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 judg- ment 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 set- tler in Chicago, failed, and the Funks lost seven thousand dol- lars 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 misfor- tune. He came in, and, after sitting uneasily by the fire, ex- claimed : " 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.
582
OLD SETTLERS OF
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 hun- dred 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.
It is not easy for us to take our mind back to early days and to place the condition of things correctly in our imagination.
583
M'LEAN COUNTY.
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 sharp- ened, 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 book- keepers 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 Republi- can 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 un- expired 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 pub- lished immediately all over the country. The following is the speech as reported :
" MR. SPEAKER : I can sit in my seat no longer and see such boy's play going on. These men are trifling with the best in-
584
OLD SETTLERS OF
terests of the country. They should have asses' ears to set off their heads, or they are secessionists and traitors at heart.
"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 ad- ministration, 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 neigh- bors' 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 I have made up my mind to risk my life right here, on this floor, for my country.
"These men sneered at Col. Mack, a day or two ago. He is a little man ; but I am a large man. I am ready to meet any of
585
M'LEAN COUNTY.
them in place of Col. Mack. I am large enough for them, and I hold myself ready for them now, and at any time. [Cheers from the galleries.]
" 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 trai- tors and secessionists. Hell itself could not spew out a more traitorous crew than some of the men who disgrace this legisla- ture, 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 I am ready to meet the trai- tors 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 privi- lege 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 govern- ment. I denounce them as hypocrites as well as traitors. [Cheers.]
586
OLD SETTLERS OF
" 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 de- serves 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, January14th, 1865" :
Mr. Funk said : I would like to have an opportunity to make an inquiry, and then to explain my position.
Leave being given, the Honorable Senator proceeded as fol- lows :
Was there a bill passed on Thursday last, respecting the pay of members of the legislature being made in gold ?
The speaker : Yes sir.
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 re-
587
M'LEAN COUNTY.
corded either for or against a measure, in consequence of his absence, to have that vote recorded, when it does not alter the result ?
The Speaker : The Senator cannot alter the vote, but he can have it recorded on the journal, if another member will join him in requesting it.
Mr. Funk : I would like to have mine entered on the journal.
Mr. Ward : I second the request of the senator, and will join him, so that there may be two names.
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 correet 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 de- serve 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. Now, for my own part, I am willing to re- ceive 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 money 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 withont 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 I am against it, and shall ever be against it."
588
OLD SETTLERS OF
It was not until 1864, when Mr. Funk had become very wealthy, that he built his large house, the homestead of the fam- ily 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 are as follows : He came from his attendance at the legis- lature at Springfield on Saturday, January 21, 1865, to his residence at Funk's Grove. On the following day his health seemed poor- ly, 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 Wednes- day 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 ex- ceedingly 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 accom- modating as a neighbor, but would stand no imposition from any- one. 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 in- deed remarkable. The latter never had any children, and all of his fatherly feeling seemed lavished upon the children of his brother. 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 interven- tion of any outside parties.
589
M'LEAN COUNTY.
Since the death of Mr. Funk his family have subscribed ten thousand dollars to endow the Isaac Funk Professorship of Agri- culture at the Wesleyan University, which is a fine testimonial to the worth of their father.
There are in the Funk family nine children living and one dead.
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 ca- pacity, 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, 1830. IIe 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. HIe is five feet and nine and a half inches high, weighs one hun- dred 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 chil- dren.
Marquis De Lafayette Funk was born on the twentieth of January, 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
590
OLD SETTLERS OF
for the size in McLean County, and raises some of the finest stock. He is married and has had two children, one of whom is living.
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 of Bloomington, 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 Bloom- ington.
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. H. 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 beauti- ful and more enduring than can be chiseled from marble.
ROBERT PEOPLES FUNK.
Robert P. Funk was born November 14, 1805, in Clark Coun- ty, 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,
591
M'LEAN COUNTY.
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 bear, was squeezed to death. The dogs worried the bears 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 buek 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. IIe 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. When 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.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.