From History of Walworth County Wisconsin by Albert Clayton Beckwith, Vol. II, 
publ. 1912, Page 1440-1441
 
JOHN L. FUNK.  One of the leading agriculturists of East Troy township, 
Walworth county, is John L. FUNK, who is one of the worthy native sons of the 
county, having been content to spend his life on the home farm, well knowing 
that no better opportunities for a man of his inclination could be found in 
any other locality.  He has ever had the interests of his county at heart and, 
while promoting his own welfare has done much toward the bettering of 
conductions in general in his community.  His career has been one of close 
application, uncompromising integrity and he is highly regarded by all who 
know him, consequently is well deserving of a place in his county history.
 
John L. FUNK was born on the farm where he still resides, in the township 
mentioned in the preceding paragraph, on February 7, 1850.  He is the son of 
Jacob and Catherine (HAMM) FUNK, both natives of Germany, the father born in 
Wurtemberg, July 12, 1808, and the mother on March 30, 1811.  Jacob FUNK was 
six years of age when his father died and thus in early life he was thrown 
upon his own resources, and when young learned the tailors' trade in his 
native land.  In 1829 he emigrated to America, locating in Boson and there he 
was married on February 21, 1836, and in 1838 he came to Wisconsin and took up 
one hundred acres, now owned by the subject in East Troy township, which he 
developed from the wilderness and here spent his last days, becoming very well 
established, his death occurring on August 16, 1886, and his wife died on 
December 1, 1890.  Their family consisted of eight children, of whom four are 
living.  In politics he was a Republican, and he and his wife were members of 
the German Methodist church, and he took much interest in the work of the 
same.  The first sermon of this denomination was preached here in his log 
cabin.  He continued his trade of tailor in connection with farming.
 
John L. FUNK, of this sketch, was reared on the home farm where he assisted 
with the general work during the summer months, and when a youth learned the 
shoemaker's trade, at which he worked for about four years, but farming was 
his principal business from the start.  He received such education as he could 
in the early schools.  As stated, he remained on the home place of one hundred 
acres, which he has kept well improved and under an excellent state of 
cultivation, and to which he has added twenty acres in this township, and he 
also owns twenty acres in Spring Prairie township.  In connection with general 
farming and stock raising he makes a specialty of dairying.  He keeps 
thoroughbred Durham cattle, and is very successful with his live stock and 
dairy.
 
Politically, Mr. FUNK is a Republican, but has little aspiration to be a 
leader in pubic affairs.  He has been a director in the Farmers Mutual Life 
Insurance Company.  Fraternally, he belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America 
and the Royal Neighbors of Honey Creek.
 
Mr. FUNK was married on February 22, 1877, to Caroline SCHMIDTER, who was born 
in Spring Prairie township on May 22, 1849.  She is the daughter of Louis and 
Amelia (MANNERT) SCHMIDTER, a complete sketch of whom appease elsewhere in 
this work.  To Mr. and Mrs. FUNK have been born five children, all living and 
named as follows: Emma, Otto, Walter, Nellie and Roy.
 
Submitted by Carol