Funk family of Jessamine county, Kentucky
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Funk family of Jessamine county, Kentucky
Article from The Morning Herald, June 19, 1899:
The Funk Family – Sketch of a Race of Sterling Men and Women.
S.M.D. Goes Back Into the Family Archives and Brings Forth Some Interesting Records.
Samuel Duncan, the noted genealogist of Jessamine county, has sent to The Morning Herald the following sketch of the Funk family, whose descendants are scattered all over the Blue Grass counties and are among its best citizens:
Peter Augustine Funk was an early German settler of Hagerstown, Md. His children were among the early settlers of the Blue Grass counties of Kentucky in 1794.
Peter Augustine Funk was the eldest of the sons of Michael Funk and Nancy Wunch. Michael Funk followed the trade of button making in Bavaria and died at Munich June 4, 1799, aged 76 years. Peter Augustine Funk was born in the City of Munich December 20, 1740. In 1761 he married Nancy Sweepingshuzer, second daughter of Henry Sweepingshuzer and Margaret Waldorf of Saizwedel.
The names of the children of Peter Augustine Funk and Nancy Sweepingshuzer, his wife were Mary Magdaline Funk, who married the Rev. Thomas Goforth in 1794. She was born July 19, 1762, and died in Jessamine county January 19, 1843, aged 82 years. She was the mother of ten children, whose descendants are scattered over the South and West. Peter Funk, Jr. was also a native of Germany, and was born April 29, 1763. In 1795 he married Margaret Bash, daughter of Henry Bash, who manufactured the first bar soap in Lexington in 1822.
Was A Button Maker
Peter Funk in early life learned the trade of button making. In Germany it is a custom when any one has finished an apprenticeship he is escorted by a company of young men arranged rank and file marching out of the city. When they are just without the gates the foremost cries halt, and turning around he uncorks a jug which he has held high in the air with a cotton bandana tied to a flag staff, and drinks to the health of his companions. A glass is then passed from one to the other and when all have drunk they sing a song and proceed on their way. The leader of the band is selected with great care and is a perfect master of his trade.
Jacob Sweepingshuzer, a maternal uncle of Peter Funk was the leader, as he was considered the best and most ingenious button maker in South Germany. As Peter Funk had just finished his term of four years at button making it was his time to commence his wanderings through all the Fatherland to perfect himself in his trade. He can not set up on his own account until he has passed through this experience, and when he goes forth his brother apprentices accompany him out a mile. They try to make it a joyous occasion and while they are merry with wine and singing, cheer the heart of the lone wanderer, who soon enough becomes in prospect of his long exile, poverty stricken and friendless from which there is no escape.
It was two years of wandering over the western portion of Germany that Peter Funk one Friday morning arrived at Hamburg. After walking over the city he met an old Scotch sailor-Thomas Wallace, who could speak German and who had served under Paul Jones and had lost his left arm in a naval engagement on the coast of Scotland. The old Scotchman had been honorably discharged and had a good home in Baltimore. He persuaded Peter Funk to stop traveling over Germany, and after two or three days reflection, Peter and the old Scotchman embarked on board the Reindeer, Captain McCall of Baltimore, master. After a stormy passage of four weeks they arrived in Baltimore. In Baltimore, Peter Funk became acquainted with Jacob Funk who was a cousin and had settled in Hagerstown some twenty years before the American revolution.
Settled In Fayette In 1794
He had become very wealthy and was the founder of the Funk family in Maryland. Peter Funk never worked at the trade of button making after settling in Fayette County, Kentucky, in 1794. It is true he made the pewter buttons in that year for the wedding coat of Peter Higbee, Jr., at Elkhorn. His oldest son was the late John Funk of Jessamine county, who was born January 26, 1796, and died March 3, 1861. Nancy Rice Funk, his wife, was born February 2, 1800 and died November 24, 1866. Andrew, his oldest son, was born November 24, 1826, and died June 16, 1853. Mary Lyne, mother of George Lyne, was born February 19, 1832, and died March 3, 1883. James Lyne was born March 2, 1829, and died August 3, 1874. No kinder hearted man than James Lyne ever lived in Jessamine county. He was strictly an honest man in every relation of life. John Funk, his father-in-law, was one of the most industrious farmers of Jessamine county and accumulated a considerable fortune in lands at the time of his death in 1861. He was an honest, upright man and a good citizen who was a stranger to deception and double dealing. “Peace to his memory.” S.M.D.
The Funk Family – Sketch of a Race of Sterling Men and Women.
S.M.D. Goes Back Into the Family Archives and Brings Forth Some Interesting Records.
Samuel Duncan, the noted genealogist of Jessamine county, has sent to The Morning Herald the following sketch of the Funk family, whose descendants are scattered all over the Blue Grass counties and are among its best citizens:
Peter Augustine Funk was an early German settler of Hagerstown, Md. His children were among the early settlers of the Blue Grass counties of Kentucky in 1794.
Peter Augustine Funk was the eldest of the sons of Michael Funk and Nancy Wunch. Michael Funk followed the trade of button making in Bavaria and died at Munich June 4, 1799, aged 76 years. Peter Augustine Funk was born in the City of Munich December 20, 1740. In 1761 he married Nancy Sweepingshuzer, second daughter of Henry Sweepingshuzer and Margaret Waldorf of Saizwedel.
The names of the children of Peter Augustine Funk and Nancy Sweepingshuzer, his wife were Mary Magdaline Funk, who married the Rev. Thomas Goforth in 1794. She was born July 19, 1762, and died in Jessamine county January 19, 1843, aged 82 years. She was the mother of ten children, whose descendants are scattered over the South and West. Peter Funk, Jr. was also a native of Germany, and was born April 29, 1763. In 1795 he married Margaret Bash, daughter of Henry Bash, who manufactured the first bar soap in Lexington in 1822.
Was A Button Maker
Peter Funk in early life learned the trade of button making. In Germany it is a custom when any one has finished an apprenticeship he is escorted by a company of young men arranged rank and file marching out of the city. When they are just without the gates the foremost cries halt, and turning around he uncorks a jug which he has held high in the air with a cotton bandana tied to a flag staff, and drinks to the health of his companions. A glass is then passed from one to the other and when all have drunk they sing a song and proceed on their way. The leader of the band is selected with great care and is a perfect master of his trade.
Jacob Sweepingshuzer, a maternal uncle of Peter Funk was the leader, as he was considered the best and most ingenious button maker in South Germany. As Peter Funk had just finished his term of four years at button making it was his time to commence his wanderings through all the Fatherland to perfect himself in his trade. He can not set up on his own account until he has passed through this experience, and when he goes forth his brother apprentices accompany him out a mile. They try to make it a joyous occasion and while they are merry with wine and singing, cheer the heart of the lone wanderer, who soon enough becomes in prospect of his long exile, poverty stricken and friendless from which there is no escape.
It was two years of wandering over the western portion of Germany that Peter Funk one Friday morning arrived at Hamburg. After walking over the city he met an old Scotch sailor-Thomas Wallace, who could speak German and who had served under Paul Jones and had lost his left arm in a naval engagement on the coast of Scotland. The old Scotchman had been honorably discharged and had a good home in Baltimore. He persuaded Peter Funk to stop traveling over Germany, and after two or three days reflection, Peter and the old Scotchman embarked on board the Reindeer, Captain McCall of Baltimore, master. After a stormy passage of four weeks they arrived in Baltimore. In Baltimore, Peter Funk became acquainted with Jacob Funk who was a cousin and had settled in Hagerstown some twenty years before the American revolution.
Settled In Fayette In 1794
He had become very wealthy and was the founder of the Funk family in Maryland. Peter Funk never worked at the trade of button making after settling in Fayette County, Kentucky, in 1794. It is true he made the pewter buttons in that year for the wedding coat of Peter Higbee, Jr., at Elkhorn. His oldest son was the late John Funk of Jessamine county, who was born January 26, 1796, and died March 3, 1861. Nancy Rice Funk, his wife, was born February 2, 1800 and died November 24, 1866. Andrew, his oldest son, was born November 24, 1826, and died June 16, 1853. Mary Lyne, mother of George Lyne, was born February 19, 1832, and died March 3, 1883. James Lyne was born March 2, 1829, and died August 3, 1874. No kinder hearted man than James Lyne ever lived in Jessamine county. He was strictly an honest man in every relation of life. John Funk, his father-in-law, was one of the most industrious farmers of Jessamine county and accumulated a considerable fortune in lands at the time of his death in 1861. He was an honest, upright man and a good citizen who was a stranger to deception and double dealing. “Peace to his memory.” S.M.D.