Francis M. Funk was a son of Honorable Isaac Funk and remained on his father's farm until he was twenty-four years old. His early education commenced when he was six years old in the old log schoolhouse with its puncheon floor, seats and desks of slabs, huge fireplace and windowpanes of greased paper. He attended school in the winter and during the summer herded cattle for his father on the farm.

At the age of ten, he took his first trip with his father to Chicago, assisting in driving stock overland, no small task as all rivers and streams had to be forded. This continued until 1854 when a new railroad entered McLean County and the stock was thereafter shipped.

At the age of twenty-one, Francis entered Wesleyan University in Bloomington where he continued his studies for three years. At the end of that time, he went back to the farm of 160 acres that his father had given him. Later he came into possession of 2,000 acres from his father's estate, which he converted to a magnificent stock and grain farm. Tenement houses were erected, and men employed in the running of the farm and caring for the stock, which consisted of high-grade cattle, and Berkshire and Poland China hogs. Many of the cattle and hogs raised were shipped to eastern markets.

In 1875, Mr. Funk removed from the farm to Bloomington, where he erected an elegant residence on East Chestnut Street, where he had continued to reside.

In 1877, he entered into the drug business with Mr. Ira Lackey, while he continued to manage the farm. He also owned two ranches in Kansas, one of 5,000 acres, and the other a 1,200-acre stock farm, both in Russell County. He also continued his business in the drug firm of Funk & Shorthose.

Mr. Funk served several years as supervisor of Funks Grove Township, and was a member of the Bloomington Board of Education for twenty-one years and served as president at different periods.

He was married to Miss Mary Susan Houser on Oct. 13, 1864, at McLean County. From this union three children were born.

The Pantagraph (Bloomington, Illinois), Sept. 11, 1899, Page 7.

Illinois Marriage Index.