Isaac Runner was born in Berkeley County, Virginia, October 24, 1822. His parents, William and Rebecca Miller Runner, were natives of Virginia and Maryland, and were of German descent. William Runner was a farmer, in his native state, until his death in 1824. He was a captain in the Virginia militia during the war of 1812. Mrs. Rebecca Runner died six weeks after the death of her husband.

Isaac Runner lived with his grandfather until he was 12 years old and then with an uncle for three years.

In 1838, at the age of 16 years, he came on foot to Lafayette, Tippecanoe County, Indiana, where he worked in the packing house and subsequently on the farm until 1839 when he went to LaSalle County Illinois, where he operated a ferry in was afterward on a farm, later he bought a team and farmed on shares. In 1840 he returned to Wea Plains, Tippecanoe County, Indiana.

In 1843 he entered 160 acres of land in Oak Grove township, Benton County, which he still owned at the time of his death.

He was married March 5, 1846, to Rebecca Beaver, Lawrence county Indiana, by whom he had four children: Ellen Wells, Ann Nalley, Millie Evans, and Theophilus Runner, all still living. The wife died February 18, 1853.

Mr. Runner was married again on January 25, 1855, to Charlotte E. Brake, of Highland County, Ohio. To this union were born eight children, four of whom, Ida Stembel, Morton E. Runner, Etta Evans and Alice Patterson, are still living.

Mrs. Runner departed this life January 8, 1905. Since that time Mr. Runner has been a constant sufferer having been afflicted with complications that resulted in dropsy. This had been the only serious illness of his life with the exception of a cancer which he had successfully removed at Rome, New York, in 1879.

He closed his weary eyes to the scenes of this life June 25, 1905, at 1:00 AM. He had been a patient suffer for many months. At times he would be hopeful of a recovery from his afflictions, and then again, as pain and suffering would bear down upon him, he would express himself as anxious to make the change from this life to that of rest.

Those who knew him best loved him most. He was a man of strong will power, kind and charitable to those deserving of help.

He leaves to mourn his loss eight children, 22 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren, beside a large circle of friends.

The funeral services were held at the home on Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock, in charge of Rev. O.P. Paxon, pastor of the Oxford M. E. Church. The body was laid to rest in the West Cemetery.

Contributor:
Janet Glaspie - [email protected]