My Genealogy Hound

COOL RUNKLE. The development of the resources of Cass County has been very materially enhanced by the labors of its industrious, energetic and ambitious farmers. Among the prominent and prosperous agriculturists of the county, no one is better or more favorably known than the subject of this brief biographical notice, who cultivates a fine farm in Milton Township. Born in Hunterdon County, N. J., on the 2d of March, 1818, he is the son of Adam and Ellen (Cool) Runkle, and traces his ancestry on both sides of the house to Germany, whence representatives of these two families emigrated to America in an early day.

After their marriage, which took place in New Jersey, the parents of our subject located on a farm in that State, and ten children were born to them while residing there. They then removed to New York and resided on a farm for three years, after which they went to Cortland County, N. Y. Thence they removed to Madison County, N. Y., and located in Morrisville, where the father died at the age of ninety-four years. The mother also passed away at about the same age, and they now lie buried side by side in the old cemetery near their home. They were the parents of ten children, as has been already stated, and all of the family grew to manhood and womanhood. Mr. Runkle was the eighth in order of birth and is the only one now living.

At the age of seven years our subject accompanied his parents to New York, and remained beneath the parental roof until he became of age, meantime assisting his father on the home farm and attending school whenever the opportunity was offered. His first employment was upon a farm, where he worked by the month, at first receiving a salary of $13 per month, and later getting $10. He was economical and frugal, and it was not long before he had saved a sufficient amount of money to enable him to establish a home. In 1843 he married Miss Susannah Bentley, but this lady died after a brief wedded life; her only child passed away at the age of seven years.

In 1845 Mr. Runkle came to Michigan and for one year resided upon a farm in Ontwa Township, Cass County. In the spring of 1847 he engaged as teamster on the Michigan Central Railroad, which was then building. He continued thus employed from the 1st of March to the 1st of July, but was cheated out of $80 of his earnings, which left him with an indebtedness to meet. At the time, he rented thirty acres of land in Milton Township and this having been planted to wheat, he returned thither and engaged in cutting and garnering the grain. Afterward he worked for a time as teamster in the employ of Judge Coolidge.

In the fall of 1847 Mr. Runkle purchased eighty acres, where he now resides, and from time to time he has added to his place until it now consists of two hundred acres. The old house formerly standing on the place has given way to a neat, commodious structure, with all the modern conveniences, and the entire farm is kept in splendid condition. In addition to this place Mr. Runkle is the owner of forty-five acres of timberland in Milton Township, eighteen acres in the village of Edwardsburgh and other valuable property in that place. At one time he owned one thousand acres of land, but has disposed of much of his property during late years. With the exception of two years when he was engaged in the mercantile business at Edwardsburgh, he has made his home on his present farm ever since the date of his arrival in Michigan.

The second marriage of Mr. Runkle united him with Miss Margaret Biddle, who was born in Pennsylvania, and died after having become the mother of five children: Margaret E., William A., Henry A., Ida and one that died in infancy. Politically, Mr. Runkle believes in the principles of the Democratic party and is one of the most zealous and faithful advocates of that political organization. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church and has served as Trustee in that denomination. Kind and considerate in his intercourse with his acquaintances, a genial man, pleasant neighbor and energetic farmer, he well deserves the high regard in which he is held throughout the community.