My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM A. RUNKLE, a prosperous and extensive agriculturist of Jefferson Township, Cass County, Mich., has since 1880 been a resident of his finely-improved homestead of two hundred and ten acres, located on section 31. Our subject was born in Milton Township, October 31, 1851, and is the son of Cool P. and Margaret (Wilson) Runkle. The paternal grandfather, Adam Runkle, was of German descent and settled in New Jersey. He afterward made his home in Pennsylvania, but removed thence to the near locality of Morrisville, N. Y., where he and his excellent wife both died. Grandfather Runkle was a farmer, and upon his homestead reared four sons and four daughters. The sons were Cool P., Henry, John and Richard. The daughters were Sarah, Matilda, Euphemia and Hannah. The father of our subject was born in New York in 1817. Leaving his native State, he afterward removed with his parents to the Quaker State, but with his father and mother once again settled in New York.

In the winter of 1844-45 the father journeyed to Cass County, Mich., and worked by the month a few years, when he purchased eighty acres of land in Milton Township, and gradually accumulated a fine property, being now considered one of the wealthiest men in his township. He is an enterprising citizen, and is politically a Democrat. He has been thrice married. His first wife was the mother of one child, who died in early infancy. The second wife bore her husband five children, four of whom reached maturity: Margaret Kingsley, William A., Henry S., and Ida S., who passed away in the bloom of girlhood, aged sixteen. The second wife died in 1882. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church and was a truly excellent woman. Born in Pennsylvania, she was the daughter of James Wilson, a farmer of the Quaker State. Her paternal ancestors, the Wilsons, were of Scotch origin. Margaret Haslett, wife of James Wilson, was the mother of three daughters, and one son, Samuel. The daughters were Sarah, Jane and Margaret. The maternal grandfather of Mr. Runkle died in Pennsylvania. The grandmother, who still survives, was married again, becoming Mrs. Richard Savidge. By her second husband she bore one son, William T. They emigrated from Pennsylvania to Michigan in 1841, and made the long journey by wagon. She is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and trained her family up to religious observance.

Reared on a farm, our subject early became self-supporting and from thirteen years of age made his own way in the world. Being the eldest of the family, he was obliged to assist his father in paying off debts on the farm, but at twenty-two years of age he began work for himself. He first rented a small farm of eighty acres belonging to his mother, and which was located on the State line of Indiana. In the spring of 1880, he bought the homestead of one hundred and sixty acres where he now resides upon section 31, and has since added to the size of the home farm, which contains two hundred and ten acres. Mr. Runkle also owns a half-interest in forty acres of valuable land. He was married February 25, 1875, to Miss Jennie M. Baker, born in Crawford County, Pa., the daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Hartman) Baker. Joseph Baker, a native of Crawford County, Pa., was a farmer by occupation. He removed from his early home to Summit County, Ohio, and later located in St. Joseph County, Ind. He finally settled in 1867 in Cass County, Mich., but is now a resident of Florida. Mrs. Baker was a native of Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Jacob Hartman, who with his wife emigrated from Germany early in life. Joseph Baker is a stanch Republican. His father, John Baker, was a lumber-man and was killed in a sawmill in Ohio. He left three sons and three daughters to mourn his loss. Mr. and Mrs. Runkle are prominent in the social and religious life of their home neighborhood and are ever ready to lend a helping hand in all matters of local enterprise.