WI BIO - Kenosha Co - RUNKEL, John

History of Racine and Kenosha Counties, Wisconsin. Chicago: Western 
Historical, 1879, p 729

John RUNKEL, farmer, Section 35, Wheatland Township, Kenosha County, 
Wisconsin, P. O. Wheatland, was born in August 1819 in the Grand Duchy of 
Hesse, Germany. He learned the trade of wagon making, which business he 
followed in different parts of Europe. In 1835 he went to Baden, Germany, 
where he worked until 1838, then went to France, where he worked at his trade 
until 1839, then started for Switzerland. He was employed at his trade in 
Switzerland until 1840, then went to Constance, France, where he took up his 
business until 1841, then traveled through Tyrol to Vienna, Austria, lived 
there a few months, next went to Hungary, where he remained only a short 
time, when he returned in 1842 to his home in Germany.

In July 1840 John RUNKEL came to Burlington, Wisconsin [Burlington Township, 
then in Racine County, created in 1836, Territory of Wisconsin, formed 20 
April 1836, the State of Wisconsin not created until 29 May 1848], where he 
worked at carpentering until 1844. In 1844 he bought a farm of eighty acres 
in Burlington Township, which he never lived on, but made some good 
improvements there.

In March 1845 in Wheatland [Wheatland Township, then in Racine County, 
Territory of Wisconsin] he [John RUNKEL] married Miss Theresa EBERHARDT, who 
was born in 1827 in Prussia. They [John and Theresa (EBERHARDT) RUNKEL] have 
had eleven children, eight of whom are living: (1) Augusta, born in October 
1847; (2) Theresa, born in August 1851; (3) Henry, born in September 1855; 
(4) Louisa, born in April 1858; (5) Sophia, born in May 1861; (6) Emma, 
born in March 1863; (7) Julia, born in September 1865; and (8) Clara May, 
born in 1867.

Mr. [John] RUNKEL has held the office of Treasurer of the School Board in 
District No. 1, Wheatland, for four years. In the spring of 1873 he was 
elected Supervisor, and re-elected every successive year until 1878. Mr. 
RUNKEL has led a very industrious life. He owns 160 acres of land in Section 
35, where he is living, and also owns seventy-three acres in Section 12, 
Brighton Township, and thirty-three acres on Section 2, Wheatland [Wheatland 
Township, both Brighton and Wheatland Townships formerly in Racine County, 
but since 26 January 1850 in Kenosha County]. Altogether Mr. RUNKEL owns 266 
acres of fine land, well improved. They are members of the Wheatland German 
Presbyterian Church.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly