Funke, Ernest

1835 - 1906  (71 years)    Has no ancestors and no descendants in this family tree.

• Name	Funke, Ernest
  Born	20 Jan 1835
  Gender	Male
  Died	29 Jan 1906
  Biography	1913
  History of Brown County, Wisconsin Page 56
  Prominent in the public affairs of Oconto, as an official and as a business man, Ernst Funke became well known. He was born in Liitzen, province of Saxony, Germany, January 20, 1835, a small town around which was fought the famous battle of that name between the great Napoleon and the allied Russians and Prussians under Prince Wittgenstein, May 2, 1813, Napoleon remaining invincible, and in the Red Lion Inn, a celebrated hostelry of those days the Corsican world conqueror made his headquarters at the time. After spending the first eighteen years of his life in the land of his nativity Ernst Funke started for America on a sailing vessel, which was thirty-six days crossing the Atlantic. His ultimate destination was Milwaukee but, failing to hnd employment there at his trade of rope making, he went to Oconto in June, 1853, to work in the woods. He had no money with which to pay his way to that place, so he worked his passage on the lumber vessel Napoleon to a point off Oconto and then came ashore in a small boat. With other men he went up the river to the first mill, where they failed to find employment. They had to sleep on the ground and forage for something to eat, but after enduring many hardships and privations Mr. Funke succeeded in obtaining work as cook in a lumber camp at fourteen dollars per month, while later his wage was increased to eighteen dollars per month. During the first year of his residence in Oconto he shipped on a trading vessel, which traded with the fishermen on the Lake Michigan and Green Bay shores. He utilized every opportunity that would enable him to gain a start in the business world. For a time he drove oxen with a man who was destined to become the lumber king of Wisconsin and achieve nation-wide renown as United States senator, Isaac Stephenson, and they remained lifelong friends. He also was employed for a short time in a hardware store at Fort Barlow. At length he embarked in the hotel business, erecting a hotel in Oconto and conducting it successfully for sixteen years. As proprietor thereof he formed a wide acquaintance and became not only widely but favorably known, gaining many friends throughout the community and among the hotel patrons. On the 30th of November, 1S85, Mr. Funke was united in marriage to Mrs. Eva Rosina (Baeder) Whitney, who was born October 21, 1838, and was the widow of Daniel Henshaw Whitney. She survives her husband, who passed away January 29, 1906. Although he was in poor health for six years previous to his demise, he was sick only a week and was buried in Woodlawn cemetery, Green Bay. Mrs. Funke built a handsome home at Astor heights in 1907 and here she resides with Mr. and Mrs. Bell. Samuel Bell was born on the west side of Green Bay, where he attended school and graduated. He entered the banking business as collector and at the age of only twenty years filled a position as bookkeeper efficiently. He now holds a similar position of wider scope in a Chicago institution. Air. and Mrs. Bell have a daughter, Harriet Whitney, born October 7. 1897. Fraternally Mr. Funke was a prominent Mason, holding membership in the blue lodge at Green Bay and the chapter at Oconto. Politically he was a republican and served in various offices. He first acted as trustee of the village in 1862 and later was president of the Pier committee. He was also a member of the county board in 1877-78 and at one time was mayor of the city, in which connection he administered the affairs of the office in a most prompt and businesslike way and sought the progress and improvement of Oconto in every possible way. Still higher political honors came to him in his election in 1878 to the general assembly and so creditable was the record which he made in office that he was reelected, thus serving for two terms as a member of the state legislature. President Arthur appointed him postmaster of Oconto, in which position he remained for four years, and thus in many offices he proved himself a capable official, loyal to the best interests of the community. He retired several years before his death with a comfortable fortune, which had been honorably won and was justly merited. His was a creditable record in that he worked his way upward from a very humble position, wisely utilizing his time and his opportunities, and while winning success, meeting fully every obligation of manhood and citizenship.
  Reference Number	2201
  Person ID	I329605	1FamilyTree
  Last Modified	25 Aug 2018

  
  

  Family	Baeder, Eva Rosina,   b. 21 Oct 1838,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Married	30 Nov 1885
  Last Modified	26 Sep 2016
  Family ID	F210089	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart