HENRY C. FUNK, a well-to-do farmer and stock-raiser of township 17 north, range 11 west, section 14, near Virginia, Illinois, was born in this precinct February 13, 1860. His parents were Conrad and Frederica (Steiner) Funk. The father was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, December 26, 1832, and his mother in Texas, December 5, 1839. They were married in Beardstown, Illinois, July 28, 1857. Conrad came to Cass county in 1842 with his mother, his father having died on the ocean. They came directly from Europe to Arenzville, where they rented for a short time, afterward removing to this precinct, where Conrad purchased a farm, having at the time of his death 1,150 acres of land, all except 304 acres being in Monroe precinct. He died upon the farm where our subject now resides, March 8, 1888. His wife still resides at the old homestead where her unmarried children live.
They had eight children, who are as follows: Willis Conrad died in childhood; Henry C., our subject; Louis A. resides upon a farm near; Rosa, Mary, George, Emma, and Frank, living at home. This whole family has enjoyed good educational advantages and have an excellent home.
Henry grew to manhood upon the farm and received his education in the common schools. He now owns 360 acres of good land, which he rents. He furnishes all the seed and gets one half of the grain. The girls have good farms and the brothers are equally well off. The voters of the family are Democrats. The parents were members of the Lutheran Church and the whole family is prominent, and possesses the confidence and esteem of all who are fortunate enough to know them. George Edward is not married, and is of a roving spirit, having visited many of the cities of the West. Early in life he developed a fondne4ss for fire-arms, and is now one of the best rifle shots in the country. He has given numerous exhibitions of his skill at target practice, shooting glass balls, etc., and has always come out best in competition with local authorities. He was born November 13, 1868, on the farm where his mother and family live and which is his home.