John KIEFFER
OCCUPATION: Farmer, Music Teacher BIOGRAPHY: After marriage in 1837, Mary & John moved to wilds ofMissouri, settled near Miami, Saline Co, MO. In addition to farming, John taughtmusic and acted as agent for Funk Publishing Co. (Francis Funk, p.106-107).In 1847, John died of pneumonia contracted from swimming the Missouri River ona dare (MacAllister p. 55). John is buried in Bluff or Black Cemetary,Saline Co, MO. Mary returned with children to to Singers Glen VA to live with her father. SOURCES: Frances Funk, Joseph Funk A Biography; Pub 1984, FrancesFunk, HC72, Box 557, Lake of the Woods, Locust Grove, VA 22508 -Dale E MacAllister, Donovan Memorial Church in the Singers GlenCommunity, A Historical Sketch 1875-1975; Singers Glen, VA; Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society, Dayton, VA -Russell Armentrout, Armentrout Family History 1739-1978, 1985,Harrisonburg Rockingham Historical Society, Dayton VA. p. I.93 -The Daily News-Record, Harrisonburg, VA, 26 Dec 1930 articlecontained notes on marriage of Mary Funk to John Kieffer. (cited in Frances Funk, pp.126-131. -Charlotte Churchill, Genealogical Notes on Family of John ArmentroutSr. in Armentrout File, Historical Library, Eastern Mennonite CollegeHarrisonburg, VA -Rockingham Co, VA Marriage Bonds, from 1778, p.80
BIOGRAPHY: After marriage in 1837, Mary & John moved to wilds ofMissouri, settled near Miami, Saline Co, MO. After John's death in 1847, Maryreturned to Singers Glen VA to live with her father. LAND: 1861 Joseph Funk Will has Mary Kieffer, widow & children getting Joseph Funk homestead. Also show she still owned property in MO.(Frances Funk p. 123; HRRS Newsletter) MARRIAGE: IGI Source A170518, A170519 has as 20 May 1837. All othersources have as 30 May 1837. CENSUS: 1850 Widow with 5 children living with father Jos. Funk 1870 living on small farm valued at $1,500 with per prop. at $300. Onemarried son and widowed dau. Annie and her 2 small children living with her. (Armentrout p.I-93) BURIAL: Singers Glen Cemetery. SOURCES: Rev A.J. Fretz, A Brief History of Bishop Henry Funck andOther Funck Pioneers;1709-1899; 1709-1899 ; Elkhart, IN, Mennonite Publishing Co,1899; Reprint, Higginson Book Co, Salem, MA - Frances Funk, Joseph Funk A Biography; Pub 1984, Frances Funk, HC72,Box 557, Lake of the Woods, Locust Grove, VA 22508 -Russell Armentrout, Armentrout Family History 1739-1978, 1985,Harrisonburg Rockingham Historical Society, Dayton VA. p. I-93 -Harrisonburg-Rockingham Hist. Soc. Newsletter Vol 12, No 3)
SOURCE: Rev A.J. Fretz, A Brief History of Bishop Henry Funck andOther Funck Pioneers;1709-1899; 1709-1899 ; Elkhart, IN, Mennonite Publishing Co,1899; Reprint, Higginson Book Co, Salem, MA, p.299
BURIAL: Dayton Cemetary BIOGRAPHY: Fretz "History of Bishop Henry Funck" p.864 OCCUPATION: Noted teacher, poet, composer, publisher, editor, andmusician. "The Valley Poet". Founded the "Musical Million". Works included:"My Mountain Home"; "The Old School House"; "Grave on the Green Hillside". MILITARY: During the Civil War, served in Co. H, 10th VirginiaVolunteer Infantry (Chrisman's Infantry). Military roster describes: Light complexion, brown hair, blue eyes, 5'8". Enl.4/18/61 Harrisonburg as Pvt., Co. H. Absent sick 10/4-12/61typhoid fever. Appears 5th Sgt. 2/63. POW 5/3/63 Chancellorsville. (OldCapitol Prison?), Washington, D.C. 5/4/63. Exchanged 5/10/63 City Point. POW5/12/64 Spotsy. C.H. Ft. Delaware, De., 5/21/64. Released under Oath ofAllegiance 4/23/65. There is a story (unconfirmed, told by Edgar Ruebush) thatEphraim rode his horse to Washington to see Abraham Lincoln to get Aldinereleased from prison.
NAME: Known as "KIttie"; never married BURIAL: Singers Glen Cemetary "Kittie Kieffer dau. of John & MaryKieffer died age 28 yrs, 2mo, 7 da." CENSUS: 1850 Rockinghan Co census lists Catherine as 8 yr old livingin grandfather Joseph Funk's home (Armentrout p.I-93) SOURCE: Rev A.J. Fretz, A Brief History of Bishop Henry Funck andOther Funck Pioneers;1709-1899; 1709-1899 ; Elkhart, IN, Mennonite Publishing Co,1899; Reprint, Higginson Book Co, Salem, MA, p.299 -Russell Armentrout, Armentrout Family History 1739-1978, 1985,Harrisonburg Rockingham Historical Society, Dayton VA. p.I-93
BIRTH: Born in Warm Springs VA (Now WV) during 1843-1844 return visitof John & Mary Kieffer family to Singers Glen, VA (G. Gloyd) CENSUS: 1850 Rcokingham Co. census shows her as a child of 6 yrs.living with mother in home of grandfather Jos. Funk. (Armentrout p.I-93) RELIGIOUS: Joined the United Brethren Church in early womanhood. Shewas a close student of the Bible, and a pioneer in the Woman's ChristianTemperance Union. MISCELLANEOUS: "Lou" was one of the first women in Virginia to passthrough Confederate military lines, when she went to join Ephraim in Mineraland Grant counties (today WV) during the Civil War. (G. Gloyd) SOURCE: Rev A.J. Fretz, A Brief History of Bishop Henry Funck andOther Funck Pioneers;1709-1899; 1709-1899 ; Elkhart, IN, Mennonite Publishing Co,1899; Reprint, Higginson Book Co, Salem, MA, p.299, 865. -Gary M Gloyd, Gaithersburg, MD -Russell Armentrout, Armentrout Family History 1739-1978, 1985,Harrisonburg Rockingham Historical Society, Dayton VA. p.I-93 - Frances Funk, Joseph Funk A Biography; Pub 1984, Frances Funk, HC72,Box 557, Lake of the Woods, Locust Grove, VA 22508 p.87
BURIAL: Dayton Cem. with Benjamin Kirkpatrick (on tombstone as AnnieShank) RELIGION: Member Dayton Presby. Ch. CHILDREN: MGK says died at age 88 had four great great grandchildren, 62 great grandchildren and total of 99 descendants at her death. CENSUS: 1850 one of 5 children living with widowed mother atgrandfather Joseph Funk's; In 1870 listed as widow with 2 children living with motherMary Kieffer (Armentrout p.I-93) SOURCES: M. Glen Kirkpatrick, John & Priscilla Kirkpatrick of PrinceWilliam County, VA and Their Descendents; 1765-1959 ; Skyland, NC, M. GlenKirkpatrick, 1959; Copy in Prince William Library, Manassas, VA -Rev A.J. Fretz, A Brief History of Bishop Henry Funck and Other Funck Pioneers;1709-1899; 1709-1899 ; Elkhart, IN, Mennonite Publishing Co,1899; Reprint, Higginson Book Co, Salem, MA -Frances Funk, Joseph Funk A Biography; Pub 1984, Frances Funk, HC72,Box 557, Lake of the Woods, Locust Grove, VA 22508 -Russell Armentrout, Armentrout Family History 1739-1978, 1985,Harrisonburg Rockingham Historical Society, Dayton VA. -Ernest B. Kirkpatrick, grandson -Terrence V. Murphy, 10th Virginia Infantry, 1989, H.E. Howard,Lynchburg VA, available from Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Soc., Dayton VA.p.172
OCCUPATION: Printer, Dairyman RESIDENCES: West Lafayette, IN RELIGION: Missionary Baptist CENSUS: 1850 age 3 living with mother in home of grandfather JosephFunk 1870 He and wife living with mother Mary Kieffer SOURCES: Rev A.J. Fretz, A Brief History of Bishop Henry Funck andOther Funck Pioneers;1709-1899; 1709-1899 ; Elkhart, IN, Mennonite Publishing Co,1899; Reprint, Higginson Book Co, Salem, MA p.300 -Russell Armentrout, Armentrout Family History 1739-1978, 1985,Harrisonburg- Rockingham Historical Society, Dayton VA, p. I-94
He married Mary Funk 30 May 1837 at Rockingham, Va . Mary Funk was born at Singers Glen, Rockingham, Virginia 4 Jul 1815 daughter of Joseph Funk and Rachel Britton .
They were the parents of 6
children:
Rachael Kieffer
born 13 Apr 1838.
Aldine Silliman Kieffer
born 1 Aug 1840.
Hannah Catherine Kieffer
born 17 Feb 1842.
Lucilla Virginia Kieffer
born 23 Jul 1843.
Annie Amelia Kieffer
born 5 Dec 1844.
Linnous Rollin Kieffer
born 16 Oct 1846.
John Kieffer died 22 Jun 1847 at Saline, Mo .
Mary Funk died 19 Apr 1888 at Rockingham, Virginia .