The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1898-09-15
VOL. 33
JOHN A. FUNSTON.
He Passes Away on Wednesday, After a
Long Illness.

john "A. Funston, an old and
prominent and widely known resi-
dent of Bloomsbury, died on We'd
nesday, a little before noon, after
an illness of several years. His
wife preceded him to the grave
about two years ago, and her loss
had very depressing effect upon
him and he has been in failing
health ever since. The funeral SER
vices will be held Friday at 2 p. m.
and will be conducted by Rev. D.
N. Kirkby, Mr.. Funston having
been an active member of the Epis-
copa1 Church for many years, a
vestryman, and an earnest support
er of all its projects. The hand
some stained glass chancel window
are the gifts of himself and wife,
and last Easter he gave a solid sill
yer communion service as a memor-
ial to his wife.
The subject of this sketch was
born February 9, 1920, in Madison
Twp, this county, the birthplace
also of his father, Thomas A. Fun
ston, native of Northampton Co.,
Pa. He was educated at the COM
mon schools and at the Miff1inburg
Academy, Union county, Pa, and
remained at home, engaged in his
fathers interests until twenty-five
.years of age, teaching school dur
ing the Winter months. He ac-
cepted a position in the Irondale
Company store, Bloomsbury, Pa,
in the year 1916 then, after a
summer in Pottsville, he took
charge of the store of Judge H.
Cool s, Co., in Beaver Meadow,
Pa. While there, in August, IS4S,
a proposition to purchase the store
aad stock of Richard Fruit, of Jer-
I ktown, was accepted, Mr.. Fun
lon taking charge of the business
Beptember I6, 1S4S. On account
of failing health, in consequence of
close application for eight years,
the business was disposed of to
Conrad Kreamer, Mr.. Funston re-
tanning a private interest of one
third, and retiring to spend a few
more years in collecting and secur-
ing outstanding debts and book ac-
counts. After the store business
was disposed of, Mr.. Funston pur-
chased what is known as the Thos.
Barber homestead, on the east
branch of the Chillisquaque creek.
Mr.. Funston later gave some atten-
ton to dealing in real estate. and
owned several farms and properties
in the vicinity Of Jerseytown and
Bloomsbury, finally selling his store
property to William Kreame., in
1865, and his residence, in Jersey
town, to DIR. Thomas J. Swisher,
in 1867. In the same year he re-
moved to Bloomsbury, and erected
his late dwelling, at Fifth and Mar
ket streets, where he has resided
since 1868. In the year 1868 at
tention was directed at the high
rate Of road and poor taxes for the
township of Bloom, Bloomsbury
being within this township and be-
ing unincorporated roads and
streets in town and township were
Sufficiently cared for, and under
the fhen existing plan of providing
for jhe poor and collecting and dis
bursting poor taxes, excessive
amounts were required to meet the
demands Of a list of self-constituted
and undeserving paupers, that un-
der the mild and liberal methods
then prevailing, preferred to live on
the community rather than work.
Seeing the demoralizing effects of
this high rate of taxation, and the
accumulating debt, MIR. Funston
called upon the Rev. D. J. Waller,
Sr., and, after a short interview, a
supplement was drawn transferring
the act for the Luzerne Poor Dis
trict to Bloomsbury. The move
was approved by leading citizens.
The necessary enactment was
passed by the Legislature, appoint
ing Mr.. Funston, Mr.. B. F. Hart
man and DR.. J. Schuyler, directors
to buy a farm and establish a home
for the poor. The list of over fifty
paupers was reduced to sixteen,
owing to an unwillingness to accept
the new and comfortable home, and
the rate of poor taxes reduced from
toto 8 mills. The incorporation
of the Town of Bloomsbury was
similarly effected. In 1868 the fire
and life insurance firm of John A.
Funston & Co. was instituted, the
late Charles Conner being associ-
ated with Mr.. Funston. An unus-
ual number of important positions
of trust have been filled by Mr..
Funston, among others, that Of
County Treasurer. He took very