Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-06-24

gress. Edward II. Funston. He was
elected 10 Congress oftcner than any
man who ever represented Kansas in
the House Of Representatives serving
eleven years. Since the completion Of
his last term in Congress a few years
ago he is back on the farm looking
AFTER things there just the same as if
he had never known the glamour of
life AT the nations capital and had
never felt the nattery of power in the
assembly of lawmakers. He was call
ed Farmer Funston when he was
iirst elected and he has never lost the
blunt honesty of Il farmer since.
ANCESTOR LANDED IN BALTI-
The grandfather of General Fred
Funston was born in County Donegal.
Ireland. in 1900. He was brought to
the United states by his parents They
landed in Baltimore III 1906 and set
tied in Paris, Ky, and in 1911 moved
to farm near Springfield Ohio. This
ancestors Christian name was Fred
erick and for him the Kansas soldier
was named. He married In lS23 Miss
Julia Stafford who was born in Giles
county, Va. but whose parents were
natives OF ireland.
In 1896 Edward H. Funston was born
in Clark county. Ohia. lie lived on Il
farm till the beginning of the civil war.
when he volunteered and went to war
as second lieutenant in Il battery of
artillery which was commanded by
captain Anderson Mitchell. just be-
lore the battery Went rumbling off to
battle the young lieutenant was mar
ried to Miss Anne Eliza Mitchell. a sis
ter of the artillery captain and a
daughter of James Mitchell farmer
She. too. was born on farm in Ohio
IN Marion county Her father was
porn in Ireland. Her great-grand-
mother was a sister of Daniel Boone.
1T would seem as il General Fun
ston was fighter by hereditary right?'
it was suggested.
"Oh. yes said his father. He gets
his fighting blood from his MOTHER
ROMANCE WITH y SENORITA
Young Fred Funston grew up as n
boy on his fathers Kansas farm. He
graduated from the lola High School
and became a teacher of district
school. Then he save this up and be-
came student at the Kansas Uniyer-
siiy TWO years, leaving before his senior
year While at the university he learn
ed the Spanish language from a fair
eenoriia. with whom, for time. he
was said 10 be in love.
In the summer of 1859. while s,iu =
student at the university. he went to
Colorado, and after exploring some
places in the Rocky mountains that
were difficult of access. he became n
guide to earn money to help paw his
expenses.
EXPLORED DEATH VALLEY.
TWO years after this his father. while
member of Congress. secured his APP
pohtment as botanist To accompany II
surveying party sent out by the United
states Government to explore Death
Valley. He spent seven months in thor
desolate region. where the bones of ON
lSrants OF other days were still bleach
ing IN the fierce white heat Of the sun.
II was accounted a dangerous thing To
do, but he not only did all the Govern
ment expected OF him. but he won
praise by the scope and thoroughness
of his report.
His going down into Death Valley
was sufficient TO make his accuoint
ances and friends of lola wonder Thav
Knew he was no coward. but his quiet.
retiring monner had concealed from,
them his adventurous spirit.
RECAAli; y REPORTER.
Funston of his exploration of Death
Valley that earned for him an appoint-
ment by the Democratic Secretary al,
Agriculture under Cleveland's second
administration in 1898 rs a commission
er to explore Alaska and report on the
nora or that country. His ability to
write ana to learn what to write about
may be traced back to his experiences
of two years before.
FRED Funston was n newspaper re-
porter. He worked on the Kansas Citv
News in 1880. Il paper which has since
| passed away. lie covered a district'
for that paper. but after less than n
year OF work he Quit Kansas City. but
not newspaper work. He went to Fort
Smith. Ark. where he worked on a
newspaper again. II was a Democratic
paper. and when he returned to lola
and told of his experience in Arkansas
his friends asked:
Why. Fred. how could YOU write
editorials on q Democratic paper?"
20. that's nothing. \ newsna ner
man is equal to all emersencies.'
Out Of this the story ran and grow
until everybody in lola was telling how
| Fred Funston went TO Arkansas ana
printed Republican editorials in a
Democratic paper. This his father de-
MES.
The second daring adventure of Fred
Funston was that which followed his
appointment in 1893 to visit Alaska. He
penetrated the frozen regions wherever
his presence was needed in the dis
| charge Of his commission.
| on one occasion he took some Indian
guides and Travelled 200 miles over the
snow and ice to the rescue OF II shin
that was icebound. He went as far up
the Yukon river as any man has gone
| since. and he visited the places where
gold has since been found to excite the
whole country
He camned the winter of 1S9S-'9i in
| q