Bio: Runkel, George A. (No dates given)

Contact: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Runkel, Weber, Reed, Gale

---Source: History of Marathon County Wisconsin and Representative Citizens, by Louis Marchetti, 1913.

Runkel, George A. (No dates given)

GEORGE A. RUNKEL,* postmaster at Brokaw and manager of the general store here for the Wausau Paper Mill, came here in April, 1908. He was born at Lowell, Dodge County, Wis., and is a son of John and Mary (Weber) Runkel.  

John Runkel was born in Germany, and his wife in Massachusetts, of German parents. They reside at Oconto, in Oconto County, Wis., where he is a general merchant and is interested also in the cedar lumber business. Their children all survive, as follows: Frederick, Etta, Lena, Alberta, John, Jacob, George A., Mayme, Minnie, Catherine and Lulu.  

George A. Runkel had only common school advantages, after which he learned the jewelry business with his brother and continued in the same for thirteen years at Oconto Falls, Wis. He was then an office man with the Rhinelander Paper Mill Company at Rhinelander, Wis., for four years. Mr. Runkel was then tendered his present position and accepted, and as soon as he was established here was appointed postmaster. This office does considerable business, having eighty lock boxes. In his political attitude he is independent. He is serving as superintendent of the village and also is school clerk, and while living at Oconto Falls, both village and town clerk.  

On April 27, 1895, Mr. Runkel was married to Miss Lillian Reed, who was born at Oconto, Wis., a daughter of Louis and Jane (Gale) Reed. Louis Reed was born in Germany, and after coming to this section followed fishing as a business. The mother of Mrs. Runkel was of English descent but was born in Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Reed's children were: Elizabeth, Eva, Ira, Lillian, Wesley, Raymond and Louis. Mr. and Mrs. Runkel have one son, Floyd Reed, who is a school boy. Mr. and Mrs. Runkel attend the Methodist Episcopal Church. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias at Rhinelander and to the M. W. A. and the Beavers at Brokaw.