Hugh Runkle, retired farmer, and a resident of Orangeville, is a native of Centre County PA and was born Oct. 5, 1825. His father, John Runkle, was a native of Bucks County PA, where he was reared to manhood, and whence, after his marriage, he removed to Centre County. He purchased a tract of timber land in Potter Twp. where he cleared a farm and spent the remainder of his life. He served as a soldier in the War of 1812, and possessed all the substantial and reliable traits of his ancestry. The mother of our subject in her girlhood, was Miss Elizabeth Phillips, also a native of the Keystone State. Of her marriage with John Runkle there were born eight sons and four daughters, all of whom became of age and nine of whom are still living.

The subject of our sketch assisted his father in clearing the land and tilling the soil, and in the meantime availed himself of the limited opportunities for education in the subscription schools of his native county, often walking a distance of three miles in order to reach the temple of learning. He remained a member of the family circle until 19 years old, when he learned shoemaking, at which he served a two year apprenticeship, and afterward worked two years as a journeyman. Then, on account of ill-health he was obliged to abandon the bench, and resumed farming. For eight years afterward and until the spring of 1859, he rented his father's farm, when, coming to this county, he purchased a tract of land in Buckeye Twp., but made his residence in Oneco Twp. until 1861. He then took possession of his purchase and occupied it 18 months, after which he rented out the land and went into Rock Grove Twp. where he opened a blacksmith shop and worked at teh anvil one and a half years. At the expiration of that time he returned to his farm, which he sold a year later, and purchasing 115 acres in Oneco Twp. H erected the present dwelling in the fall of 1886, and is surrounded by all the comforts of life, while enjoying the friendship of teh best residents of the village.

The lady who has been th close companion and friend of our subject for the lasat 34 years was formerly Miss Hannah Fye, who became his wife March 18, 1853. Mrs. Runkle was born in Centre County, PA and is the daughter of Henry and Catherine E. (Van Kirk) Fye, also natives of PA, spent the last years of his life in Centre County PA. His son, the father of Mrs. R., was married in his native state and came to Illinois in 1855, purchasing a farm in Rock Grove Twp., this county. Subsequently he took up his residence in the village of Oneco, where he spent the last years of his life. Mrs. Catherine Fye was born in 1797, and is still living, making her home with her daughter, Mrs. Runkle. The children of our subject, eight in number, were named respectively, Alice, Eliza, L.C., David W., Daniel, John, Oscar J. and Irving. The parents are members of the Reformed Church, and Mr. Runkle, politically, is one of the stanchest supporters of the Democratic party.

Contributed by Carol Parrish Portrait and Biographical Album of Stephenson County, Ill. (1888), p. 471