Hi!
On page 333 of Vol. I, The 1979 History of Adams County, the history
of the Runyon family is given, as follows: "Kenneth H. Runyon, who was born
June 30, 1908 and who died Dec. 9, 1953, graduated from Decatur High School,
attended college in Missouri and was a member of the First Presbytern Church. He
was associated with his father, Roy, in the garage business in Decatur. He
worked for the post office for several years and then bought the Decatur
Insurance Agency which he managed until his death. He was married to Mary Jane
Kunkel, daughter of Sherman P. Kunkel and Fannie M. McConnell. They had four
children, of whom Kaye married Yoneko Satomura of Ashima, Nage, Japan and David
married Michico Yonaha of Miyoko Ima, Japan. They each have three children.
Kaye is retired after 20 years in the armed forces and David was a teacher and
is now in civil service for the Navy. David graduated from Indiana University.
Kenneth's father, Roy N. Runyon was born in Hartford Twp. on Jan. 24,
1886 the son of Benjamin Runyon and Rachel Hall. He married Lottie M.
Lammiman on Jan, 24, 1906. She was the daughter of Chas. H. Lammiman and Sarah
Margaret Mann. Roy formerly managed Reppert farms and operated Runyon Garage on
First Street in the 1930's and 1940's. A former auctioneer, he was later
employed as a salesman for Saylors Buick dealership until his retirement. He was a
member of the Presbyterian Church and Masonic Lodge 571. He died on Dec. 11,
1972.
Benjamin Runyon was born Dec. 1, 1859 and died Sept. 8, 1892, and was
the son of Noah Runyon born Feb. 11, 1838 and died Jan. 13, 1913. His mother
was Margaret Huffman (born Dec. 13, 1839, died Nov. 29, 1920) was the
daughter of David Huffman and Hannah Pine. Hannah Huffman was born Jan. 20, 1811 and
died June 13, 1900. Noah Runyon' s parents were John and Mary Price Runyon.
Rachel Hall was the daaughter Nathan Hall and Melissa French, whose
grandmother was the first white cild born in French Twp. The baby's father was Nathan
French, Jr., only son of Nathan French, Sr., and his first wife Eunice Mills,
both of whom were born in Massachusetts. French Twp. derived its name from
this family.
Benjamin and Rachel Runyon had two children Roy and Mabel (Mrs. Ira
Fuhrman). Benjamin died of typhoid fever and Rachel married George Martz.
Nathan Hall was killed and her mother, Melissa French, married Nathan's brother,
William Hall. Rachel Runyon-Martz died May 1, 1955 and is buried in the
Alberson Cemetery. By Mary Jane Runyon
p. 122--Benjamin Runyon served as County Commissioner, third district
from 1875-1879.
Dick D. Heller, Jr.,
ddheller(a)aol.com