History of Lincoln, Oneida and Vilas Counties

"History of Lincoln, Oneida, and Vilas Counties Wisconsin"

Compiled by George O.Jones, Norman S. McVean and Others. Printed in 1924 by H.C.Cooper. Jr. & Co., Minneapoli-Winona MN. ill. 787 pages. The first two hundred pages are history of the three counties, the remainder of the book is biographies.

Biography

Runge, Charles F. who for a number of years has conducted in Merrill, Lincoln County, a harness business that was established by his father in 1880, was born in Oshkosh, Wis., June 10, 1871, son of F. J. and Anna RUNGE. It was in 1867 that the parents came to the United States from Germany, settling in Oshkosh, where they were married, and where for some time the father followed his trade of shoemaker. Later they went to Missouri, where they spent five years, but in 1880 they returned to Wisconsin, settling in Merrill, and here F. J. RUNGE followed the shoemaking and harness business for 37 years. He then entered into the general mercantile business, conducting a store here until his death in 1912. His wife died in 1908. They had six children who are now living, namely: Fred, William, Gustav, Mary, Anna and Charles F. Mary is now the wife of William JOHANNES, and Anna the wife of Charles POLAK, a farmer and sawmill owner in Lincoln County. Charles F. RUNGE was three years old when he accompanied his parents to Missouri. It was in that state that he first attended school, and he afterwards went to school in Merrill. At the age of 15 he entered his father's shop to learn the business, and in time became a good harness-maker, a trade that he has since followed in the same building. During the many years that he has worked at it he has formed a wide acquaintance and established a fine reputation as reliable workman and business man. He is a member of the G. U. B., the Men's Club of St. John's Lutheran Church and of the Lutheran Society. Mr. RUNGE was married at Princeton, Wis., Feb. 7, 1896, to Emma ZANTO, daughter of August and Louisa ZANTO, who were farmers and early settlers of Princeton. Mr. ZANTO is now dead, but his wife is stil living and resides in Merrill. Mrs. Emma RUNGE died April 25, 1922, leaving five children, four sons and one daughter, namely: Leo, now employed in the Citizens National Bank of Merrill; Walter, who is in the drug store in Milwaukee; Edgar, in the employ of the Burroughs Adding Machine Co. at Madison; Mabel, who is attending high school, and David, also going to school. Mr. RUNGE has seen Merrill grow from a very small place, as when he first came here there was but one sawmill and three business houses, with a few residences. The timber was thick and heavy all around; where he now lives the family used to pick berries and it seemed to them that they were far out in the country. In 1906-07 he served as county supervisor, and in 1914-15 he was alderman from the Second Ward.

Transcribed by Susan Swanson, from pages 698-699; History of Lincoln, Oneida and Vilas Counties Wisconsin; Compiled by George O. Jones, Norman S. McVean and Others 1924, H. C. Cooper, Jr. & Co

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