George Runkel (1839-1913) played a major role in the Chicago & Northwestern Railway’s extension from Florence, Wis., to Crystal Falls. He was also involved in early mining in the Crystal Falls area and was the founder of the town.

George Runkel was born Oct. 7, 1839, in Prussia or Germany. He immigrated to the United States at a young age. He married Eliza Jane Lockwood, daughter of Charles David and Elizabeth S. (Parks) Lockwood, born in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, on Jan. 12, 1844. She immigrated to the United States from Canada with her parents in about 1853 at 9 years of age.

The surname Runkel is often erroneously spelled Runkle in many of the following accounts, which have been reproduced as written.

In the 1860 U.S. Federal Census for Greenfield, Monroe County, Wisconsin, George Runkle was listed as a 20-year-old white male, born in 1840 in Prussia. Eliza J. Runkle was listed as a 16-year-old white female, born in 1844 in Canada.

William John Cummings This photograph, probably dating between 1890 and 1910, is identified on the back as the “Old Runkel House, Crystal Falls, Mich.” George Runkel was building a house in the new town by early November, 1881. People identified on the back of the photograph included Mr. & Mrs. John H. Parks, Ruby Rowley (wearing her apron), Aunt Mattie (standing) and Edna Parks (name crossed out and Ione Hollister written in ink above) in the hammock. Eliza Jane (Lockwood) Runkel’s mother’s maiden name was Parks. Captain C.T. Roberts purchased the John H. Parks home in mid-November, 1890. In a letter dated May 24, 1945, Mrs. Solomon Davis (Mary E. Runkel) Hollister, Jr., a daughter of George Runkel, noted the Runkel family “lived in Florence until the railroad was nearly to Crystal Falls, when our household goods were moved by wagon to where they had built us a house in the thick Maple Grove, the old Roberts’ house to you, where the post office now stands.” The family moved there in the fall of 1880, and Myrtle and S.D. Hollister were married there on May 1, 1883. According to a caption of a similar photograph on page 14 in “A Collection of Recollections: Crystal Falls, Michigan 1880-1980,” the J.H. Parks residence stood where the Mink Sartori and Battista Girolimon homes were in 1980.

In the 1870 U.S. Federal Census for Lincoln Township, Monroe County, Wisconsin, George Runkle was listed as a 30-year-old white male, born in Prussia between 1839-1840; Eliza J. Runkle was listed as a 26-year-old white female, born in Canada between 1843-1844; their children were listed as: Julia Runkle, 9 years old, born in Wisconsin; Mary Runkle, 7 years old, born in Wisconsin; George Runkle, 5 years old, born in Wisconsin; Charles Runkle, 3 years old, born in Wisconsin; and Harry Runkle, 1 year old. All five children were born in Wisconsin.

In the first edition of The Florence Mining News, dated Jan. 1, 1881, under the headline “MINING ITEMS,” the first published information on George Runkel on the Menominee Iron Range found to date appeared, as follows:

“George Runkle, Esq., who has been exploring for himself, Col. Jas. H. Howe and others, has abandoned his explorations on lot 3, sec. 20, 43-32, near Crystal Falls, on the Paint river. He is still continuing his work on sections 29, 30 and 31, in the same township. This property adjoins the Shelden and Shaffer find. On sec. 29 the showing is very fine and promises to develop into a large deposit…”

All quoted items below appeared in The Florence Mining News, unless otherwise noted. The publication date appears before each entry.

Feb. 5, 1881:  “GEORGE RUNKLE, who is interested in a property on the S.E. 1/4, Sec. 29, 43-32, and has been engaged in sinking a shaft to see what could be found, has struck it big…The shaft is 60 feet down, and they are working in a hard, blue ore, the vein of which is 110 feet wide, but of unknown depth.”

Feb. 12, 1881: “George Runkle informs us that the ‘find’ at s.e. 1/4, sec. 29, 43-32, is fast developing into a mine. It has been ascertained by all explorations, that the vein, where the testing is being conducted, is 110 feet in width…”

Feb. 19, 1881: “The explorations which are being conducted by Mr. George Runkle and Col. J.H. Howe, (under the superintendency of the former gentleman,) in the neighborhood of the Paint river in 43-32, are looking most promising. The main shaft on the ore bed, on sec. 29, is now about 50 feet in the ore, which is, we are informed, denominated a red specular. An upright steam hoisting engine and plant has arrived, and will soon be placed in position…”

March 5, 1881: “OUR old friend, Capt. Wm. H. Morrison, formerly in the employ of the Menominee Mining Company, has taken charge of Messrs. Runkle & Howe’s mining camp, at Crystal Falls.

“George Runkle, Esq., General Superintendent of the Chicago, Bellevue, and Western Railroad, returned on Saturday last from Chicago, to superintend the mining operations, with which he is interested, in the vicinity of Crystal Falls, on the Paint River. As soon as he can procure a house he will remove his family to Florence and reside here, until he gets the new town of Crystal Falls started…”

April 16, 1881: “C.H. Sloan has sold out his mining interest at Crystal Falls to George Runkel, James H. Howe and others for $2,000. It is a valuable property, and everybody thinks that Sloan sold out remarkably cheap.

“AT Runkel et. Al.’s explorations, near the ever beautiful Crystal Falls of the Paint River, six men under charge of Capt. W.H. Morrison struck for shorter hours and liberty one day this week. Their places were filled instantly, and the new men will have to work ten hours a day, or no pay.”

May 14, 1881: “Geo. Runkel and family moved into their new residence on Monday last.”

May 21, 1881: “The Crystal Falls Iron company has organized under the laws of the State of Michigan, and the articles of incorporation have been filed with the Secretary at Lansing. The following are the names of the officers: N.K. Fairbank, Chicago, President; Col. J.H. Howe, Chicago, Vice President; F.H. Head, of the Elk Rapids Iron Works, Secretary and Treasurer; Geo. Runkel, Esq. – who is one of the directors – is Superintendent.

“Work will be prosecuted vigorously on the company’s valuable mining property in the vicinity of Crystal Falls. A car load of horses were shipped up this week for work at the mines. A town will be laid out on the n.e. 1/4 of sec. 29, 43-32, in a suitable location. The machinery for a saw mill is also on the way, and will be put in operation as early as possible…”

June 4, 1881: “THE contract for the extension of the railroad to Crystal Falls, has been let to George Runkel and others. Mr. Runkel is superintendent, and commenced on Monday to push the road with his usual energy. About 60 men are now working on it.”

June 25, 1881: “THE village of ‘Crystal Falls’ has been platted and lots are now ready for sale…

“The Crystal Falls Iron Company have (sic — has) been shipping a Blandy saw mill, this week, to their new town of Crystal Falls. It will be put in operation as soon as possible to supply the want of lumber. The town will grow rapidly as soon as material can be furnished.”

July 2, 1881: “THE railroad operations towards Crystal Falls is (sic — are) being pushed forward with energy under the management of George Runkel, the contractor. Already a camp is established about 10 miles from here. George W. Bowes, the ‘walking boss,’ is making things hum under his supervision.”

July 9, 1881: “BETWEEN 300 and 400 men are at work on the line of the railroad to Crystal Falls. The grading is now being pushed simultaneously along a distance of about ten miles from here. Mr. Geo. Runkel, with his characteristic energy, intends if there is such a thing in the books, to have the railroad completed to the mines, so that ore can be shipped from them early in October. All aboard for Crystal Falls.”

July 23, 1881: “THE Crystal Falls railroad is being shoved along as fast as possible. This is a very unfavorable season of the year for energetic operations, yet work is being prosecuted simultaneously along the line, for thirteen miles.”

July 30, 1881: “AND still they come. One hundred and six men to work on the Crystal Falls extension arrived on Wednesday. Mr. Runkel is bound to have the road completed to the Falls by October first, if such a thing is possible.”

Aug. 6, 1881: “560 men are employed on the Crystal Falls extension of the railroad. It is the intention of the contractors to have 700 men at work by the end of this month.

“THE Crystal Falls Iron Company have (sic — has) completed the platting of their new town of Crystall (sic — Crystal) Falls.

“FIFTY more men arrived on Wednesday to work on the railroad extension. Notwithstanding this, the contractors are hiring all the men and teams that offer, so come along as there is plenty of work.”

Aug. 27, 1881: “THE new rails on the Crystal Falls extension are being strung along at a rapid rate and are being spiked into place as fast as Roadmaster Sutherland can do it.

“GEO. RUNKEL & CO., the contractors on the Crystal Falls railroad extension, are pushing the work along as fast as it is possible for men and teams to do it. On Wednesday they received 40 men from Madison, also a span of mules and 12 new wagons. The teams and drivers were sent by C.J.L. Meyers, of Hermansville.”

Sept. 3, 1881: “THE VILLAGE OF CRYSTAL FALLS, on the N.E. ? of Section 29, Township 43, Range 32, Marquette county, Michigan, has been laid out by the Crystal Falls Iron company, and lots are now offered for sale at low prices and on reasonable terms. The village is located on high ground, which insures its freedom from malarial influences, and is surrounded by an extensive maple forest which affords abundant hardwood timber for manufacturing purposes, and material for charcoal for many years to come. The soil is of excellent quality, and when the timber is cleared off, will produce large crops of all kinds of grain and vegetables suitable to this region…The company have (sic — has) already a saw mill, shingle and planing mill in operation so that lumber for building purposes can be had at once, and at reasonable rates. The village is also situated in the center of a large and rapidly improving iron district. Three mines in the immediate vicinity are already taking out ore for shipment this fall, and the present explorations indicate that at least four more mines owned by wealthy mining companies will begin shipping early next season. About Oct. 1st, 1881, the Chicago & Northwestern Railway will be completed to Crystal Falls, which will most likely be its terminus for some time to come…

“Buildings for business and residence purposes are now going up at a rapid rate, several hundred people are already busily employed, and from present indications Crystal Falls must become a thriving and populous city in the near future. A daily stage line is now running from Florence, and tracklaying from Florence to Crystal Falls is progressing at a rapid rate.

“For further particulars call on or address, GEO. RUNKEL, Sup’t of Crystal Falls Iron Co., Florence, Wis., or S.D. HOLLISTER, at Crystal Falls.”

Oct. 22, 1881: “MESSRS. RUNKEL & CO., the Crystal Falls railroad contractors, have sold out their warehouse at this place (Florence) to the Menominee River Lumber Co., and have removed their headquarters, for the present, to the south side of, and close to, the Brule river.”

Nov. 5, 1881: CRYSTAL FALLS is beginning to feel the coming boom and life that the advent of a rail road always brings to a new town. The railroad grade is already visible from the town, and work is, notwithstanding the unfavorable weather, being prosecuted with vigor. For the purpose of completing the road as rapidly as possible, work has been suspended at the mines and saw mill and the men put on the road. 300 men will be kept at work all winter completing the different branch lines in the vicinity of the Falls. For their accommodation, a two-story hotel, 36×60, is being built at Crystal Falls. The piles are all driven for the Brule bridge, and it is expected that trains will cross in about ten days. The grade is now ready for the ties and rails, eight miles beyond the river. Mr. Geo. Runkel is building a residence in town, and business looks very promising. It is safe to presume that the entire track will be completed to Crystal Falls early in December.”

Feb. 11, 1882: “THE Crystal Falls railroad is almost completed, and the inhabitants of the Crystal city, are exceedingly jubilant thereat…The proprietors of the town Col. J.H. Howe and George Runkle are live, energetic men and intend to assist its growth by every means, in their power.”

March 4, 1882: “THE railroad is into the Falls, and the Crystalizers are exceedingly glad thereat…Business houses are dotting the town site and everything augurs well for the coming season, which will be one of great activity…”

March 11, 1882: “George Runkel, of Crystal Falls, dropped in to see us again, on Wednesday last. He reports everything in a state of great activity in the coming city. Expects the passenger train in by the first of April…”

May 20, 1882: “A REGULAR passenger train is now run between here and Crystal Falls.”

George Runkel left Crystal Falls and established a sawmill in Rapid City, South Dakota by the mid-1880s. George Runkel registered as a voter on May 6, 1884, in Los Angeles, California, again registered there as a voter on April 6, 1888.

In the 1900 U.S. Federal Census for Weippe, Lolo, Oro Precincts, Shoshone County, Idaho, 61-year-old George Runkel and his 40-year-old son, George Runkel Jr. were listed. George Sr., was married, but his wife was not listed.

In the 1910 U.S. Federal Census for Kamiah, Idaho County, Idaho, 70-year-old George Runkle was listed as the head of the household, together with his 66-year-old wife, Elisa J. (sic — Eliza J.), and their 44-year-old son, George.

George Runkel died Nov. 3, 1913, in Kamiah, Lewis County, Idaho, and is buried in Kamiah Cemetery. A few days before his death, Runkel closed a deal for the sale of mining properties in Idaho for $5,000,000 while in Salt Lake City.

Eliza Jane (Lockwood) Runkel died Dec. 8, 1930, in Chehalis, Lewis County, Washington, where she had lived with her daughter, Mrs. L.K. (Julia Elizabeth Runkel) Cogswell.

This 29-page installment of “Menominee Range Memories” contains additional information regarding the Runkel, Lockwood and Hollister families.

Read the rest of this story on the Dickinson County Library’s website (www.dcl-lib.org). New installments will be added to the Library’s website and on the Library’s local history research computer.