JOHN P. RUNYAN, farmer on sec. 19, Deerfield Tp., was born in Franklin Co., Ind., Aug. 18, 1822. He is a son of Thomas and Hannah (Stein) Runyan, both natives of New Jersey, where they were married. In the year 1812 they removed to Indiana and there resided 14 years, going thence to Ohio, where they remained till death. Mr. Runyan was born two years before the admission of Indiana into the Union, and accompanied his parents to Ohio. He was at homeuntil the age of 19, attending school and working on a farm with his father. At that age he was employed on the public works, building locks three years. Afterward he followed the occupation of carpenter and joiner until 1878, with the exception of the period spent in the Union army. In May, 1861, he enlisted in the 14th Reg. Ohio Vol. Inf., Co. A., and was in the serice four years, receiving honorable discharge in October, 1865. Among other engagements he was on duty in the battle of the Wilderness, siege of Richmond and before Petersburg. He received a slight saber wound by accident, which was his sole casualty.
Mr. Runyan came from Ohio to Michigan in 1878 and bought 40 acres of land, which had been partly improved, on sec. 30. This he afterwards sold and bought property in Morley, of which he retained possession but a short time. In politics he is a Republican, and is a member of the Order of Odd FEllows. He was Deputy Sheriff while in Ohio and filled several minor offices. He was married in Indiana, Oct. 5, 1844, to Lizzie, daughter of Platt and Orilla Squires. She died Sept. 18, 1881. Two children born of this marriage are both deceased. He was again married June 29, 1882, in Big Rapids, to Sarah J., daughter of John H. and Minerva (Bullock) Underwood, and widow of Erastus A. Watrous, who died Aug. 19, 1880. The parents of Mrs. Runyan were natives of New York, where the mother died, in Chautauqua County. The father died near Petersburg, Va. Hale S. Watrous, born May 18, 1880, was the only issue of the first marriage of Mrs. Runyan. She is prominent in the Baptist Church.
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