Jacob L. Runk (1825-1908)

Our person of interest this week is Jacob L. Runk. Jacob was born on April 29th, 1825 in Virginia to John Runk and Elizabeth Miller who were farmers. He married twice during his lifetime. His first wife Martha Patterson bore two children. Unfortunately, the two little ones died shortly after their births and Martha followed them in death not long after. A young widower, Jacob married second Paulina W. Teel. The couple had had ten children together and remained married for over forty years until Paulina died in 1898. 

During his lifetime, Jacob began the J. L. Runk company which manufactured farm implements.  The company was very successful, manufacturing between two to three thousand plows annually along with wagons and other tools. Jacob was the first inventor of the gang sulky plow and won numerous awards for his invention. However, because of mismanagement by those assisting him, John Deere was the one who eventually ended up owning the patent for the invention. Jacob fought for the rights to the patent until his death on January 13th, 1908.

Praise for Jacob's Gang Plow made it all the Daily Illinois State Journal in 1864.

Jacob's Obituary