Willard Richards Funk

Willard Richard Funk was born June 22, 1853 in Pedersker, Denmark to an unknown man and Jorgena Funk. Unable to care for the child, her parents Diderik Espersen and Kirstine Madsdatter Funk tended to Willard and raised him as their own child. Willard is a Pioneer of Richmond.

History

Willard joined his family to move west to Utah from Denmark at the age of four. He writes about his travel on the ship, 

"I can remember on our trip across the Atlantic, the captain rolling apples on the deck. He would roll them and the children would chase them. I was the youngest of the group of four boys and consequently, I seldom reached the apple." 

He was part of the U.S.S. Tuscaroura and arrived in Philadelphia in 1857. The family joined the James Brown company on June 13, 1859 and arrived in Utah on August 29.

Willard grew up in Richmond and met Sarah Ann Bell who he married in 1875. After, they were called by President Brigham Young to settle in Arizona. They returned to Richmond in 1877 and Willard worked for the Oregon Short Line Railroad hauling food for the men working in the railroad. After, they moved to Wilford, Idaho in 1884.

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