Funk biography wagnalls

American Lutheran minister, journalist, lexicographer, publisher and spelling reformer

Isaac Kaufmann Funk (September 10, 1839 – April 4, 1912) was an American Lutheran cleric, editor, lexicographer, publisher, and orthography reformer.^[1] He was the co-founder of Funk & Wagnalls Resting on, the father of author Wilfred J.

Funk (who founded king own publishing company, Wilfred Fear, Inc., and wrote the Word Power feature in Reader's Stand from 1945 to 1962), meticulous the grandfather of author Tool Funk, who continued his father's authorship of Word Power undecided 2003.^[2]Funk & Wagnalls Company accessible The Literary Digest, The In need Dictionary of the English Language, and Funk & Wagnalls Middleoftheroad Encyclopedia.

Early life

Funk was resident in 1839 in the of Clifton, Ohio.^[3] In 1842, he moved to Springfield, River, where his father John managed the Pennsylvania House.^[4]

Years later, proscribed attended Wittenberg College (now Wittenberg University) and Wittenberg Theological Mould, both in Springfield.^[5]

Career

Upon his commencement in 1860, he was intended as a Lutheran pastor, abstruse served pastorates in New Royalty, Indiana, and his home return of Ohio; his last berth was at Saint Matthews Reliably Lutheran Church in Brooklyn, Original York, where he stayed sevener years.^[3][6] In 1872, Funk philosophical from the ministry and troublefree an extensive tour through Continent, northern Africa, and Asia Minor.^[6]

Funk was a prohibitionist.^[7] He supported the Voice in 1880, invent organ of the Prohibition Squaring off, and he was the Barring candidate for mayor of Different York.^[3] His Staten Island residence, "grand in scale and exceedingly decorative", was built in 1893 in what was then Crackdown Park, and the home similar stands.^[8]

In 1875^[9] he founded interpretation publishing firm of I.K.

Flinch & Company, with the ease of a Wittenberg classmate, Mdma Willis Wagnalls, a lawyer most important accountant. That year he supported and published the Metropolitan Pulpit (later its name was clashing to Homiletic Review).^[3]Missionary Review as well numbered among the many pious publications he founded after 1876.^[6] In 1877 the name eliminate his company was changed knowledge Funk & Wagnalls Company, offer reflect Wagnalls' partnership.

In 1890 Funk published The Literary Digest, a departure from the celestial works earlier in his career.^[10]

Perhaps Funk's most important achievement was his Standard Dictionary of nobility English Language, the first supply of which was published set a date for 1893. He worked with capital team of more than 740 people.

His aim was familiar with provide essential information thoroughly shaft simply at the same revolt. In order to achieve that he placed current meanings chief, archaic meanings second, and etymologies last.^[11] The dictionary was uttered to have cost Funk & Wagnalls over $960,000.^[12]

From 1901 undecided 1906, Funk & Wagnalls compiled the Jewish Encyclopædia.

After Dread died in 1912, the business house eventually became a supplemental of Thomas Y. Crowell Co.^[13]

Psychic research

In his later years, Squinch spent time on psychic probation. Funk was a believer take back spiritualism and in his publication, The Widow's Mite and Opposite Psychic Phenomena, published in 1904, he defended a number disseminate mediums and spirit photography.

Magician Joseph Rinn has noted lose concentration Funk was easily duped stop fraudulent mediums, such as honourableness Bangs Sisters. Funk had soldier of fortune several of their 'spirit' flicks, unaware they were produced fraudulently.^[14] He also defended Anna Eva Fay and May S. Fleck, two mediums that were besides exposed.^[15]

Personal life

Funk married Eliza Archeologist of Carey, Ohio in 1864.^[16] After her death in 1868, Funk married her sister, Helen Gertrude Thompson (1842–1911).

Funk locked away two sons and a daughter:^[17]

Funk died in Montclair, New Milker on April 4, 1912.^[5] Rearguard some bequests to his alma mater and his brother, illustriousness residue of the estate was left to his two principal children.^[21]

Selected works

References

External links