"A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of the City of Seattle and County of King, Washington." New York and Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1903. p. 443. PHILIP L. RUNKEL Philip L Runkel is engaged in the grocery business at 707 Seventh avenue and is the vice president of the Alaska Fisheries Union and has built up a splendid trade in this city. He occupies a store building with a frontage of forty-eight feet on Seventh avenue and gives employment to seven men. He has been a resident of the city since the fall of 1889 and has therefore been closely associated with the new Seattle which rose from the ashes of the old city, after its destruction by fire thirteen years ago. Mr. Runkel was born at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, May 25, 1857. His father, Henry Runkel, was born in Gunderblum in the Rhine province of Germany, July 9, 1824 and is still living. He was a contractor and builder in Milwaukee for some years and later conducted a brewery, but for the past ten years he has lived retired. He came to America in 1842, being one of the first settlers of Milwaukee, taking up his abode there when the place was but a village, containing a few log buildings. He served as county treasurer of Juneau county, and although a Democrat he was endorsed by the Republicans as well as the members of his own party, a fact which indicates his standing in the city and the regard and confidence reposed in him. He took a great interest in public affairs and always co-operated in any movement which he believed would contribute to the general good. He was married in Milwaukee to Maria Schaetzel, who was also a native of Germany and born in the same province as her husband. They became the parents of eight children, of whom two sons and three daughters are yet living. Two of the number died in infancy and a brother passed away at the age of twenty-nine years. Philip L. Runkel entered the public schools at the usual age and continued his studies there until he was fourteen years of age, after which he assisted his father until he had attained his majority. Then he started out in life on his own account and accepted a clerkship in a wholesale and retail grocery store at Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He remained with one firm for three years, after which he removed to Salem, South Dakota, and established a store of his own in connection with L. V. Snyder. They opened a general mercantile establishment and Mr. Runkel remained in Salem from the spring of 1882 until the fall of 1889, when he sold out in order to go to the coast. He had conducted an extensive wholesale trade, also did a retail business to some extent, and his large sales annually returned to him an excellent income. He was elected on the Democratic ticket to the legislature of Dakota in 1885. He was attracted to the west by the business possibilities of the Pacific coast. His wife's people had previously come to this section of the country and in the fall of 1889 Mr. Runkel brought his family to Seattle, where he embarked in business in connection with his brother-in-law, Louis Gilbert. This relation was maintained for a year, and since 1891, when Mr. Runkel bought out Mr. Gilbert's interest in the grocery store on Seventh avenue, his trade has constantly increased until he now occupies two large store rooms at No. 707-709. His patronage is steadily increasing and his trade is now very profitable. A man of resourceful business ability, he has enlarged the scope of his labors, extending his efforts into other fields. He is likewise interested in real estate here, owning different tracts in the city, some of it improved, while some is vacant property. In 1901 he erected his residence at 303 Broadway. In connection with other interests he is the vice president of the Alaska Fisheries Union, in which he is a large stockholder. A man of keen discernment, of sound judgment and marked sagacity in business affairs, he has carried forward his undertakings in a way that has gained a high measure of success, and at the same time his course has been one which would bear the closest investigation, and his methods are so honorable that they are well worthy of emulation. In Sioux Falls, South Dakota, on the 1st of June, 1882, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Runkel and Miss Maria A. Gilbert, a daughter of Herman Gilbert. Their union has been blessed with one son, Henry G. In politics Mr. Runkel affiliates with the Democratic party and taken quite an active interest in local affairs. Although urged to accept the nomination of mayor, he declined. Two years ago, however, he was nominated by acclamation for the office of city treasurer without his knowledge or consent. After several days' consideration he accepted the nomination, although he realized that the party had no chance of electing its men. While not successful, he ran far ahead of his ticket, a fact that indicates he is personally popular and has the unqualified regard of many of the adherents of the opposition party. Prominent in the fraternal circles of the city, he has attained the Knight Templar degree in Masonry and he is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. There is no exciting or sensational chapter in his life history, for he has pursued the even tenor of his way, looking for advancement in the business world to energy, perseverance and diligence rather than to fortunate circumstances. Thus he has worked his way steadily upward until he is now well known as a successful merchant of his adopted city. * * * * Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in January 2007 by Diana Smith. Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the individual featured in the biographies.