Funston, Fred. American general. Born at New Carlisle, Ohio, 1865. He graduated from Iola, Kansas, high school, and studied two years in Kansas State University, Lawrence. Funston was a newspaper reporter, Kansas City, 1890. Botanist in United States Death Valley Expedition, 1891. Commissioner for Department of Agriculture to explore Alaska and report on its flora, 1893. Camped on the Klondike in winter of 1893-94. Floated down the Yukon alone in a canoe. Joined insurgent army in Cuba, 1896. Served 18 months, was wounded, returned to United States. Commissioned colonel of 20th Kansas volunteers, 1898. Went to Philippines and took part in several battles. For crossing Rio Grande River at Calumpit on small bamboo raft in face of heavy fire and establishing rope ferry, by means of which the United States troops were enabled to cross and win the battle, he was promoted to brigadier-general of United States volunteers, 1899. Funston organized and led the expedition resulting in the capture of Aguinaldo, head of the Filipino insurrection, and was appointed brigadier-general of United States Army, 1901. When commanding the Department of California, with headquarters at San Francisco, Funston performed valuable services for the city during the earthquake-fire, 1906. He commanded the military occupation of Vera Cruz, Mexico, and was made major-general, 1914. In 1916 Funston was appointed to chief command of the United States forces on the Mexican border. Funston died in 1917.

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