Runyon Genealogy

In the American Music Sheet File of the Library of Congress, there is a copy of sheet music dated 10 May 1848 and titled Cheer Up, A Quartette sung by the Runyon Family, Music by A.L. Runyon, New York, published by Firth Pond & Co., Franklin Square." The lyrics go:

The Library of Congress' American Memory Collection holds the sheet music to A. L. Runyon's Cheer Up.

Then there was the Reverend Reune Runyon "who was remarkable for the dexterity in administering baptism." On 30 June 1786, "a gentleman held his watch in his hand till he had baptized thirty in fifty-eight minutes."

Source: (Historical and Genealogical Miscellany. John E. Stillwell. Vol. III. N.Y. 1914. p.113.)

The Catlettsburg Sentinel reported a rather facetious wedding announcement dated 30 August 1876: "Thursday last, Allen Runyon and Lizzie Church hied to the Gretna Green of this section-- Ironton, where the twain were made one, thus reducing the number of Churches in this place."

Source: (Eastern Kentucky References. E. Jackson and E. Talley. Cook and McDowell Publications. Owensboro, KY. 1980. pp 428-429.)

Louella Parsons, a famous columnist who wrote about movie stars, stated that actress Ginger Rogers paid $100,000 for the screen rights of Margaret Runyon's novel, The Great Answer. Miss Rogers bought the book for her own independent company.

A woman named Ann Williams, alias Susan Burch, attempted to extort money from railroad magnate Jay Gould in 1872 during the Erie War. Upon her arrest, the authorities found a marriage certificate identifying her as Susan Burch, daughter of John Runyon who married Valentine Burch on 1 June 1864.

Source: (http://www.nygenealogy.org/femaleblackmailersnewyork.html)

The Shotwell-Runyon House is in Fair Haven, New Jersey and is listed in the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

Mabel (Runyon) Sharkey was a famous coloratura soprano in the 1880s. She married J. K. Sharkey about 1886. A 1937 Chicago Society News newspaper article states that Mrs. Sharkey's cousin, Adelaide, became the Princess di San Giorgia after marrying the Prince di San Giorgia, whose father was the Count of Paris, Duke of Orleans.

William Boericke, MD and James Runyon partnered to establish the Boericke & Runyon Company on the West Coast. Dr. Boericke had studied homeopathic medicine at Hahnemannian College in Philadelphia from 1877-1880, and Mr. Runyon had studied pharmacy at the same time. They opened a homeopathic pharmacy in San Francisco in 1884.

In 1892, a branch was established in Los Angeles. When the San Francisco earthquake hit on 18 April 1906, the Boericke & Runyon business on Sutter Street was destroyed. That same year, James Runyon died on 14 August 1906, reportedly from "nervous prostration" brought on by the quake's resulting business losses. Dr. Boericke died in 1929. Boericke & Runyon continues in operation today.

And then there was the man charged with selling, offering for sale, and having in his possession 63,000 unstamped cigarettes. His name was Happy Runyon.

Source: (http://www.taxwatch.org)