Funston, Frederick, soldier, was born at New Carlisle, Ohio, Nov. 9, 1865, a son of Edward H. and Ann F. (Mitchell) Funston. When two years old, his parents removed to Kansas, and in 1885 he became a student in the state university. He also attended the university in 1889-90, after which he was employed as a newspaper reporter in Kansas City, and the next year was botanist with the Death Valley expedition. He was commissioned by the United States agricultural department in 1893 to explore Alaska and report on the flora. When this work was finished he went to Cuba, where he served for 18 months in the insurgent army in 1896-97, receiving promotions to captain, major and lieutenant-colonel. Having received a wound, he returned to the United States, and when war was declared against Spain he was commissioned colonel of the Twentieth Kansas infantry on May 20, 1898. His regiment was ordered to the Philippines and on May 2, 1899, Col. Funston was promoted to brigadier-general of volunteers for his bravery in crossing the Rio Grande river at Calumpit on a small raft and establishing a rope ferry in the face of a severe fire. He organized and led the expedition that captured Emilio Aguinaldo, the insurgent leader, and on April 1, 1901, was commissioned brigadier-general in the regular army. For a time he was in command of the Department of California, and was then made commandant of the army service school at Fort Leavenworth.