John Runk

Who was John Runk?

John Runk was an American Whig Party politician, who represented New Jersey's 3rd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1845-1847.

Runk was born in Milltown, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. He attended the district schools and took charge of the mills and general store on his father's property in Milltown. He was a member of the Board of Chosen Freeholders from Kingwood Township from 1825-1833. He was an unsuccessful candidate for sheriff in 1830, and served as high sheriff of Hunterdon County from 1836-1838.

Runk was elected as a Whig to the Twenty-ninth United States Congress. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1846, and ran unsuccessfully against Democrat George F. Fort for Governor of New Jersey in 1850.

He moved to Lambertville, New Jersey in 1854 and engaged in the milling business and mercantile pursuits. He died in Lambertville and is interred in Rosemont Cemetery, Rosemont, Hunterdon County, N.J.