Barbara, who grew up in Sterling, and William who grew up in Manti, didn’t get acquainted until their teens when they attended Manti High School, as they had attended the separate Elementary Schools.  The pair of cousins  are now heading a family project to bring recognition to their great-grandfather, Daniel Buckley Funk.

In 2025, the Funk family began plans to replace the pioneer headstone of Daniel Buckley Funk, located in Manti Cemetery, as the limestone had severely aged.  A new granite headstone, will allow placement for the names of Daniel, his wives Mariah DeMill and Mary Jane Pectol,  and his fourteen children.

Daniel Buckley Funk, born in 1820 in Montgomery Pennsylvania, was an original settler to the Sanpete Valley in 1849.  Daniel met his wife Mariah DeMill in Quincy, Illinois. The couple came to Salt Lake Valley in October 1848.

Steve Funk, a nephew to Barbara, summarized in Daniels history:  “Just a year later, Brigham Young called on Daniel’s family to help settle the Sanpete Valley. In the fall of 1849, they moved south and dug out shelters on Temple Hill in what would become Manti, Utah. That first winter was harsh, with snow up to three feet deep. Come spring, they discovered they had camped atop a rattlesnake den. Over 300 snakes were killed, remarkably without a single bite.

Settling in Sanpete brought new challenges, including tensions with local Native American tribes who saw the new settlers as intruders on their hunting grounds. Though the early years were marked by conflict, Daniel worked toward peace and even formed friendships with some tribal members.”

Daniel married his second wife Mary Jane Pectol while in Manti in 1856.

“While raising his family, Daniel contributed greatly to the development of Manti. He built a water-powered mill for grinding grain and crafting furniture, a shingle mill, and a small smelting furnace. He gathered clay for homemade paint and refined saleratus (baking soda and silica) from local sources. He served as town constable and built a block fort to protect settlers from attacks. Daniel also served as a major in the Black Hawk War and helped build the Manti Temple.” Steve Funk further summarizes the contributions of his second-great grandfather to the early culture of Sanpete Valley.

“Among all his accomplishments, Daniel’s favorite was creating a recreation area for the Saints. In 1873, he began constructing a large lake in Six Mile Canyon, on land purchased from his friend Chief Arapeen. Over the next two decades delayed by continued skirmishes and challenges Daniel and his sons dug out a 75-acre lake bed. They planted shade trees, created picnic grounds, and offered camping, fishing, boating, and swimming. A steamboat even gave rides around the lake for a small fee.” Steve Funk also summarized.

Known as Funk’s Lake, it later became Palisade State Park, one of Sanpete Valley’s most treasured landmarks.

Funk’s Lake served primarily as a Fishery, subsequently as irrigation and recreation.  Fish were raised in the effort to combated the sparse supply of food that the pioneers faced.  In time, the fish became so plentiful, that Daniel sent fish on the train to Salt Lake Valley to help other pioneers supplement their diet.

“Daniel was a visionary with an entrepreneurial (spirit),” Barbara describes.  Though built to supply the local pioneers with food, Daniel saw what Funk’s Lake could be, creating a place of recreation and culture in the rural settlement. Daniel actively sought out and brought uniqueness to Funk’s Lake, such as dances with live bands, two Circus’s, the Tabernacle Choir, and baseball games.

Daniel Buckley Funk passed away in 1888 at the age of 68, after “a remarkable life of devotion, industry, and leadership-leaving behind a legacy of strength, love, and unity that continues through generations.” Steve Funk describes.

As the Funk family pursued plans for the upgraded headstone, they began to contemplate what would be done with the original pioneer headstone.  Barbara approached the Manti and Sterling camps of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers, and it was agreed that it could be moved to the Sterling cemetery as a local relic.

A close family member spoke to Barbara, telling her that the headstone belongs at Palisade State Park, where Daniel made perhaps his largest contribution.

Barbara proposed the donation of the pioneer headstone as a historical marker of the lake’s original founder, to Palisade Park Manger Brian Jensen and his assistant Jessie Neilson, in the Spring 2025.  The Palisade staff liked the idea and have been planning with Barbara a Gazebo, with information panels, and a stone shadowbox to create a permanent location of the pioneer headstone of Daniel Buckley Funk.

Justina Parsons-Bernstein, Parks Program Manager of Utah, has taken on the task of researching the life of Daniel Buckley Funk.  She will be creating three information panels that will showcase the engineering and development of “Funk’s Lake” and its beginnings.  The panels will be donated by the Parks Program.

In March, Jensen applied for the Community Parks and Recreation Grant (CPR) looking for support in constructing the Gazebo.  A decision regarding the grant has not been made as of now.

Barbara and the Funk Family Descendants are working diligently to raise several thousand dollars in private donations to help cover the costs of the Gazebo and additional funds to cover concrete work, stonework, and landscaping, in what they have named “Funk’s Lake Legacy Project “.

“I’ve never done anything like this before,” Barbara describes the daunting task of the project.  Barbara dedicates most of her days to research, and community building around the Legacy Project.  She has had a good response as she visits and reaches out personally to each community in Sanpete County, including individuals, businesses, and municipalities.  Barbara, as project leader, is also very grateful for the family support she has had, in particular her nephew Steve Funk, of Draper, who has worked meticulously alongside her in research and fundraising.

Barbara is motivated by the notion that she promised her great-grandfather Daniel Buckley Funk, to carry out this Legacy Project.  “Daniel was not only a builder of this Valley, he was also a builder of this Nation,” Barbara says.

Connecting the youth with our local past has been a strong reason in Barbara’s efforts, as well as strengthening all of the communities in the County.  She hopes that the project sparks an appreciation for our local heritage, learning and understanding more about those who sacrificed great efforts to create this Valley and what we now enjoy.  She hopes the Legacy project will strengthen relationships between each community and promote a strong economy, to allow opportunity for our young people to thrive in Sanpete.

As part of the Funk’s Lake Legacy Project,  there will be a Community Legacy Event on Aug. 8 at 11 a.m. at the Manti City Park.  Everyone is invited and encouraged to come.  An exceptional program with live music and speakers is planned.  In conjunction of celebrating the Funk’s Lake Legacy Project, the Community Legacy Event will celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the Signing of the Declaration of Independence, which is noted in history as August 2, 1776.  This will be a recognized as Utah Community Event among the America 250 anniversary year.

Please consider donating to the project.  Donations checks can be made to “Steve Funk” with the Memo: “Legacy Project for Daniel Buckley Funk.” Mail to: 14723 S. Draper View Cove, Draper, Utah 84020.

For larger donations desiring a receipt please make checks to “Palisade State Park” with the memo: “DB Funk Gazebo”. Mail to Palisade State Park P.O.Box 650070 Sterling, Utah 84665.

All donations are greatly appreciated and will be recognized on a plaque at the Gazebo, in two categories:  Legacy Supporters with donations $50-$499; Legacy Builders with donations $500 plus. Please specify name and spelling for listing on plaques.

In a letter of recommendation to the CPR grant, local Representative Troy Shelley stated “This monument would serve as a lasting tribute to the pioneers who lifted themselves and others through hard work and vision. …Your support would ensure that this powerful story of preservation and community uplift is not forgotten.”

Please follow along to learn more about the life of Daniel Buckley Funk, as we look forward to the Community Legacy Event on Aug. 8 at 11 a.m.