Funkstown, town (1990 pop. 1,136), Washington co., W Md., on Antietam Creek just SSE of Hagerstown; 39°37'N 77°43'W. Originally called Jerusalem, it missed its opportunity to grow when Jonathan Hager rode to Annapolis in 1776 to have Hager-Town, later Hagerstown, made the co. seat. Named after Henry Funk, who was granted land by Frederick Calvert in 1754. According to local legend Funk also est. Funkstown or Hamburg on the present site of Washington, D.C. John Brown stayed at the site of Smith’s Hotel in June 1859 while transporting pikes to arm slaves in the insurrection he was planning. Confederates held the hts. here (July 10–14, 1863) while waiting for the floodwaters of the Potomac R. to recede long enough for them to retreat back into Virginia after Gettysburg.
