|
From Portrait and Biographical Album of
Woodford County, Illinois; Chicago, Chapman Bros., 1889, pp.
425-427:
HON. A. H. BRUBAKER, for the past thirty-three years has been
a resident of Greene Township, and now resides on section 4. He is
not only the most prominent citizen of the township, but is also a
leading man in the county, where he has made his home since early
manhood. He has been connected with its progress and development,
its public enterprises and its leading business interests, and his
sketch will be perused with pleasure by his large circle of friends.
Mr. Brubaker was born on the little Conestoga Creek near Lancaster,
Pa., on the 11th of April, 1833, and is a son of Jacob B. and Anna
(Huber) Brubaker. The family is descended from Swiss ancestry, and
the progenitor in America was the great-great grandfather of our
subject, who became a resident of Lancaster County, Pa., during the
Colonial days of our history. His descendants are now widely
scattered throughout Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and
Illinois; also in Kansas and other Western States. They were
principally followers of agricultural pursuits, but here and there,
among the members is numbered a professional man of prominence.
Longevity is characteristic of the family, many of its members
having attained very advanced ages. The grandfather of our subject
was eighty-seven years of age at the time of his death, which
occurred in Lancaster County, Pa. In that county the Brubaker family
were prominent farmers and among the heaviest tax-payers. From the
Examiner and Herald, published at Lancaster, we read that there were
156 tax-payers by the name of Brubaker.
Jacob Brubaker, father of our subject, like most of his kinspeople
for generations, followed the occupation of farming, and was a
prominent and influential citizen of Lancaster County. By his
marriage with Anna Huber, eight children were born as follows: Mary
A. , Aaron H., Samuel, Sarah A., Jacob, John, Hiram and Anna.
Hon. Aaron H. Brubaker, of this sketch, spent his early life in his
native county, and in its public schools received his education. In
1854, he was married to Miss Catherine Snyder, a native of Lancaster
County, where their wedding was celebrated. Two years later, in
1856, with his young wife he started for the West, determined to try
his fortune on the broad prairies. He stopped for a short time in
Chicago, but soon afterward continued on his way to Freeport, then
to Peoria, whence he came to Woodford County. The prospects of the
county were pleasing and he resolved to make it his future home. He
purchased of the Illinois Central Company 160 acres of land on
section 4, Greene Township, and that year made a permanent location
on his farm. The whole section of the country round about was
unbroken prairie, and the family were forced to endure the usual
hardships incident to pioneer life. He not only witnessed the
transformation wrought by civilization and progress, but has been a
central figure in the work of the advancement and development which
has been steadily carried forward since the county was settled. Few
men have done more for the upbuilding of the community and the
promotion of its interests, and to him the honor bestowed upon the
successful pioneer is due.
February 9, 1864, Mr. Brubaker was called upon to mourn the loss of
his wife, who died leaving four children now grown to manhood and
womanhood: Maria, the first born of the family, wedded B. G. Zirkle,
a farmer and carpenter of Wallace County, Kan., by whom she had five
children -Henry, May, Minnie, Nora and Emma; Aaron, a resident
farmer of Dawson County, Neb., married Ida Huxtable, and they have
two children -Lora and Jennie; Hiram, who is engaged in the grain
business in Benson, is the husband of Lyda Tool, and their family
numbers three children -Edna C., Leroy and Chelsie; Sarah, wife of
Joseph Wells of Dawson County, Neb., has two children by her
marriage -Orville and Ernest. Mr. Brubaker was a second time married
Dec. 6, 1866, when Miss Elizabeth Brubaker became his wife. She was
born in Richland County, Ohio, and with her father came to this
county in 1851. Her mother died in 1852, and after her marriage the
father made his home with Mrs. Brubaker until his death in 1881. Six
children grace the second union -Henry C., Emma M., Minnie E.,
Jennie A., Clarence M., and Nettie Pearl. The family circle remains
unbroken and all the children are with their parents.
Mr. Brubaker is one of the large farmers in Woodford County, his
possessions aggregating 327 acres, 160 of which are situated on
section 4, eighty on section 8, and eighty on section 9, all in
Greene Township. His premises have the appearance of a fair-ground.
No finer farm can be found in this section of the country. Every
necessary improvement and convenience is there seen and the family
residence, situated only a few miles from Benson, is a beautiful
home, surrounded by all the comforts and luxuries which make life
worth living. His farm is an evidence of the thrift and prosperity
of the owner, and tells of a refined and cultivated taste. Through
wind-mill power in the ingenious arrangement of a perfect system of
water supply, not only are his barns and cattle supplied, but his
house and kitchen as well. Annually he ships and feeds about a car
load of cattle, and sells from fifty to 100 hogs per year. As a
stock-dealer he gives the same careful attention to his business
that is displayed in the management of his farm, and it is needless
to say is successful. Other important business interests also occupy
his attention. In 1873 he embarked as a grain-dealer in Roanoke,
where he carried on operations for two years, and in 1874, under the
firm name of J. B. Miller & Co., engaged in the same enterprise at
Benson, where he built a large elevator. In 1878 the firm also
rented the elevator of S. C. Bartlett & Co., of Benson, since which
time he has superintended their business. He now has charge of two
elevators and handles about 400,000 bushels of grain annually. In
1874 he began shipping live stock, and in 1879 established a coal
yard at Benson. About 1884 he embarked in the mercantile business,
which he carried on until 1887, when he sold out, and the following
year established a lumber-yard at the same place. In the various
enterprises which he has followed he has been eminently successful,
and honesty and fair dealing have characterized his entire business
career. He has shipped grain extensively to the South and East, and
during his long experience has handled millions of money. He is
energetic, capable and sagacious, and possessing business qualities
of a high order, has become one of the wealthy citizens of the
county.
Mr. Brubaker is a charter member and stockholder in the El Paso
Agricultural Association, which was organized in 1879, and is now
serving his second term as director of that institution. In politics
he is an inflexible adherent of the Republican party and an advocate
of its principles. In 1878, 1879 and 1880 he served as Supervisor
and held that office again in 1888. In 1868, without solicitation,
he was nominated County Judge, but was unsuccessful. For nine years
he served as President of the Roanoke Fire Insurance Company, which
association he was instrumental in organizing. In 1886 he was
elected to the State Legislature and served one term. His county is
strongly Democratic, but his capability and popularity led to his
election, and his course justified the confidence reposed in him.
During his service he introduced many bills of importance, some of
which were passed, some defeated. He was the originator of the bill,
which passed both Houses, providing for three terms of general
county court in Woodford County, against one as previously in vogue;
also introduced the bill providing for the payment of officers of
the law in case of settlement after an appeal, which was also
passed; another for payment of witnesses in criminal cases, but it
was defeated. He introduced the bill for the dating of the putting
up of garden seeds and patent medicines; the bill to protect quails,
and also introduced the one to amend an act to provide for the
election and qualification of Justices of the Peace and Constables,
and to provide for the jurisdiction and practice of Justices of the
Peace in civil cases, and fix the duties of the Constable.
Mr. and Mrs. Brubaker hold a high social position in the social
world and have a large circle of acquaintances and friends through
the county, by whom they are held in the highest regard. They hold
membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church of Benson, of which he
is a trustee, and are active workers for its interests. Mrs.
Brubaker is an excellent lady who delights in doing good to those
about her, and her home indicates taste and refinement. The history
of Woodford County would be incomplete without a sketch of this
worthy couple, who for more than a third century have here made
their home.
Elsewhere in this volume is presented a fine portrait of Mr.
Brubaker, thus forming an additional feature of interest in an
already valuable work.
From The Biographical Record of Livingston and
Woodford Counties, Illinois, Chicago; The S. J. Clarke Publishing
Co., 1900, pp. 619-621.
Hon. A. H. Brubaker
Honored and respected by all, there is no man in Woodford county who
occupies a more enviable position than A. H. Brubaker, of Benson,
not alone on account of the brilliant success he has achieved, but
also on account of the honorable and straightforward policy he has
ever followed. For many years he was actively identified with the
business and political interests of the county, but is now living a
retired life at his beautiful home in Benson.
Mr. Brubaker was born in Little Conestoga Creek, near Lancaster,
Pennsylvania, April 11, 1833, and is a son of Jacob B. and Anna
(Huber) Brubaker, who belonged to an old colonial family of Swiss
origin. Their descendants are now scattered throughout Virginia,
Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Canada and the west. Farming
has always been the principal occupation of the family. Longevity is
numbered among its characteristics. Our subject’s paternal
grandfather was eighty-seven years of age at the time of his death,
and his father died at our subject’s home in Benson, August 2, 1895,
at the same age.
The early education of A. H. Brubaker was limited to a short
attendance at the public schools of his native county. In 1852 he
married Miss Catherine Schneider, also of Lancaster county,
Pennsylvania, and three years later they started west, stopping
first in Chicago, and from there went to Freeport, Illinois, where
he remained for a short time. We next find him in Peoria, and from
there he came to Woodford county, where he purchased one hundred and
sixty acres of land on section 4, Greene township, of the Illinois
Central Railroad Company. Here he made a permanent location, and in
his farming operations met with excellent success, becoming owner of
much valuable land in Woodford county. In 1884 he embarked in
mercantile business in Benson, and also shipped grain east and west,
but since October, 1895, has lived a retired life, enjoying a
well-earned rest.
Mr. Brubaker’s first wife died February 9, 1864, leaving four
children, namely: Maria married Benjamin Zirkle and they reside near
San Angelo, Texas; Aaron married Ida Huxtable and they make their
home near Lexington, Dawson county, Nebraska; Hiram married Lida
Tool and they reside in Benson, Illinois; Sarah is the wife of
Joseph Wells and they lived in Joliet, Illinois. For his second wife
Mr. Brubaker married Miss Elizabeth Brubaker, a native of Richland
county, Ohio, and a daughter of Hiram Brubaker, who was born in
Pennsylvania. He moved to Ohio in 1821 and there resided until 1851,
when he came west and located in Woodford county, Illinois, near
Eureka. Here he resided for four years and then moved to where the
town of Roanoke, Woodford county, now stands. He died at the home of
our subject April 18, 1880, at the age of eighty-four years and nine
months. He and his wife were the parents of nine children, of whom
three are now living, namely: John, who is making his home in
Joliet, Illinois; Elizabeth, wife of our subject; and Daniel, who is
engaged in farming in Normal township, McLean county, Illinois.
Of the four sons born to Hiram Brubaker and wife all enlisted and
served in the Civil war. Three brothers of our subject also served
in the war of the Rebellion, Samuel, Jacob and John. Jacob rose from
the ranks to captain in the regular service.
Of the six children born of the second marriage of A. H. Brubaker,
Henry C. died July 31, 1899, at the age of twenty-nine years; Emma
M. married J. E. Eckhart, of whom a sketch appears elsewhere in this
volume; Minnie E., wife of George Jeter, resides in Greene township,
Woodford county; while Jennie A., Clarence M. and Nettie P. are yet
residing at home. Clarence M. is taking the scientific course at
Wesley University, at Bloomington, Illinois, and Nettie P. is
attending the schools of Benson.
Politically Mr. Brubaker is a strong Republican and expansionist,
and he has taken a very active and prominent part in public affairs,
having served as supervisor from 1878 to 1880, inclusive, and again
from 1880 to 1890. He was the candidate of his party for county
judge, in 1868, and in 1886 was elected to the state legislature in
which he served one term. He was the originator of the bill which
favored holding three terms of court in Woodford county, and
introduced a bill for dating seeds and patent medicines, any act to
qualify justice of peace and jurisdiction and practice of justice of
peace and fix duties of constables. He most ably represented his
district and took an active part in the work of the house. Mr.
Brubaker was a charter member of the Agricultural Association,
organized in 1879, and for twenty years has served as president of
the Roanoke Fire Insurance Company, which he was instrumental in
organizing. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist
church, and are held in high esteem in social circles. Their home is
a magnificent structure on Front street, which was built in January,
1891, from Mr. Brubaker’s own plans, and which is supplied with all
the modern improvements of a fine city residence, being lighted by
gas, heated by steam and furnished with three kinds of water and all
sanitary arrangements. Here hospitality reigns supreme and host and
hostess take great pleasure in entertaining their many friends.
Mr. Brubaker can relate many interesting incidents of pioneer days
when grain was hauled to market in sacks on ox carts, and when there
were no bridges and roads were poor. He was the first man in Greene
township to get a carload of tile, and was laughed at by the less
progressive citizens, but his sound judgment was soon shown by the
productiveness of his land, and his farms are now worth one hundred
and twenty dollars per acre. As a stock raiser he also met with
excellent success, being considered an expert hog raiser, as he
never had a case of cholera on his farm. At one time he raised
eighty hogs which averaged four hundred and twelve pounds each.
Both articles were transcribed by:
Steve C. Roberts, a descendant of Aaron and Elizabeth Brubaker
363 Dave Garrett Rd.
Crossville, TN 38571
Steve's E-mail
Back to Index |