BRUMBAUGH FAMILY.  The name Brumbaugh is of German origin and in America has taken various spellings and includes all such as Brumbach, Brumback, Bombach, Brombach, Broombaugh, Brombaugh, Brownbaugh, Brownback, and perhaps some others, all due no doubt to the fact that people in America on hearing the newly arrived immigrant pronounce the name each gave his own spelling to it.
     One of the family who came to America was Gerhard Brumbach, who was born in 1662, in Saxony, near Wittenberg, Germany.  His name is found spelled not less than five ways, not from his writing it himself as he always made "his mark."  He settled at Germantown, Pa., when there was but one house there, which was built in 1683.  He was then about 21 years of age.  It has been asserted that he came across on the Concord.  He must have been about 54 or 56 years of age when he married Mary Rittenhouse Papen, who was born in 1695.  She was the daughter of Heivert and Elizabeth (Rittenhouse) Papen.  Her father was a man of considerable means and Gerhard Brombach settled the estate and his wife had quite an inheritance.  At this time there were several spellings used in the name and the second generation used that of Brumback, but in the third generation it became Brownback, which remains to the present time.
     Gerhard settled in Vincent township on 600 acres of land, but later acquired more, until he had about 1,000 acres.  It was at that time a wilderness and there was a village of about 300 Indians nearby.  With these he made friends and employed them as laborers, smoked the "peace pipe," took part in their wrestling matches, and others sports.  He paid them in provisions.  He built a house and barn of logs, very substantial, the house with a door through which logs could be hauled by a team to get the logs to the fireplace.  The farm descended to Henry, then to Peter, then what is called the upper farm to Jesse, then to another Peter, and now both farms belong to Garrett Ellwood Brownback and have never been owned outside the family since the original grant from Penn.  There was such a demand made upon him to keep travelers over night that he applied for and received permission to open a "public house." which came "Brownback Inn" about 1736.  He was "Ye jolly landlord" until nearly the time of his death, which took place 1757.  His son Benjamin succeeded him and on Sept. 4, 1777, and for several days thereafter had the honor of entertaining Generals Washington and LaFayette.  LaFayette had received a wound at Warren Tavern, and had retreated to join Washington's army on its way to Germantown.  The landlord, Benjamin Brownback, held a lieutenant's commission in the continental army dated Aug. 21, 1776.  Not only as Gerhard an innkeeper, but he was interested in many other enterprises.  The most prominent of these is the part he took in establishing German Reformed church in 1743.  The first building was of hewn logs.  This was later replaced with a building of stone in 1800, rebuilt in 1846, remodeled and enlarged in 1878, and in 1907 a tower and a Sunday school room were added.  It is today one of the most beautiful churches in the county.
     Another of the family to come to America in colonial times was Johnson Jacob Brumbach, who was born about 1728, and came to America on the ship Nancy, arriving at Philadelphia August 31, 1750.  It seems that his parents had passed away before he left Germany and he brought with him as his inheritance about two hundred fifty dollars with which he seems to have bought a tract of land in what was then Frederick county, Maryland, south of Mason's and Dixon's line, not far from Hagerstown, but north about four miles from there.  When about thirty-two yeas of age he married Mary Elizabeth Angle.  He had built a log house before his marriage.  This building is still standing and occupied.  He rendered efficient service as a packman in the French and Indian war.  He was well to do in later life as is shown by his securing 6,000 acres of land.  On arriving in America he must have dropped the name Johann and was thereafter known as Jacob Brumbach  He was a very religious man and died in Pennsylvania April 10, 1799.  Of his seven children we have to do only with the fourth, Daniel S. Brumbaugh, the spelling having already been changed no doubt by some one in making out legal papers and writing it as pronunciation sounded.  He was born in 1772 in what is now Washington county, then Frederick county, Maryland.  He died August 24, 1824.  He had married Elizabeth Long and to them were born nine children.  His wife lived until Dec. 12, 1860, being 81 years and 11 months.  Of their children the third was named for his father, Daniel, and was born in Washington county, Maryland, Aug. 6, 1803.  When twenty years of age he married Annie Gray, a cousin of Ex-Gov. Isaac P. Gray, of Indiana.  She was born in Maryland Aug. 5, 1805.  Four years later they moved to Bedford county, Pennsylvania.  In Dec. 1863, they moved to Darke county, Ohio, where they carried on farming.  Daniel died in that county Jan. 29, 1882.  His wife had passed away about 1874.  Of their ten children the fourth, Samuel David, was born Jan. 7, 1831, near Hagerstown, Washington county, Maryland.  On Dec. 8, 1853, he married Elizabeth Darner, who was born June 24, 1831, near Beaverstown, Montgomery county, Ohio.  He had come to Ohio several years before his parents came.  His wife was a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Darner.
     Samuel David Brumbaugh was drafted during the Civil war but when he went to take the examination he was rejected as being physically unfit for military service.  He afterward was commissioned first lieutenant of Company E, Third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, for which he did a recruiting service.  He died March 18, 1868.  To them were born five children as follows:  John Franklin, born Nov. 12, 1854.  He married Sarah M. Campbell of Darke county, Ohio.  He later became the owner of the farm which had been bought by his father before the latter's death.  To him were born four children:  Maude Elizabeth married John E. Kline, who served as deputy auditor for Darke county from 1909 to 1914, when he was appointed deputy district tax commissioner by W. D. Brumbaugh.  They have two children.  The second of John Franklin Brumbaugh's children was John Walter, who died at the age of two years.  The third is a daughter, Hattie.  She married Claude Oswalt, a farmer residing on a farm adjacent to Brumbaugh farm in Greenville township.  No children.  Gertie, single, lives with her widowed mother on the Brumbaugh homestead across the road from Concord German Reformed church.  John Franklin Brumbaugh died September 10, 1898.  The second child of Samuel David is Daniel Harmon Brumbaugh, born Oct. 11, 1856.  He married Ella Bender of Darke county.  He is a farmer and lives near Arcanum, Ohio.  To them have been born eight children, five of whom are living.  The third child of Samuel David Brumbaugh is Virginia Bell.  She was born Dec. 21, 1859.  She married John W. Stephens, a farmer of Darke county, Ohio.  They live in Greenville now and have five children.  Clement Laird Brumbaugh, fourth child of Samuel David, was born in Richland township, Darke county, Ohio, Feb. 28, 1863.
     William David Brumbaugh, the youngest of the five children, was born Aug. 1, 1866.  He was about 18 months' old when his father passed away.  The father had bought the old Deed's farm by the Concord church in Greenville township, consisting of 80 acres, in the fall before his death.  The mother then took up the struggle of rearing these children and of keeping them together.  This she succeeded in doing and by hard labor upon the farm, often doing a man's labor of out-door work, she with the help of the children succeeded in saving fifty-five acres.  A part of the struggles is told in the biographies of her two sons, Clement L. and William David,  which follows this article.  She lived to see all her children well established in the world and her last years were spent in her little home on Martin street by the side of her daughter's residence, where she was cared for and administered to by her loving and faithful sons and daughter.  The bosoms of her children swell with pride when they say that "they never heard her speak a reproachful word for any person and that they never knew her to seek her repose at night without first committing the care of herself and her little family to the keeping of her Savior, whom she fervently served to the last moment of her earthly existence."
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio From its earliest Settlement to the Present Time - Vols. I & II - Milford, Ohio - The Hobart Publ. Co. - 1914 - Page 536
Transcribed by Sharon Wick

HON. CLEMENT LAIRD BRUMBAUGH.    Congressman Clement L. Brumbaugh, democrat, of Columbus, Ohio, belongs to an old and honored family, which has been located in America for nearly two hundred years, the progenitor having come from Germany about 1750 and settled in what was then Frederick county, Maryland.  A very good history of the Brumbaugh family may be found in this volume, as well as sketches of several prominent members of the family who are identified with Darke county.  A family characteristic is having a purpose in view worthy of striving for and steadily working toward the desired end.  Clement L. Brumbaugh has had to make his own way in life since he was a mere lad and has steadily progressed in worldly position and in the degree of usefulness to his fellows.  His sturdy character is shown in his face and bearing and he is a striking figure in any gathering.
     Mr. Brumbaugh was born on a farm near Greenville, Darke county, Feb. 28, 1863, son of Samuel D. and Elizabeth (Darner) Brumbaugh, the parents given extensive mention in connection with the history of the family mentioned above.  Samuel David Brumbaugh was the fourth of the ten children of Daniel and Anna (Gray) Brumbaugh, and was born near Hagerstown, Maryland, Jan. 7, 1831, came to Ohio before 1860, and died Mar. 18, 1868.  Elizabeth Darner was born Jun. 24, 1831, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Darner.  Samuel D. Brumbaugh was drafted for service during the Civil war, but was not accepted on account of physical defects, though he was later commissioned first lieutenant of Company E, Third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, for which he did a recruiting service.   He and his wife had five children, all of whom still survive.  The fall before his death he purchased the old Deede farm near Concord church in Greenville township, consisting of eighty acres.  His widow was left with five small children, and endured many privations in her effort to do her best for them all.  She worked in the fields and often did a man's work.  She never lost courage and faith in the future, and in her later life her children in truth realized and appreciated what she had done for them and the ambition she had instilled into them.  She wished each one to make an honorable place for himself and lived to see them all in comfortable circumstances and a credit to her hard work and foresight.  All honored her highly and they did their utmost to make her last days happy and to make up to her for the hardships she endured.  She succeeded in saving for their home fifty-five acres of the farm and as her sons grew large enough to help they did what they could for her and later went to work for others to do their share to keep up the home.
     Clement L. Brumbaugh was five years old at the time of his father's death, so that his earliest recollections are associated with hard work and privation.  He became a farm hand as soon as he was large enough to be accepted in that capacity.  This was in the days when farmers worked from the rising to the setting sun and sometimes later, and expected the most conscientious and painstaking service.  He was never known to shirk his duty and always had his ideal for the future, resolving to better his condition as he was able to do so and schooling himself in patience.  He attended the district school when opportunity offered and applied himself so diligently that he was able to secure a certificate to teach, using this profession as a stopping stone to higher ground, as so many others have done.  For a few years he taught winters and worked as a farm hand during the summer months, and upon reaching manhood's estate he had saved some money toward his educational plans.  In 1887 he graduated with degree B. S. from the National Normal University at Lebanon, Ohio; then founded Van Buren Academy, which he conducted four years; from 1891 until 1893 took a special course in ancient languages at Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware Ohio; in the fall of 1893 entered the senior year in the classical course at Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass., graduating with degree A.B. in June, 1894; the city of Washington; from 1896 to 1900 served as superintendent of schools in Greenville.  He had a special liking for the study of history and also made a specialty of studying political economy, in this way following a train of thought that made his later public services especially valuable, for he has always been very conscientious in fulfilling every trust.  He was an alternate at large for the State of Ohio to the democratic national convention at Kansas City in 1900; from 1900 until 1904 served as a member and minority leader in the Ohio legislature, during which time he made a record that was of great assistance to him in his later career as a politician.
     During his college course, Mr. Brumbaugh had studied law and in 1900 was admitted by the Supreme Court of Ohio to practice the profession, which he immediately took up in the city of Columbus, winning a place at once by his ability. While holding the position of deputy superintendent of insurance of the State of Ohio he was nominated for Congress in the Twelfth Ohio Congressional District, at a democratic primary held May 21, 1912.  The district had a normal republican majority of about 5,000, but on account of Mr. Brumbaugh's previous progressive record in the Ohio legislature he was endorsed by the progressive party of the district, which helped win his election to the Sixty-third Congress.  He received 24,340 votes to 14,682 for hon. Edward L. Taylor, Jr., republican; 7,095 for Jacob L. Baehman, socialist; and 450 for John R. Schmidt, labor socialist, and he was the only democratic nominee for Congress in Ohio to receive the endorsement of the progressive party.  He had carried on an able campaign and had made numerous able speeches, which had brought him into prominence throughout the State, for all its citizens were interested in his success, more especially as his record of being a self-made man appealed to all.  His upright, and enthusiastic zeal and courage won him many friends; all who know him well predict greater things in his future.  He has always been steadfastly true to his party and its interests and is known as one of the typical democratic leaders form Ohio.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio From its earliest Settlement to the Present Time - Vols. I & II - Milford, Ohio - The Hobart Publ. Co. - 1914.
Transcribed by Sharon Wick

WILLIAM D. BRUMBAUGH.  Few men are so well known in Darke county as William D. Brumbaugh, prominent attorney of Greenville, who has for many years been identified with one or another of the movements for advancement and progress in the community.  He was born in a log cabin on a farm now known as the Kelsey Place, Richland township, Darke county, Aug. 1, 1867, and is the youngest child of Samuel D. and Elizabeth (Darner) Brumbaugh.
     The father was born and grew to manhood on a farm near Hagerstown, Maryland, coming as a youth to Montgomery county, Ohio.  He there was united in marriage with Elizabeth Darner, born on the old Darner homestead in that county.  Soon after marriage the young couple located in Richland township, Darke county; they later bought eighty acres in Greenville township.  The father died a few months after this purchase, leaving his widow with five children, form sons and one daughter, the eldest being twelve years of age.  At that time William D. was eighteen months old.  Mrs. Brumbaugh managed to keep her little family together and, with their help, managed to keep for himself fifty-five acres of land.  Of the children:  John Franklin, who had purchased the old homestead, died about 1900, leaving a widow and three daughters: Daniel H., whose home was in Darke county, died Dec. 23, 1912, from the effects of an operation at St. Elizabeth hospital, Dayton, Ohio, leaving a widow and five children; Clement L. lives at 1309 Neil avenue, Columbus; Jennie Belle, the only daughter, married John W. Stephens, and they have five children, their home being in Greenville; William D., the youngest, whose name heads this sketch.
     Samuel D. Brumbaugh was a democrat in politics and was a member of the Reformed Church.  He was drafted for service in the army during the Civil war, but was rejected on account of physical inability.
     William D. Brumbaugh remained with his mother until he was twenty-eight years of age.  He worked during the summer months and attended school through the winter, as did his brother also.  The first money he earned was a dime which he received for dropping corn over the three acre field around the old school house, which was owned by Uncle William Oswald.  When he was thirteen years of age he hired out to Joseph S. and John Walker at fifty cents per day and worked form them three summers doing a man's work in plowing, in the harvest field and wherever he could be most useful.  The winters of his fifteenth and sixteenth years he attended Greenville high school, walking the three miles there and back morning and evening.  During this time he ate his noonday meal in the retail grocery and hardware store of Westerfield Bros., in the building now occupied by the C. C. Hall cigar store.  He spent his spare time at noon taking special work in mathematics under Prof. F. M. White, as he wanted to progress faster than the rest of the class were able to do.
     On the first day of March after he had reached the age of sixteen years, Mr. Brumbaugh started his career as a teacher in his home district, the Concord school, as it was called.  His mother's home had sheltered the teachers in the district, as well as all preachers who came to the neighborhood to preach.  For the first ninety days, a spring term, he received one dollar per day.  He continued this work three winters and four springs, earning money which assisted to pay off the mortgage on the home place.  He taught one winter at Poplar Ridge and three winters at Bear's Mills, and during four summers attended school at Lebanon, where he was under the influence and instruction of "Daddy" Holbrook.  He used the money he had earned to proceed with his education, but as he did not have enough, John Walker, who had held the mortgage on the old homestead for years, offered to loan what he needed to finish, and he took scientific, classic and engineering courses, in all of which he did creditably.  At the age of twenty-four years, when he finished his course, he was owing Mr. Walker $575, and took out Union Central Life insurance in favor of his mother, who was also a signer of his note, in order to protect her interests.
     Shortly after leaving school Mr. Brumbaugh was nominated on the democratic ticket for the office of county surveyor, being elected in the fall, and he took his office Jan. 1,  1891.  He was re-elected in 1894, at which time he led the ticket, and on account of changes in the law affecting length of office he served six years and eight months.  While serving his last term he was appointed city engineer by the city council.  A bout 1899 he and his brother, Clement L., built a house in Greenville and there William D. Brumbaugh and his mother made their home.  For eleven years he continued to serve as city engineer and during that time he served as chief engineer of the sanitary board, which put in seventeen miles of sewer system and during this time also Broadway, Washington avenue, East and West Fifth streets, East Fourth street and East Third street were paved.  He has superintended work in nearly every section of the State.  There is scarcely a farm in this county which he has not been on and he is so familiar with the land s of Darke county that upon hearing the location of a man's home can at once name his near neighbors.
     Mr. Brumbaugh was married in Greenville, Sept. 17, 1895, to Miss Carrie E. Ridenour, born and reared in Greenville, a graduate of Greenville high school, and who was a teacher in Darke county.  She is a daughter of William and Nina (Phillips) Ridenour.  Four children have blessed this union:  Laird R., born Aug. 23, 1897, died June 17, 1913, when a junior in Greenville high school; Nina E., born Dec. 29, 1899, is a member of the sophomore class in high school; William D., Jr., born Aug. 15, 1906, and Herman Edward, born July 15, 1910.
     While teaching, Mr. Brumbaugh had his first impulse to study law and actually began his course, reading in the office of Attorneys Bickel and All read,  above the old postoffice, where later he had his own office.  He abandoned the idea for a few years, on account of his mother's scruples, but never lost his desire or predilection for the law, and his course at Lebanon helped him in his later studies along this line.  While service as city engineer he took up this study during his evenings and his wife was of great assistance during this period, giving him his quizzes.  By the close of his service as city engineer he was fully prepared for his examination, which he passed in June, 1904, and was admitted to the bar.  He was since been engaged in the active practice of his profession and has gained a high reputation.  He has a suite of offices on the second floor of the Trainor building on Broadway, and has been successful to a gratifying degree.
     During early manhood Mr. Brumbaugh was a democrat and cast his first presidential vote for Grover Cleveland.  He has always taken great interest in public affairs and has been active in teh interests of his party during campaigns and at the polls.  He served several times on the executive committee of Darke county and in 1912 was its chairman.  In 1894 Mr. Brumbaugh, with four others, viz., Charles J. Herr, Guy C. Baker, James Chenoweth and J. Willard Ditman, were conducting a lecture course in Greenville, and had booked John Temple Graves for a lecture.  However, Mr. Graves was unable to meet his engagement and Mr. Brumbaugh, as secretary of the committee, was empowered to secure a substitute.  HE wrote to his brother, Clement L., then a teacher in Howard University, Washington, D. C., to ascertain if he could secure Bourke Cochrane.  At that time William J. Bryan was serving his first term as congressman from Nebraska, and had delivered his electrifying speech on the tariff question, which Clement Brumbaugh was fortunate enough to hear, and without attempting to secure Mr. Cochrane, wrote back to his brother, "If you want to get the coming leader of the people get W. J. Bryan, of Nebraska."  This was done, and in the spring William D. Brumbaugh had the pleasure of introducing the "silver tongued" orator to his first Ohio audience, in the greenville opera house.  Since that time there has never been a presidential or gubernatorial campaign at which Mr. Bryan has not addressed the people of Darke county, and Mr. Brumbaugh has been an ardent admirer of Mr. Bryan since first meeting him.  In 1909 he was a candidate for nomination for office of probate judge, but was defeated by the present incumbent, James B. Kolp.
     In March, 1912, he was appointed deputy state oil inspector for the seventh district, holding that office until he resigned it to accept position of district tax assessor in Darke county, being appointed to office by Governor Cox.  His mother was a member of the Union Brethren church and at the age of sixteen years he also joined it a Concord, and after locating in Greenville identified himself with the church there, serving some time as a member of the board of trustees and as superintendent of the Sunday school for several years.  Fraternally he belongs to the Masons and to the Knights of Pythias.  He has a large number of friends throughout the county and has been well supported in his campaigns for office and in his personal efforts for the welfare and progress of his county and state.  His wife is a member of the Altrurian club of Greenville and the family are well known in social circles.  Mr. Brumbaugh is an upright, public spirited citizen and has always been much interested in his fellow men and in any institution or movement which he feels will result in good to the greatest number rather than to a few.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio From its earliest Settlement to the Present Time - Vols. I & II - Milford, Ohio - The Hobart Publ. Co. - 1914 - Page 542
Transcribed by Sharon Wick