USA > Ohio > Darke County > History of Darke County, Ohio, from its earliest settlement to the present time, Volume II > Part 51
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HON. CLEMENT LAIRD BRUMBAUGH.
Congressman Clement L. Brumbaugh, democrat, of Colum- bus, 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 vol- ume, 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
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county, February 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, January 7, 1831, came to Ohio before 1860, and died March 18, 1868. Elizabeth Darner was born June 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 Infantry, for which he did 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 en- dured 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, re- solving 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 pro- fession as a stepping stone to higher ground, as so many
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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 Har- vard University, Cambridge, Mass., graduating with degree A.B. in June, 1894; the following year taught school in the city of Washington; from 1896 to 1900 served as superintend- ent 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 na- tional convention at Kansas City in 1900; from 1900 until 1904 served as member and minority leader in the Ohio legis- lature, 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 insur- ance of the State of Ohio he was nominated for Congress in the Twelfth Ohio Congressional District, at a democratic pri- · mary held May 21, 1912. The district had a normal republi- can majority of about 5,000, but on account of Mr. Brum- baugh'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 en- dorsement 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
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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 from Ohio.
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 Kel- sey Place, Richland township, Darke county, August 1, 1867, and is the youngest child of Samuel D. and Elizabeth (Dar- ner) 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 Eliza- beth Darner, born on the old Darner homestead in that coun- ty. Soon after marriage the young couple located in Rich- land 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, four sons and one daughter, the eldest being twelve years of age. At that time William D. was eighteen months old. Mrs. Brum- baugh managed to keep her little family together and, with their help, managed to keep for herself fifty-five acres of land. Of the children: John Franklin, who had purchased the old . homestead, died about 1900, leaving a widow and three daugh- ters; Daniel H., whose home was in Darke county, died De- cember 23, 1912, from the effects of an operation at St. Eliza- beth hospital, Dayton, Ohio, leaving a widow and five chil- dren ; Clement L. lives at 1309 Niel 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 ser- vice in the army during the Civil war, but was rejected on account of physical inability.
William D. Brumbaugh remained with his mother until he
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was twenty-eight years of age. He worked during the sum- mer 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 for them three summers, doing a man's work in plow- ing, in the harvest field and wherever he could be most use- ful. The winters of his fifteenth and sixteenth years he at- tended 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, and for the winter term he received one and a half dollars per day. He continued this work three win- ters 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 un .. der 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 engineer- ing 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 January 1,
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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 serv ing his last term he was appointed city engineer by the city council. About 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 superintend- ed work in nearly every section of the State. There is scarce- ly a farm in this county which he has not been on and he is so familiar with the lands 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, September 17, 1895, to Miss Carrie E. Ridenour, born and reared in Green- ville, 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 August 23, 1897, died June 17, 1913, when a junior in Greenville high school; Nina E., born De- cember 29, 1899, is a member of the sophomore class in high school; William D., Jr., born August 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 Allread, 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 serving 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 has since been engaged in the active practice of his pro- fession and has gained a high reputation. He has a suite of offices on the second floor of the Trainor building on Broad- way, and has been successful to a gratifying degree.
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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 ac- tive in the 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 con- ducting a lecture course in Greenville, and had booked John Temple Graves for a lecture. However, Mr. Graves was un- able to meet his engagement and Mr. Brumbaugh, as secre- tary of the committee, was empowered to secure a substitute. " He wrote to his brother, Clement L., then a teacher in How- ard 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 with- out 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 introduc- ing 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 nom- ination for office of probate judge, but was defeated by the present incumbent, James B. Kelp.
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 United Brethren church and at the age of sixteen years he also joined it at Concord, and after locating in Greenville identified himself with the church there, serv- ing some time as a member of the board of trustees and as superintendent of the Sunday school for several years. Fra- ternally 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 (35)
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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.
HARRY C. MILLER.
. Harry C. Miller is one of the younger men in public life in Darke county, and is giving the people conscientious ser- vice in the capacity of county surveyor. He is well known throughout the county and has many sincere friends. He was born in the city of Richmond, Indiana, February 25, 1884, son of Thomas B. and Elizabeth (McGrew) Miller. He was but one year old when his parents located in Greenville, Ohio, and five years later his father was chosen superintendent of the county infirmary, a position he held eleven years.
Mr. Miller attended the country schools until he was about thirteen years of age, then started to attend school in Green- ville, continuing until he had taken the first two years of the high school course. He left to begin a course in civil en- gineering and surveying in the school of John Beers, at Greenville, from which he graduated creditably in 1904. He was much interested in his chosen line of work and gained valuable practical experience during the succeeding years in railway work in Arkansas. For a year he was assistant engineer in the employ of the Missouri Pacific Railway Com- pany. For about a year he then worked as mining engineer in Pennsylvania. For a few years he worked in various parts of the country for private individuals and firms, but during this time retained his residence in Darke county, and has al- ways been interested in local affairs. He was reared with principles of democracy and cast his first presidential ballot for William Jennings Bryan. He has since actively worked in the interest of his party and has been much interested in the work of the party in Darke county. In November, 1912, he was elected to his present office, taking same September 1, 1913. He makes friends readily, is interested in the wel- fare of the public and most conscientious in the performance
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of his official duties. His former experience has been of great help to him and he is well fitted for the work in which he is engaged. He has the confidence and esteem of all and is con- sidered a public-spirited citizen.
On September 26, 1907, Mr. Miller was united in marriage with Miss Gertrude Roland, a native of Greenville, a graduate of the high school there, and for five years prior to her mar- riage teacher of drawing in the school at St. Marys, Ohio. She is a daughter of Charles, Jr., and Elizabeth (Davis) Ro- land, residents of Greenville. She is a member and one of the earnest workers of the Presbyterian church and belongs to the Fin-de-Sicle Literary Society. Mr. Miller is a member of the Knights of Pythias and has filled the chairs in the local lodge, and he also belongs to the Order of Elks. In July, 1913, he began the erection of a pretty modern residence, into which he moved the following October, located on Grey avenue. He and his wife are parents of a little daughter, Marjorie Elizabeth, born December 19, 1913.
CHANNING WEBSTER BRANDON.
Channing Webster Brandon, president of the Columbus Mu- tual Life Insurance Company, was the organizer of that large concern, whose stock is held by over six hundred representa- tive citizens throughout the State of Ohio, located in every county in the State and comprising over one hundred phy- sicians, one hundred merchants and manufacturers, the same number of bankers and clergymen, numerous farmers, and men engaged in various other occupations. When this com- pany was organized it was with the thought of benefiting the next generation and those coming later, as well as of giving the people safe insurance at lowest cost, for they do not pay enormous salaries to a few officers of the company. This com- pany was organized to establish a co-operative commonwealth that would place the policy holders' interests first, carry out the highest ideals, practice the Golden Rule and furnish the most of the best insurance for the least money. Insurance men have year by year brought their business to a scientific basis, and all intelligent persons may know whether or not the poli- cies offered them are prepared on a fair basis. Such a com- pany as the one here described is of great benefit to those who
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avail themselves of the opportunity it offers. Mr. Brandon is re- sponsible more than any other for the success of the enter- prise and has given his best efforts in this connection.
Mr. Brandon was born December 11, 1858, at Marion, Ind., third child of Thomas A. and Susanna (Mccullough) Brandon, both now deceased. The father was a clergyman and for some fifty years presided as pastor of various churches in Darke county. He was born near Versailles, Darke county, and died in 1896. The mother was born near Addison, Miami county, Ohio.
The Brandon family originally came from Ireland. The father of James M. Brandon was also named Alexander and was born in York county, Pennsylvania, March 13, 1748. He was a private in General Washington's army and was pro- moted to sergeant and received his pay in the depreciated paper money that was issued by the Continental Congress which went so far below par in its value that the by-word, "not worth a Continental," expressed the lowest possible value one could imagine. He was the son of an immigrant known as Scotch-Irishman, who located in Cumberland county, Pennsyl- vania, in the first half of the Eighteenth century. It appears that they remained in Pennsylvania until after the close of the Revolutionary war and that Alexander had several broth- ers, one of whom was Jonathan. On Monday, April 19, 1773, Alexander Brandon married Elizabeth Mabinette, who was born on Sunday, June 11, 1749. (It seems that some of the de- scendants have her name Elizabeth Robinette, but our au- thority says this is a mistake and that Mabinette is correct.) Alexander and Jonathan Brandon seem to have moved to Preston county, West Vrginia, in 1786. Jonathan located where Brandonville, which was named for him, now stands. His house was the very first built there and later on one room was used as a store.
Alexander located on the north side of Sandy Creek be- tween Bruceton and Hazleton, his farm being the one now owned by John Matlick. In West Virginia Alexander Bran- don became the first colonel of the One Hundred and Fourth regiment of State militia and held that position until one year before his death, which took place on the anniversary of his birth, March 13, 1813. His wife, Elizabeth, passed away April 14, 1792. Of their four sons and six daughters all went to Ohio except William and Hannah. One of these was James M.
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Brandon, the grandfather of Channing Webster Brandon of this review.
Rev. Thomas A. Brandon was one of the early teachers of Darke county, where he became well known later for his work in the interests of the Christian church. He was drafted for military service during Civil war, when men were being secured for the purpose of stopping Morgan's raid, but it was necessary for him to serve only a few days. He was highly respected and held in high regard by all. He and his wife had four children.
In boyhood Mr. Channing W. Brandon attended several dif- ferent schools, beginning his education at the age of five years in the public school at Montgomery, Hamilton county, and later attending the public schools of Stringtown, Lebanon, Troy, Yellow Springs, Williamsport, Bellefontaine, Dayton, Jamestown, Ohio, and Union City, Ind., where his father was preaching. At the age of sixteen years he left school and took a position with his brother in the grocery business in Belle- fontaine, remaining there a year and a half. Later he taught school in Darke county, the first year three miles east of Union City, the second year seven miles north of that town. He returned to Bellefontaine and for two years was employed there as a bookkeeper, after which for three years he conducted a book and stationery business there on his own account, after which he entered the line of work in which he has since been- engaged. He moved to Greenville on February 4, 1884, re- mained there until 1893, and during this time was working in the interests of the Union Central Life Insurance Company. He went to Dayton in the interests of the same company, re- mained there about ten years, and in June, 1903, located in Co- lumbus. He began the organization of the Columbus Mutual Life Insurance Company in 1906 and by April, 1908, was writ- ing insurance in the same, being president of this growing enterprise from the start. He has offices in the Wyandotte building and both Mr. Brandon and the company he repre- sents stand well in business circles. He has always displayed great energy and executive ability in conducting his business affairs and has shown good business sense in his methods of procedure.
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