| Notes |
- Frederick Brungart was a son of Jacob.
593 COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
FREDERICK BRUNGART, Sr., the oldest
living male representative of one of the
most honored and highly-respected families of
Nittany Valley, was born December 11, 1817,
in Miles township. Brush Valley, Centre Co.,
Penn., a son of Jacob and Margaret (Gephart)
Brungart. The family is a numerous one in both
Brush and Nittany Valleys, and was founded here
in 1798 by Martin Brungart, who came from the
vicinity of Hanover, York Co., Penn., and. pur-
chased the interest of a Mr. Kreamer in a tract
of land in the east end of Brush Valley, where
he located permanently. He and his wife died
there, and were buried in the old cemetery at Re-
bersburg.
In the family of this worthy couple was Jacob
Brungart, our subject's father, who was born
January 15, 1786, and died September 5, 1862.
When but a boy he went with his parents to
Brush Valley, where he was reared and married
to a Miss Weaver, by whom he had three chil-
dren: Polly, Susan and John. For his Second
wife he chose Margaret Gephart, and to them
were born the following children: Martin; George ;
Jacob; Frederick; Samuel; Catharine, wife of
Adam Bear; Margaret, wife of Jacob Smeltzer;
Regina, wife of John Shaffer; and Sarah, wife of
William Johnson. The daughters by the first
wife — Mary (or Polly) married John Heckman;
and Susan married John Weaver. The father
was one of the most successful, thrifty and highly
esteemed farmers of Brush Valley, owning sev-
eral fine farms, three of which were in Nittany
Valley, Clinton county, and these he gave to his
sons, John, George and Frederick, who in that
order came to this locality.
The subject of this sketch conned his lessons
in the Brungart school in the east end of Brush
Valley, which was conducted on the subscription
plan, and James McGhee was one of his first
teachers. He early became familiar with all the
duties which fall to the lot of the agriculturist,
and often in boyhood took loads of grain to
market for his father, going as far as Lewisburg.
When a young man he used to come to Nittany
Valley to assist his brothers who had previously
located here, and in the spring of 1842 he took
up his residence upon his present farm in Lamar
township, Clinton county, living in the same
house which has since been greatly remodeled.
and enlarged. The farm at that time was about
half cleared, and to its further development and
cultivation he at once devoted his attention, and
now has one of the most desirable places in the
locality.
On February 27, 1842, in Sugar Valley, Mr.
Brungart was married to Miss Elizabeth Reda-
bach, who was born January 30, 181 8, in Brush
Valley, the daughter of Peter and Elizabeth
(Miller) Redabach. She died July 25, 1883, and
was laid to rest in Cedar Hill cemetery. She
left three children, as follows: (1) William L.,
born December 5, 1842, was educated in the
common schools, and was a schoolmate of Gov.
Daniel H. Hastings. He has always engaged in
agricultural pursuits, and has spent his entire life
on the home farm. He is a Democrat in poli-
tics, is a wide-awake and progressive citizen, and
an excellent farmer. On September 12, 1872,
he Vvas married, in Lewisburg, Penn., to Miss
Mary J. Bierly, who was born in April, 1841, a
daughter of Melchoir and Catharine (Gephart)
Bierly. There were only two children in her
father's family who reached years of maturity,
the other being Charles Bierly, a resident of
Rebersburg. William L. Brungart and wife
have one son — Charles A., born October 14,
1874, and still at home. (2) Jacob E., the sec-
ond son of our subject, was born August 26,
1846, and is now engaged in clerking in Hughes-
ville, Lycoming Co., Penn. (3) Mary J., born
December 12, 1850, is the wife of Rev. A. J.
Gramley, an Evangelical minister now living in
Ohio.
At each Presidential election since attaining
his majority, our subject has never failed to cast
his ballot for the Democratic candidate, and he
has always taken an active and commendable in-
terest in public affairs. He is a faithful member
of the United Evangelical Church, and has for
years served as trustee of the same. Although
in his youth he had several very severe spells of
sickness, he is still well-preserved, is quiet and
unassuming, and has a host of friends and a large
circle of acquaintances throughout his adopted
county, who appreciate his sterling worth and
many excellencies of character. [1]
|
1786 - 1862 (76 years)
: Address
: Location
: City/Town
: County/Shire
: State/Province
: Country
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