BIO: Henry A. BRUMGARD, Centre County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JO Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/ http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/1picts/commbios/comm-bios.htm _____________________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898. _____________________________________________________________________ HENRY A. BRUMGARD is a retired farmer, one whose well-spent life and activity in business have brought to him a competence that now enables him to lay aside business cares. He was born June 9, 1843, in Clinton county, and is the eldest child of Martin and Sarah (Wholford) Brumgard. He is descended from one of the old Pennsylvania families, and on both sides is of German descent. Several of his ancestors took an active part in the war of 1812. His grandfather, Jacob Brumgard, removed from New York to Pennsylvania, at a very early day. The father of our subject was born and reared in Brush Valley, Centre county, and throughout his life followed the occupation of farming. In the spring of 1845 he removed from Clinton county to Centre county, where he passed the rest of his days, dying November 16, 1893. He was laid to rest by the side of his wife, who had departed this life June 18, 1885. She was a daughter of George Wholford, of Brush Valley. Mr. and Mrs. Brumgard had three children, the daughters being Catherine R., wife of D. T. Johnson, a prosperous farmer of Ferguson township, Centre county, and Alice, wife of George Garbrick, a farmer of Spring township, Centre county, by whom she has two children, Sarah and Clarence. In the common schools Henry A. Brumgard 426 COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. acquired his education, while on the old homestead he received ample training at farm labor, and learned many valuable lessons of industry and economy. On June 14, 1866, he married Miss Mary A. Homan, who was born July 26, 1843, a daughter of John Homan, who resided in Ferguson township, Centre county. He died very suddenly of heart disease, on the 2nd of November, 1893, and his wife passed away March 22, 1894, their remains being interred in Pine Hall cemetery, Ferguson township. Mr. and Mrs. Brumgard have three children: John Calvin, who was born April 2, 1871, and died at the age of three years; Sarah A., wife of Newton J. Hockman, a farmer of Walker township, by whom she has three sons - Austin F., born September 7, 1890, Clyde E., born June 1, 1893, and Fern, born May 28, 1896; and Hannah G., who was born December 25, 1874, is still at home with her parents. Mr. Brumgard is the owner of some valuable real estate, including a farm of one hundred acres pleasantly situated one mile from Zion. He also owns a fine residence in the town, ten acres of land adjoining the corporation limits, and a twenty-acre timber tract near the town. He also has a third interest in a valuable tract of ore land near State College. All his property has been acquired through his own efforts, and his undertakings have been crowned with the success that follows consecutive effort, well directed energy and determined purpose. He is now living retired in the well-earned enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil. He has traveled quite extensively over the country, having visited many of the western States, and is an intelligent, public- spirited and progressive man, honorable in all the relations of life and extending to his many friends the cordial hospitality of his home. He formerly held membership with the Grange; he and his wife are members of the Lutheran Church. In politics he is a Democrat, and held the office of assessor one year in Walker township.