Biographical Sketch of Harry I. BROWNBACK (1893); Chester County, PA

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Source: "Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chester County, Pennsyl- vania, 
comprising a historical sketch of the county," by Samuel T. Wiley and edited by 
Winfield Scott Garner, Gresham Publishing Company, Phila- delphia, PA, 1893, pp. 
860-1.

"HARRY I. BROWNBACK, who is vault clerk in the sub-treasury at Philadel- phia, 
and was formerly connected with the business interests of Phoenix- ville, this 
county, where his family still resides in a most beautiful home, is a son of 
Edward and Hannah (Peterman) Brownback, and was born in East Vincent township, 
Chester county, Pennsylvania, November 19, 1850. He grew to manhood there, and 
received a good English education in the common schools and at the Phoenixville 
High school.  After leaving school, in 1868, he engaged as a clerk with Katerand 
Wagoner, and remained there for a period of four years, after which he became 
time-keeper in the Phoenix Iron works, and retained that position for nearly six 
years.  In 1878 he purchased the clothing store of Emanuel Ewing at 
Phoenixville, and successfully conducted the clothing business until August, 
1890, when he disposed of his interests, and in April, 1891, was appointed vault 
clerk in the sub-treasury at Philadelphia, a position he has filled ever since 
with ability and to the entire satisfaction of his official super- iors.  In 
politics Mr. Brownback is an ardent republican, and has been the candidate of 
his party for the office of recorder of deeds in his na- tive county.  He is a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Phoenix- ville, and also a prominent 
member of a number of fraternal organizations, being connected with Phoenix 
Lodge, No. 75, Free and Accepted Masons; Phoenix Chapter, No. 98, Royal Arch 
Masons; Jerusalem Commandery, No. 15, Knights Templar; Phoenix Lodge, No. 212, 
and Palestine Council of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

"On November 14, 1873, Mr. Brownback was united in marriage to S. Lizzie Miller, 
a daughter of Mahlon and Susannah Miller, of Phoenixville.  To Mr. and Mrs. 
Brownback were born five children: Mahlon M., deceased; Clara M., also dead; 
Alice Maud, Nellie I., and Bessie A., the latter also deceased.

"Harry I. Brownback is a worthy representative of one of the fine old families 
of Chester county, and traces his ancestry back to Garrett Brown- back (or 
Gerhard Brumbach, as then written), who came to America from Ger- many in 1725, 
and whose history is more particularly detailed in the sketch of Lewis C. 
Brownback, found on page 555 of this volume.

"Edward Brownback (paternal grandfather) was born in 1798, and died in 1854.  By 
occupation he was a farmer, a whig in politics, and in religion a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal church.  He married Margaret Root, by whom he had a family 
of thirteen children, among whom were: Edward, Uriah, Stephen, Lewis, Luzetta, 
Rosanna, Edith, Margaret and Malinda.

"The second Edward Brownback (father) was born on the old homestead in East 
Vincent township, this county, July 6, 1819, and died here November 14, 1872, 
aged fifty-three years.  He was a farmer all his life, and be- came very 
prosperous.  In politics he was a whig and republican, and in religion a strict 
member of the Methodist Episcopal church.  He married Hannah Peterman, and was 
the father of thirteen children: Luzetta, married Samuel H. Souders, of 
Phoenixville; John W., deceased; Stephen S., a farmer of this county, wedded 
Annie Kein; Andora S., deceased; Edward, married Sarah J. Zimmers, of 
Phoenixville; Harry L., the subject of this sketch; Oran W., dead; Annie, the 
wife of Harry Heistand, a merchant of Parker Ford; Margaret S., wedded George W. 
Orr, of Phoenixville, where they resided; Lizzie H., deceased; William W., also 
dead; Rosie, married John J. Davis, and resides at Phoenixville; and Clinton, 
now deceased."