C. W. Brubaker Famiy

In the year of 1842 while this portion of the Maumee Valley was still in its original state of nature and before the departure of the Redmen from their haunts and homes and when young men of the older states were looking for places to seek their fame and fortune in a new land, there came a family from York, Pennsylvania.

This family was John and Sarah Salome Wyant Brubaker, David and wife, Eliza Brubaker, and Henry and wife, Leah Brubaker. John, David and Henry were brothers who came from Hagerstown, Maryland, to Stark County, Ohio.

John's wife, Sarah (often called Aunt Sally), was born in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, on February 21, 1814. In early childhood, with her parents, she moved to Stark County, Ohio, where on June 16, 1836, she was united in marriage to John Brubaker. She died October 22, 1900, at the age of 86 and eight children survived.

Christian Wyatt Brubaker was the second son of John and Sarah and was born September 27, 1843, in Stark County, Sugar Creek Township. He was from a family of nine that included Mary, Hannah, Emmanuel, Christian W., Clara, Daniel, and Alfred. Christian was a child of four years when the family moved to the "Black Swamp" of Henry County in the fall of 1847 to establish a home in the unbroken forest. They brought with them two horses, two wagons, loaded with essential household items, two cows, and their young families. Among their valued possessions was a large copper kettle. This was used to make apple butter, and it belonged to the John Brubaker family. At the death of Sarah it was given to her son Alfred with the understanding that anyone in the family could use it when needed. It now belongs to Alfred's son Earl and his wife Nettie, who with sister Sarah still live on one of the home farms.

On September 16, 1870, Christian married Martha Ann Glore in Williams County, Ohio. She was the only child of John and Mary Glore. Her mother died when Martha was but an infant, the father later married Catherine Bordner who also had a daughter. To this union were born three sons and three daughters.

Christian and Martha Brubaker had eleven children. Christian died in his home in Napoleon Township after seeing the great forest transformed into beautiful homes and farm land. Martha passed away on January 8, 1929, at the age of 76 years. Three children died at birth; those surviving were Ruri, Albert, Irene, Harriet, Logan, Lawrence, Helen, and Charles.

Claude and Irene Buckmaster Family — Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary (December 23, 1972). Left to right: Ida Buckmaster, Patricia Knepley, Walter, Charles, Claude, Earl, Irene, Donald, Maxine Grogg, Shirley Higbea, Margaret Schroer, Elizabeth Tuttle.

Logan W. Brubaker was born September 9, 1884, the sixth child of Christian and Martha and died October 6, 1966, at the age of 82 years. He was a life-long farmer. He married Flora Mable Gunn, the daughter of Charles Henry Gunn and Clara S. Karsner. Flora had one sister, Nellie May Owens and one brother, Benjamin Gunn, all deceased. The Gunn family was born and lived on the homestead on 424 west of Napoleon and three miles east of Florida, Ohio, now owned by Benjamin Gunn's son, Charles who married Deloris Wesche and has three daughters. Logan and Flora Brubaker had three sons: Lowell, Leland, and Clinton.

Leland married Marian Knepley and live on the Logan Brubaker homestead which was purchased after Logan's death in 1966. It is located on 424 W and County Road M. They have four daughters: Linda Ferner, Susan, Judith Austermiller, Mary Beth; and one grandchild, Sarah Ann Austermiller.

Originally the home was moved from the C. W. Brubaker farm on County Road M2 in 1930. It was a square house with original porch.

Florida, Ohio, could boast of the first mill and men came from miles around with their wheat to purchase flour.

Grandma Sarah Brubaker lived for a time with son Alfred and Aunt Florence and as Grandma sat by the window she'd say, "There goes so and so to the mill and that woman of his is with him again. That makes twice this year and she was with him both times. How do you suppose she gets her work done?" If I could be granted one wish, I would have Grandma come back and sit at the window and just see how often the women go to town now.

Submitted by: Mrs. Leland Brubaker