The Brumbaugh, Coppock, Sweeterman Genealogies and Family Histories*
In compiling the histories of the families, I was extremely fortunate to have enormous amounts of materials. A large Brumbaugh (Baumbach) family history book and family genealogy was published in 1913. The Coppock family genealogy and history was compiled by my great Uncle Joe Patty and my Grandfather Coppock. Quite extensive. The Sweeterman (Sweiterman) genealogy and history is contained in a large book published in 1998. All families have huge current populations. The family's had so much in common. First, they all migrated to the United States, I believe under pressure because of their religions. (The Coppock's and the Brumbaugh's all around 1700. The first Sweeterman 1837). This was certainly true of the Coppock and related families, who were forced to leave England as Quakers with William Penn.The Brumbaugh family were probably under religious pressure being fundamentalist Protestants from heavily Catholic Alsace-Lorraine, German and French area. Also the Sweeterman's from Hanover, northern Germany, were Catholics in a largely Lutheran area. They all migrated to the same part of Ohio. All had many, many family members and related families. Most all, up until the early 1900's, were farmers.They all were very devout religious practitioners. The Coppock's and related families still are the major families around Pleasant Hill. The Brumbaugh's, who settled in southern Darke County, still have a large number of family members and relatives in the area. Certainly the same is true of the Sweeterman's in southern Mercer County. Few Quaker meeting houses remain in the old country charm area of Pleasant Hill. In southern Darke County, beautiful farms with the same culture...reserved, no night life, no liquor...the evangelical tradition. Southern Mercer County with beautiful Catholic churches with high spires, no limit on drinking, dance halls (the most fun places), more the German and French Catholic tradition. For me the area included the best of times. You must take a tour! Family Heritage Map
Ridenour Family History Grandmother Carrie Ridenour Brumbaugh's family genealogy is more complex. (Ancestry Attached). Nicholas Clouse Ridenour arrived in Philadelphia in 1728 aboard the ship "Robert and Alice". He was born in Alsace, France. Other ancestors came from Germany, Holland, England, Ireland, and Scotland. A typical mix of migrants to Pennsylvania. Of particular family interest, one ancestor, Margaret Stuyvesant 1650's of new Amsterdam, New York also appears in Sally Hogeboom Brumbaugh's ancestry!
Clement Brumbaugh Congressman From humble rural background to the best of lives story, born in 1863, the beginning of the Civil War, Clement Brumbaugh was raised by a widowed mother. From poverty, Greenville High School, Harvard class of 1894, Ohio House of Representatives Minority Leader and five terms in the United States Congress. William Jennings Bryan, Woodrow Wilson Democrat. Click to: know the rest of the story:
William D. Brumbaugh Jr. WD, born in 1906. Grandmother Carrie Brumbaugh, Grandfather WD Brumbaugh Sr., both Greenville high school graduates. Grandmother had been a school teacher. WD Sr. in his early days was a school teacher, then county surveyor and attorney. Like dad, he was the Democratic County chairman, a delegate to the Democratic National Convention. WD had the best of parental education. Home was on S. Washington St. one block from the train station (When I was a child, Santa Claus would arrive at the station by train at Christmas,). It was a middle-class neighborhood. I knew all the neighbors, many of whom were schoolmates. Now a disaster! From the first days, to the First World War, the roaring 20s, and the Great Depression, the Second World War, best of times 50s, WD lived it all. He had a wonderful country law practice, a number of successful businesses, headed a number of local organizations. He was a superb family tour guide. The best of marriages and a wonderful father. Click to: know the rest of the story:
Coppock Family (From Cheshire to Greenville.) Aaron Coppock, born in Cheshire England, Quaker, migrated to America in 1713. His second wife Miriam Short, also Quaker, traveled to America with William Penn on the ship, The Welcome. Aaron settled in Cecil County, Maryland. He became the minister of the Nottingham Quaker Meeting. He died in 1726. Years later his family and related Quaker families migrated to Newberry South Carolina. Being adamantly against slavery, the Coppock's and other Quaker families were then forced to leave South Carolina. The Treaty of Greenville was 1795. Between 1799 and 1810 all the families from Newberry South Carolina had become the first settlers of western Miami County, Ohio. (Joseph Patty, my mother's cousin, wrote an extensive history of the Coppock family, Aaron to 1950. Fascinating stories, ranging from relationships with Daniel Boone, to Indians kidnapping young Coppock maidens. Most interesting was the story of the Coppock Brothers, who were with John Brown at Harpers Ferry!) (See/hear the letter Edwin wrote before being hanged) The Coppocks and related families formed a large Quaker community, farmed the beautiful land on the Stillwater river close to Pleasant Hill, Ohio from 1904 to 1910. Because of Fred Coppock's gravel business, the family and related groups moved to Greenville. By 1920 it had become one of Greenville's leading families. Click to: know the rest of the story:
Fred Douglas Coppock "F. D." 1878- 1972. * From the days of the horse and buggy to the days of space exploration, Granddad lived the complete life. Married at 19. (Over 70 years, a caring loving husband, father and grandfather. Family patriarch.) At 20 years of age, he founded his first business, which under his leadership becomes the American Aggregates Co. (In 1950, it was the largest producer of sand and gravel in the United States.). At age 75, he created, built, and operated the Miami Seaquarium. (At the time it was the largest marine aquarium in the world). He was a person of boundless energy. His motto was "work hard, play hard". (Every family member had to work, no slackers). So very creative and inventive. (8 patents, countless engineering innovations). He loved to study history and science. So many projects, for-profit, for nonprofit or for the environment. His Quaker upbringing greatly influenced being thankful and his giving so much back to the community I had a very special relationship with him, my second father. I will always remember the wonderful times and all that I learned from him. I never heard a negative word, always positive, always caring. (I hope to illustrate the life and times of this most extraordinary person.) Click to: know the rest of the story:
Eugene Sussana Coppock
Mother was born in Greenville in 1906.Two older brothers died in infancy. Her sister, Dorothy, four years older, was born in Pleasant Hill. The family company, the Greenville Gravel Company, later became the American Aggregates was founded just eight years before. Because of her father's extraordinary life, from her earliest days she experienced Florida, Canada, marvelous travels to Mexico, California, New York, Europe etc. She also lived a wonderful Greenville life which lasted until her death in 2009 at the age of 102.
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Sweeterman (Schweiterman) Family History. John Herman Arnold Schwieterman came to America in 1837. He and later many relatives migrated from Ankum, Hanover, Germany to southern Mercer County, Ohio. A large number of related families remain in that area. Best source of information is a large book published in 1998 in Dayton Ohio, The Schweiterman Family Tree. Incredibly large compilation of family history, genealogy, and family reunions, it is a must read. Click to: know the rest of the story:
John W. Sweeterman An amazing story how John Sweetman went from tiny farm village to the top of the newspaper industry, and one of the most successful powerful business people in Washington DC. Great talent; superb ability to manage the unmanageable. Click to: know the rest of the story:
Most families have one, maybe two exceptional athletes. Sally and I share a significant number of family "Super Star Athletes"! The following comprise brief resumes of these exceptional athletes. (To avoid hard feelings, they are not listed by comparative rankings, but chronologically). Click to: know the rest of the story:
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There are two sources containing a wealth of material regarding the Brumbaugh, Brumbach family genealogies and histories. The Brumbach Families comprises a large volume, reprinted in two volumes. It's author, Gaius M. Brumbaugh goes into great detail; family trees, stories and biographies. He traces the family history from the 12th century in the German, Swiss, Basel region, the town of Brumbach, to my father's generation and even the large Brumbaugh population in Darke County. The second's major source traces family history beginning with the first members migrating to America in the early 1700's. It covers their populating Pennsylvania and migrating to Western and Darke County, Ohio. 
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