Brumbaugh Family 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 volume 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. Most important see family history. The earliest Brumbach's in Switzerland and Germany were of nobility. The ones migrating here did so in part because of religious prosecution. They mostly were farmers. They belonged to an array of fundamentalist Protestant churches, Church of the Brethren, the Amish, some Lutheran. The size of their reunions in the early 1900's, show how large, and prosperous the families had become. See Congressman Clement Brumbaugh Bio.

Brumbaugh Ridenour Reunion Circa 1959

Brumbaugh Families; Pennsylvania Dutch to Buckeyes.

I). The different Brumbaugh, Brumback families, early settlers, became prominent citizens of rural Pennsylvania. In the early 1800's a number of Pennsylvania Dutch families migrated to Western Ohio. This included the Brumbaugh's, the Ridenours the Baker's and other related families. They became farmers in southern Darke County. Great grandfather Daniel Brumbaugh served in the Civil War and died a few years afterwards. Our Darke County family history starts with Daniel's widow and their youngest two sons, Clement and WD.

II). Clement Brumbaugh. From poor farm boy, to Harvard, to United States Congress.

III). WD Brumbaugh Sr. graduated from Greenville High School and a small college. In his career, he taught school, was a county surveyor, and a lawyer. Like Clement, he was involved in Democratic politics; County Chairman and Delegate to the National Democratic Convention.(Attach obit). He died in 1939. I knew little about him.

IV) Carrie Brumbaugh, Grandmother Brumbaugh was a strong role model. She had a large house and a boarder on the third floor (L.E. Martin). She would have me and my cousins to lunch at least once a month during high school. She was a solid Democrat. For many years, she was appointed by the city to review how prisoners in the county jail were being treated. She visited the county jail two or three times a month and filed a report. She was also active in the EUB church. Always delightful. Had a number of close lady friends and loved to play canasta.

V) W D Brumbaugh Junior. See bio.

VI). Nina Brumbaugh Polhman. Aunt Nina and Uncle Walter had met while students at the Pratt Institute of Design in New York City. He was born and raised in Brooklyn. Somehow, he became manager for the American Aggregates's second largest operation, the gravel plants in Columbus Ohio. (Dad's brother-in-law worked for mother's father and brother-in-law, Edward Hole). In later years, he left the company and founded the Columbus Bitumimus company, ready mix blacktop for highway construction. They had a lovely home in Bexley. They had one daughter, Jane Hammond, 10 years my senior, Ohio State grad. Dad and Uncle Walter were close. (Both had real issues with Uncle Edward). When I moved to Columbus to practice law, I saw them frequently.

VII). Herman Brumbaugh. Uncle Herman and Aunt Dorothy lived on Spring Street, four blocks from our house in the Park. Uncle Herman was a lieutenant in charge of flame floor squads in the South Pacific. He returned with serious issues. He divorced Aunt Dorothy. Dad and Aunt Nina helped him acquire a gasoline filling station in Columbus. Later recovered, he returned to Greenville and had a job selling tombstones. I thought he was terrific, one of the funniest people I ever knew. He had three children, David, Mike and Nina. David was three years ahead of me in high school. He became a hospital manager in a small town in northern Ohio. Mike was one year ahead of me in school. He became an engineer for a large factory in northern Ohio. He became a renowned glassblowing artist as a hobby. Both are deceased. Nina is two years younger and a widow living in Greenville. I have lost track of her.