Los Angeles County CA Archives Biographies.....Brodbeck, Henry William January 22, 1855 - June 23, 1929 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ila L. Wakley iwakley@msn.com July 11, 2010, 8:27 pm Source: California and Californians, Vol. IV, Published 1932, Pages 63 - 65 Author: The Lewis Publishing Company HENRY WILLIAM BRODBECK, D. D. S., a leading dental surgeon of Los Angeles, California, cared for a large and important clientele and at the same time lavished his skilled services on the poor. The same generosity with his time and energy characterized other relations of his life. He was for half a century a member of the First Methodist Church and one of its strongest supports, and for thirty-four years superintendent of its Sunday school. The California Christian Advocate says: "It is very doubtful if any two persons in the city of Los Angeles have rendered greater Christian service than Dr. and Mrs. Brodbeck. Multitudes of young people have been influenced by them to lead Christian lives." He was also a leader in educational and social service progress, and a man of greatest charm and kindliness. Henry William Brodbeck was born at Lawrenceburg, Indiana, January 22, 1855, son of George John Brodbeck, and third generation of his line in America. His grandfather; Conrad Brodbeck, son of a physician, came to this country from Paris, France, with his parents when he was six years old. He was an early pioneer in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he prospered as a leading lawyer. His son, George John Brodbeck, was a merchant in Lawrenceburg, and his wife was Mary Eva Haas. To their son were offered liberal educational advantages. He attended high school in Lawrenceburg and graduated in 1881 from the Ohio Dental College, receiving the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery. Dr. Brodbeck began the practice of his profession in Aurora, Indiana, where he remained for nine years and in the course of this successful, practice gained experience and local reputation. In the year 1890, he moved to Los Angeles, where his popularity and practice grew almost as fast as did the city. His success became impressive; and as he took the lead in professional matters, he likewise built up a reputation in general affairs as a leader. He maintained offices in the Van Nuys building and remained actively at work until two weeks before the end of his long life. During the World war period he set aside certain hours each day for free dental service for soldiers and sailors. To the poor he gave in time and remedial effort, for which he received no compensation, services worth a fortune when bestowed on people of means. The need, not the pocketbook, was what Dr. Brodbeck questioned. He was a member of the American Dental Society and highly esteemed in professional circles. He belonged also to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Aside from his work and his religious activities, Dr. Brodbeck most enjoyed reading and the study of history, for his profound and brilliant mind sought worthy literature and matter for thought. He was a member of the board of trustees of the University of Southern California, one of the founders of the Children's Home Society of Southern California, and for many years a trustee of the First Methodist Episcopal Church. It was, however, in religious activities that he most delighted. After thirty-four years of active service as superintendent of the Sunday school of the First Methodist Church of Los Angeles, he was given the unusual title of superintendent emeritus during the last two years of his life. Mrs. Brodbeck had been superintendent of the elementary division of the Sunday school for the same period. In commemoration of this unparalleled record of service on the part of husband and wife, on Children's Day there was dedicated in the auditorium of First Church a baptismal font which bears on its face the words: "In honor of Dr. and Mrs. Henry W. Brodbeck, thirty-four years our Sunday school leaders, 1891-1925." From 1893 through 1895 and 1896, he was president of the Southern California State Sunday School Association, and he was twice honored by being sent as delegate to the four-year general conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the important body from which emanate the laws and policies of the church. Dr. Brodbeck also took an active part in furthering the Young Men's Christian Association. His was no small share in the organization of the Newman Church, now known as the Church of All Nations. At his own expense he bought the old Baptist Church building at the corner of Sixth Street and Broadway, which he had cut in two and moved to a site on Towne Avenue to house the congregation of the then newly-organized Newman Church. Bishop C. E. Locke thus praised him: "Dr. Brodbeck was one of the superbest Christian gentlemen and one of my dearest friends. How many happy years we worked side by side at the dear First Church. Los Angeles will be lonely to me without him. I never knew a busy professional man who gave so much time to church work. He was Methodism's greatest Sunday school superintendent." Henry William Brodbeck married at Aurora, Indiana, June 29, 1892, Alnette Cheek, daughter of Lazarus Noble Cheek. Mrs. Brodbeck survives her husband, residing in Los Angeles and carrying on the religious and philanthropic activities of her husband. To the couple was born a daughter who also survives: Mary, wife of Clarence Noerenberg, a major in field artillery of the World war. He still holds that commission in the Reserve Army. Dr. Brodbeck lived to the advanced age of seventy-four and passed quietly away June 23, 1929, leaving the world much better for having lived in it. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/losangeles/bios/brodbeck1029gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/cafiles/ File size: 6.1 Kb