BIO: Thomas F. BRUNGART, Centre County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including 
the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing 
Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. 
Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898.
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  THOMAS F. BRUNGART, one of the leading agriculturists of Centre 
county, residing near Wolfs Store, has evidently solved the problem of 
making farming pay even in "hard times." A shrewd and systematic 
manager, he adapts his crops to the market, and when one article falls 
in price he takes pains to cultivate some other in which there is more 
profit, thus securing good returns. He belongs to one of the old 
families of Miles township, Centre county, and was born upon the same 
farm upon which his father, Samuel Brungart, first saw the light.
  Martin Brungart, his great-grandfather, was one of the first settlers 
there, bringing with him his family, among whom was Jacob, the second 
son, who was born January 15, 1786, and died September 5, 1862. Jacob 
Brungart owned and cultivated the homestead which is now the property 
of our subject, his grandson, and was one of the successful farmers of 
his day. In 1813 he was drafted; but being so situated that he could 
not enter the army without great sacrifice, he hired William P. Brady, 
of Aaronsburg, as a substitute, giving him $60 and a pair of shoes. 
Jacob Brungart had six sons - John, George, Frederick, Martin, Jacob 
and Samuel; and six daughters - Mary (Mrs. John Heckman), Susan (Mrs. 
John Weaver), Catherine (Mrs. Adam Bair), Margaret (Mrs. Jacob 
Smeltzer), Regina (who married John Shaffer), and Sarah (wife of 
William Johnson). Of this family, those yet living are Frederick, and 
Sarah, the wife of William Johnson.
  Samuel Brungart, our subject's father, born April 21, 1825, was among 
the younger children of this large family. Farm work was then as 
plentiful in winter as in summer, and consequently he attended school 
but little. He possessed unusual mental ability, however, and an 
excellent memory enabled him to make the most of such opportunities as 
came in his way, making him quite competent to transact business so 
great that, although he had never been instructed in a trade, he could 
make the various kinds of tools required in farm work. This faculty was 
also displayed in the management of his farms, his success being so 
uniform that his plans and methods were eagerly adopted by the 
progressive farmers of the neighborhood. He was larger than the average 
man, and did much hard work in his lifetime, gaining a success which, 
all things considered, was remarkable. Firm and steadfast in his ideas, 
he remained throughout life a stanch Democrat, and in religion he 
adhered to the Lutheran faith, contributing liberally to the Church and 
holding various offices therein. He married Harriet Walker, who was 
born in Brush Valley, February 20, 1831, a daughter of Daniel and 
Hannah (Erhart) Walker. The young couple began housekeeping in a small 
home in Brush Valley, near the present site of Walker's Mill, and from 
there removed to Madisonburg, where our subject's father rented land 
for four years. He wished to buy the old homestead out, but as his 
father declined to sell it he rented it until his father's death, when, 
in the division of the estate, Samuel Brungart secured the farm by 
paying about $4,000 to the other heirs. In 1868 he built a fine barn, 
102 x 45, and he also remodeled the other buildings. He and his wife 
spent their last days at the old homestead, the latter dying July 6, 
1892, while his own death occurred February 19, 1893. Both were buried 
at St. Luke's Evangelical Lutheran cemetery, in Miles township, Centre 
county, where our subject has erected a handsome monument to mark their 
resting place.
  Thomas F. Brungart, our subject, was born March 12, 1849, and the 
Brungart School, near the old homestead, furnished him his first 
educational privileges. As he was but a child when his parents removed 
to Madisonburg he had the 

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.  489

advantage of attending the schools there until the return of the family 
to the eastern end of Brush Valley, where he completed his studies, 
with the exception of a portion of one winter at Rebersburg. As there 
was always plenty of work to be done at home he never "worked out," his 
father paying him wages after the age of twenty, and this arrangement 
was only interrupted by out subject's marriage and settlement in a home 
of his own. His wife, to whom he was united in Rebersburg, February 16, 
1881, was formerly Miss Emma Corman. She is a daughter of Henry and 
Rachel (Bair) Corman, and was born and reared in Brush Valley. Their 
first home was upon a farm rented by our subject's brother-in-law, 
James Corman, but later Mr. Brungart rented the old Poorman farm, in 
Miles township, Centre county, where he remained about eleven years. In 
the spring of 1893, the homestead having been left vacant by the death 
of his parents, he settled there. He has in that estate 268 acres, and 
in another farm near Wolfs Store, known as the old Wolf Homestead, he 
has 147 acres more. While Mr. Brungart does not do much manual labor, 
he oversees all the details of the work upon his farm, and the results 
of his careful management are seen on every side.
  Five children brighten his home: Mabel O., Samuel C., Celia V., Tacie 
H. and Elda R. Mrs. Brungart is a member of the Reformed Church, but 
our subject is a Lutheran, and is an active worker in the Church, 
having held office as deacon and treasurer. He takes great interest in 
all movements for the advancement of the community, and is a prominent 
member of the Grange. In politics he has always been a Democrat, but 
notwithstanding his hearty support of the doctrines of his party he 
never has held office, preferring to devote his time to his own 
affairs.