Biographical Sketch of Harry I. BROWNBACK (1893); Chester County, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by John Morris . *********************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: Printing this file within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** Source: "Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chester County, Pennsyl- vania, comprising a historical sketch of the county," by Samuel T. Wiley and edited by Winfield Scott Garner, Gresham Publishing Company, Phila- delphia, PA, 1893, pp. 860-1. "HARRY I. BROWNBACK, who is vault clerk in the sub-treasury at Philadel- phia, and was formerly connected with the business interests of Phoenix- ville, this county, where his family still resides in a most beautiful home, is a son of Edward and Hannah (Peterman) Brownback, and was born in East Vincent township, Chester county, Pennsylvania, November 19, 1850. He grew to manhood there, and received a good English education in the common schools and at the Phoenixville High school. After leaving school, in 1868, he engaged as a clerk with Katerand Wagoner, and remained there for a period of four years, after which he became time-keeper in the Phoenix Iron works, and retained that position for nearly six years. In 1878 he purchased the clothing store of Emanuel Ewing at Phoenixville, and successfully conducted the clothing business until August, 1890, when he disposed of his interests, and in April, 1891, was appointed vault clerk in the sub-treasury at Philadelphia, a position he has filled ever since with ability and to the entire satisfaction of his official super- iors. In politics Mr. Brownback is an ardent republican, and has been the candidate of his party for the office of recorder of deeds in his na- tive county. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Phoenix- ville, and also a prominent member of a number of fraternal organizations, being connected with Phoenix Lodge, No. 75, Free and Accepted Masons; Phoenix Chapter, No. 98, Royal Arch Masons; Jerusalem Commandery, No. 15, Knights Templar; Phoenix Lodge, No. 212, and Palestine Council of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. "On November 14, 1873, Mr. Brownback was united in marriage to S. Lizzie Miller, a daughter of Mahlon and Susannah Miller, of Phoenixville. To Mr. and Mrs. Brownback were born five children: Mahlon M., deceased; Clara M., also dead; Alice Maud, Nellie I., and Bessie A., the latter also deceased. "Harry I. Brownback is a worthy representative of one of the fine old families of Chester county, and traces his ancestry back to Garrett Brown- back (or Gerhard Brumbach, as then written), who came to America from Ger- many in 1725, and whose history is more particularly detailed in the sketch of Lewis C. Brownback, found on page 555 of this volume. "Edward Brownback (paternal grandfather) was born in 1798, and died in 1854. By occupation he was a farmer, a whig in politics, and in religion a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He married Margaret Root, by whom he had a family of thirteen children, among whom were: Edward, Uriah, Stephen, Lewis, Luzetta, Rosanna, Edith, Margaret and Malinda. "The second Edward Brownback (father) was born on the old homestead in East Vincent township, this county, July 6, 1819, and died here November 14, 1872, aged fifty-three years. He was a farmer all his life, and be- came very prosperous. In politics he was a whig and republican, and in religion a strict member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He married Hannah Peterman, and was the father of thirteen children: Luzetta, married Samuel H. Souders, of Phoenixville; John W., deceased; Stephen S., a farmer of this county, wedded Annie Kein; Andora S., deceased; Edward, married Sarah J. Zimmers, of Phoenixville; Harry L., the subject of this sketch; Oran W., dead; Annie, the wife of Harry Heistand, a merchant of Parker Ford; Margaret S., wedded George W. Orr, of Phoenixville, where they resided; Lizzie H., deceased; William W., also dead; Rosie, married John J. Davis, and resides at Phoenixville; and Clinton, now deceased."