PA-OLD-CHESTER-L Archives

Archiver > PA-OLD-CHESTER > 2002-04 > 1018405287


From: "Cheryl Sandstrom" <>
Subject: Re: National Stove Works
Date: Tue, 9 Apr 2002 22:21:27 -0400


The Brownback family was a vital part of the village of Linfield. It
originated with a man named Gerhard Brumbach, born Wurtenburg, Germany about
1661. It is written that he ported aboard the ship Conrad in 1683. He
settled in Germantown where he met and married Mary Rittenhouse Papen. The
couple had six children: Benjamin, Henry, Elizabeth, Mary, Anna, and
Catherine.

Gerhard anglized to Garret Brownback. He purchased land in Coventry Township
where the first Reform church of Chester County was organized in 1743 known
as Brownback's German Reform.

Henry Brownback, second son of Gerhard and Mary married Magdaline Paul.
Their children were John, Peter, Benjamin, Hannah and Susan. From John
descended James and his son Peter March Brownback who were excutive officers
of the March-Brownback Stove Company of Linfield.

From Peter descended Garrett E. who built his Lindield creamery business
into a small fortune and constructed the Brownback mansion still located
within the village of Linfield today. His brothers Jacob and Penrose, also
known a P.W. operated the Brownback and Company store in Linfield.

James, the son of William and Eliza (Wilson) Brownback farmed with his
father and taught school. In 1857 he married Ella S. March also of Chester
County. They sold the farm and moved to Linfield in 1867 and James purchased
fourth interest in the March, Sisler and Co. stove foundry.

In 1872 James with the company of William March and J. Keeley of Phildelphia
purchased the Dauphin Furnace in Dauphin County.

This thread: