Columbia County PA Archives Biographies.....BROBST, Martin L. 1845 - living in 1899
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  File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
  Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com June 30, 2005, 6:22 pm
  
  Author: Biographical Publishing Company
  
  MARTIN L. BROBST, a prominent and prosperous farmer of Columbia County, Pa., who
  resides on a fine farm of 240 acres in Hemlock township, is one of the highly
  respected farmers of his community. He was born in Columbia County, Pa., August
  1, 1861, and is a son of Daniel and Rebecca (Johnson) Brobst, and a grandson of
  Jacob Brobst.
  
    Jacob Brobst, the grandfather of our subject, and his brother immigrated to
  America about one hundred years ago and located in the state of New York, and in
  some way they became separated and never heard of each other afterwards. Our
  subject's grandfather located in Valley township, Montour County, Pa., and was
  classed among the pioneer settlers of that county. He was a man of great force
  of character, sturdy and independent in views, and possessed all the
  characteristics required by a man in order to make his way successfully in those
  rugged days. At that time the country was covered by a dense forest, and Mr.
  Brobst's neighbors were the Indians and wild animals that roved through the
  woods. He purchased a large tract of land and in due time cleared a farm from
  the wilderness and established a comfortable homestead, upon which he remained
  until he passed to the silent land. His home was used as a trading-post between
  the Indians and the white settlers, who would journey there from many miles
  distant; our subject's grandfather had many skirmishes with the Indians, who
  would burn his hay-stacks and commit other depredations. He was a member of the
  Lutheran Church; his wife was a Miss Mowery, a descendant of one of the early
  families of Montour County. The following children were the result of this
  union: Jonathan, formerly a blacksmith of Valley township, Montour County;
  Elizabeth, widow of a Mr. Miller, who now resides in Frosty Valley, Montour
  County; Daniel M., our subject's father; David, a retired wagonmaker of
  Bloomsburg, Pa.; Jacob, a farmer of Valley township; John, a shoemaker of
  Bloomsburg, Pa.; Adam, a farmer of Valley township; Kate, the wife of Nicholas
  Fish of Danville, Pa.; Lydia, the wife of John Stoffer of Hemlock township,
  Columbia County; and Michael, a farmer of Valley township, Montour County.
  
    Daniel Brobst, father of our subject, was born in Valley township, Montour
  County, Pa., July 8, 1833, and was a shoemaker by trade, which occupation he
  followed all his life; he also conducted a store many years in connection with
  his shoe business. In 1886 he moved to Columbia County, where he has since lived
  in retirement, enjoying a well-earned competency. In religious views our
  subject's father is a devoted member of the Lutheran Church. .He formed a
  matrimonial alliance with Rebecca Johnson, and they are the parents of the
  following children: Stinson L., one of the weft-to-do farmers of Hemlock
  township, Columbia County; Edward D., who spent fourteen years in the Colorado
  gold fields, where he was employed as an engineer, and, returning to Bloomsburg,
  operated the pumps at the Bloomsburg Water Company,— he and our subject own a
  large farm in Hemlock township; Benjamin F., also a prosperous farmer of Hemlock
  township, Columbia County; Martin L., the subject of this sketch; Mary E., the
  wife of John Guliver, a successful farmer residing in Valley township, Montour
  County; and three children who died in their infancy.
  
    Martin L. Brobst acquired a limited education in the public schools of his
  native town and in 1884 went to Blackhawk, Colo., and for six years worked in
  the gold fields of that section. He operated the machinery in the mills for a
  short time and later operated the mine pumps at a depth of 1,100 feet below the
  surface. In 1891 our subject and his brother, Edward D., returned home and
  purchased a farm in the central part of Hemlock township, Columbia County. The
  farm consists of 240 acres of highly cultivated land, and they have made many
  improvements upon the same, built new outhouses and a fine residence, and the
  farm now ranks second to none in the county. In connection with farming, the
  brothers conduct a dairy and have a large milk route in Bloomsburg.
  
    Martin L. Brobst was united in marriage in 1891 to Olive Flint of Blackhawk,
  Colo., and their home has been blessed by two children, Edith C. and Nettie May.
  Mr. Brobst has been very successful in his undertakings, and as a man of wise
  judgment, of great industry, and honorable dealings he is held in high esteem in
  the community of which he is a prominent and worthy member.
  
  
  Additional Comments:
  Extracted from:
  
  Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District
  Published by 
  Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY (1899)
  
  
  
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