In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1915) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
From History of Preble County Ohio: Her People, Industries and Institutions (1915), A Biographical history of Preble County, Ohio : compendium of national biography (1900)
RICHARD E. BRANDENBURG.
Richard E. Brandenburg was born in German township, Montgomery county, on the 5th of September, 1851, one of the nine children of Samuel and Malinda (Feaster) Brandenburg. His father was a native of Maryland, born in Frederick county, in 1814. In early life he learned the shoemaker’s trade, which he followed continuously until his thirtieth year, after which he gave his attention both to shoemaking and farming. Some time later he abandoned his first vocation, his time being devoted entirely to agricultural pursuits. About 1835 he came to Ohio, locating in German township, where he resided up to the time of his death. He was successful in business, acquiring some three hundred acres of land, and gave to all his children a good start in life. He also instilled into their minds lessons of industry, economy and straightforward dealing, and these have proved of great benefit to them. Mr. Brandenburg died in 1871, in the faith of the Reformed church, of which he was a valued member. An upright, honorable man, he commanded the respect and confidence of all with whom he was associated, and to his family he left the priceless heritage of an untarnished name. Seven of his nine children still survive, as follows: Josiah E., of Winchester, Ohio; Aaron P., an engineer in Germantown, Ohio; Samuel T., a farmer of Whitley county, Indiana; Anna R., wife of Henry Green, a farmer of Montgomery county, Ohio; Layanuc, wife of Charles Gilbert, a farmer of German township, Montgomery county; Richard E., the subject of this review; and John W., a farmer of Gratis township, Preble county. The deceased were Elizabeth, who married Frank Rodeffer, cf Montgomery county, and Sarah, who married George R. Feerer, of Warren county, Ohio.
Richard E. Brandenburg was reared to manhood upon the home farm, acquiring his education in the common schools and at the National Normal School, at Lebanon, Ohio. At the age of nineteen he began teaching in the-district schools of Warren county, and after being there employed for one year returned to Montgomery county, where he followed teaching for four years. He was a capable educator, maintaining discipline and readily imparting to others the knowledge he had acquired. On the 13th of January, 1876, he was united in marriage to Miss Emily A. Cooper, a native of German township, Montgomery county, and a daughter of Jacob and Harriet (Patton) Cooper. Her father was born in German township, his parents being among the pioneer settlers of Montgomery county. About 1877 he removed to Campbellstown, Ohio, where both he and his wife spent their remaining days.
After his marriage Mr. Brandenburg took charge of his father-in-law’s farm and for eight years operated that place as a renter. In 1884 he purchased one hundred and nine acres of his present farm in Jackson township, Preble county, and here he has since been successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits. As the years have passed his capital has been augmented and be has added to his farm until now a valuable tract of two hundred and forty acres yields to him a golden tribute in return for the care and labor he bestow upon it. He also engaged to some extent in stock raising and this has added materially to his income. His labors are energetically prosecuted, and along the lines of legitimate business he has acquired a handsome competence which classes him among the substantial residents of Jackson township.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Brandenburg was blessed with seven children, namely: Edna, wife of Harry E. Irvin, a carpenter of Jackson township; Earl, at home; Samuel, who is engaged in teaching in the district schools; Clyde, deceased; and Hattie, Orpha and Harold, at home. In his political affiliations Mr. Brandenburg is a Democrat and has held several local offices. He served for one term as assistant land appraiser; for one term as assessor; and is now filling the position of township trustee, to which he was elected in the spring of 1900. The cause of education finds in him a warm friend and he does all in his power to promote the best interests of the schools. For several years he officially served as president of the board of education, and it was largely through his instrumentality that there was erected at Campbellstown a township high school, which is the pride of this section of the county. Mr. Brandenburg is a member of Eaton Lodge, No. 30, I. O. O. F., and he contributes in a large measure to the support of every movement which he believes will prove of public good. As a citizen he is progressive and loyal, as a business man straightforward and honorable and as a friend he is faithful and consistent.
As printed in A Biographical history of Preble County, Ohio : compendium of national biography (1900). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
RICHARD E. BRANDENBURG.
One of the influential citizens of Campbellstown, Ohio, is Richard E. Brandenburg, who is also one of the leading farmers of Jackson township. He is a man of excellent endowment and upright character and has been a valued factor in local affairs. He has ever commanded the unequivocal confidence and esteem of the community in which he lives, being loyal in the upbuilding of this community and ever vigilant in his efforts to further the interests of the town along material, moral and civic lines.
' Richard E. Branderburg was born near Germantown, in Montgomery county, Ohio, September 5, 1851, a son of Samuel and Melinda (Feasler) Brandenburg. His father was born in Frederick county, Maryland, in 1814, the son of Jacob Brandenburg, who was born, reared and married in Maryland and there spent his life. Samuel Brandenburg came from Maryland to Ohio, locating in Montgomery county, where he spent the remainder of his life. He learned the shoemaker’s trade and worked at it until he was thirty years old, when he took up farming. He acquired a farm of two hundred and forty acres, all of which he made for himself. He was a quiet unassuming man, and a good citizen. He died in Montgomery county in March. 1871, his wife having preceded him to the grave in 1854. After his wife’s death he married again, but there were no children by this second marriage. By the first marriage there were nine children, five of whom are now living, Aaron P., who is an engineer in Germantown, Ohio; Samuel T. a farmer in Whitley county, Indiana; Anna R., the wife of Henry Green, of Montgomery county, Ohio; Richard E., who is the subject of this sketch; and John W., a farmer in Gratis township.
Richard1 E: Brandenburg was reared in Montgomery county, educated in the common schools of that county and at the National Normal University at Lebanon, Ohio. He became a teacher early in life and taught in the district schools of Warren and Montgomery counties. He then took up farming and now owns an excellent farm of two hundred acres immediately adjoining the town of Campbellstown on the east, all of which is in a high state of cultivation.
On January 13, 1876, Mr. Brandenburg was married to Emily A. Cooper, a daughter of Jacob and Harriett (Patton) Cooper, the former a native of German township, Montgomery county, who came to Preble county in 1877 and lived there until his death in January, 1896. He was the father of eight children, four of whom are now living, Peter R., who is a retired farmer of Jackson township; Catherine J., the wife of Wesley Smith, of Montgomery county, Ohio; Joseph S., who is a farmer in Jackson township, Preble county, and Emily A., the wife of Mr. Brandenburg. She was reared on a farm in Montgomery county.
To Richard E. and Emily A. (Cooper) Brandenburg six children have been born, Edna, the wife of Ed Irvin, of Jackson township; Peter E., who married Grace Wilford and lives in Jackson township; Samuel J., who married Margaret Johnston, lives at Oxford, Ohio, and is a graduate of Oxford University, where he is librarian; Clyde, deceased; Harriet, a graduate of the Jackson township high school and the wife of Homer Hart, of Dixon township; Orpha A., the wife of Everette Yost, of Washington township, and Harold D., who is a student in the high school at Campbellstown and lives at home.
Mr. Brandenburg is a Democrat and has served as trustee and a member of the school board. He also was elected land appraiser in 1910. In 1914 he was appointed assessor of Jackson township, having served as chattel assessor in 1890. Mr. Brandenburg is a member of the Preble County Agricultural Society and has been so associated since 1901. He is a member of Eaton Lodge No. 30, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. and Mrs. Brandenburg are members of the Christian church at Campbellstown and Mrs. Brandenburg is a member of the Ladies' Aid Society and has served as vice-president and treasurer of this organization for the past two years. Mr. and Mrs. Brandenburg are popular in the community where they live and are representative citizens of the Campbellstown neighborhood and wholly worthy of the esteem which the community has bestowed upon them.
As printed in History of Preble County Ohio: Her People, Industries and Institutions (1915). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1915. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.