Meet the Family: Episode 9- The Brugler Connection (Part Two)

Posted byThe Dopplich DutchmanPosted inUncategorizedTags:,

I think it is a truism that at least in the Charles and Emily Styer family, many members of our clan are known for their mechanical abilities. Scores of our relatives have made their living from such work. According to the Biographical Annals of Columbia and Montour Counties, Samuel Brugler (7/29/1787-3/9/1868) may have been where this mechanical gene originates. He is remembered for his great aptitude for tools, building many of his own farm implements as well as cider presses and threshing machines.

When the White Hall Hotel in Anthony Township was rebuilt in 1849, Samuel Brugler was engaged to do all the woodcarving and architectural embellishments there, although by the time the Biographical Annals were compiled (~1915), the Hotel was in a state of disrepair. The description from the book is as follows:

“White Hall Inn was built in 1818 by Capt. John F. Derr, and rebuilt in 1849 by Ferdinand Ritter, who had the ambition to make it a famous resort for travelers. It is probably the most elaborately carved building in this section of Pennsylvania, the work being done by Samuel Brugler of Jerseytown. Over the wide porch is a panel of some length, depicting an eagle holding two American flags and standing upon two cannon. Above the door is a large piece of scrollwork, while on each side are fantastic animal heads. The panels of the door are also hand-carved, as are also the capitals of the fine Corinthian columns. When in its prime, and with a coat of pure white paint upon it, this inn must have presented an imposing appearance to the arriving traveler, even in its last days of decay and neglect it has an impressive dignity that makes it overshadow the more modern buildings around it”

Samuel was a Democrat like his father and served as a school director. He and his wife were also members of the Presbyterian Church. He moved from Frosty Valley up Columbia Hill Road and built the fine farm which includes a barn and a beautiful stone farmhouse on ­­­­Orchard Drive, recently occupied by Pauline Krum (née Styer, daughter of Peter and Lillian Styer) and her husband Carl. It has since been sold to their nephew and his wife, Joe and Katie Yodock. The farm is currently the location of the Stonehouse Berry Patch.

The lovely 1820 Brugler Homestead on Orchard Drive. The gives the name to the Stonehouse Berry Patch. The main part of the house was likely built in two parts.
The Brugler Barn. The original part lies in the center of the structure, with the straw/cattle shed on the left and an extension to the right being later additions. Carl and Pauline Krum raised pigs in the lower floor of the barn. The date “1820” is carved into one of the beams in the upper floor of the barn.
This operational springhouse has a spring room accessible by the door on the right. The main door on the left leads to a summer kitchen with a large walk-in fireplace and an upstairs crawlspace. Family tradition holds that the Bruglers lived in the springhouse while the built the stone house.

Samuel married Jane Everett (1806-1870), whose parents were James (1781-1859) and Isabel (Moore) (1778-1849) Everett. They had the following children (Notice how many died in young adulthood):

  1. Sarah Ann, 11/27/1828-8/12/1891, married William Young, buried at the Odd Fellows Cemetery in Danville.
  2. Isabella Jane, 12/2/1830-11/5/1854, buried at Columbia Hill at age 24.
  3. Mary Elizabeth, 7/19/1832-3/4/1851, buried at Columbia Hill at age 19.
  4. Lucy Wintersteen, 11/27/1834-7/2/1857, buried at Columbia Hill at age 23.
  5. Peter Snyder, 8/15/1837-3/30/1913, married Christianna Everett
  6. James Everett, 2/10/1840-12/25/1861
  7. Lydia Catherine, 10/28/1840- ???? Married Reverend John Thomas and lived at Coolidge Kansas
  8. John Hudson, 8/16/1843-10/8/1920 married Augusta Morgan. Served in the Civil War as a Private. Eminent Local architect who designed many structures in Danville such as the Montour County Jail (1893)[1], the former Immanuel Baptist Church (now used as the Bloom Naturally Health Food Store, Leniger Brothers Drug Store building at 134 Mill Street (1901), the Jennings residence at 104 West Market Street, c. 1897 (NR, 1985, West Market Street Historic District), and the first Geisinger Hospital Building[2].
  9. Harriet L. 3/6/1845-????, our ancestor, married Cyrus Fairchild Styer
  10. Martha Matilda 9/10/1847-7/24/1869, buried at Columbia Hill.
This picturesque door leads from the west end of the barn into the barnyard. Bob Heim, who did lots of work for Pauline Krum during her later years, redid this door, including some of the ironwork, which he hand forged.
Current owner, Joe Yodock, is a metal detectorist. He found several interesting pieces. Here are a pair of Brugler Family spectacles. Notice how the wires would allow the size to be adjusted.
Joe also found an old spoon. If you look close, you can see that there is a German script “B” for Brugler at the top.
The “B” for Brugler

The Bruglers have left our family quite a legacy. Peter Brugler was one of the original settlers in the Montour-Columbia County area and a great hunter. Samuel Brugler showed himself to be a great mechanic and artisan. Our uncle and Civil War veteran, John H. Brugler, was a successful local architect, many of whose buildings still exist today. We see in these ancestors a great propensity for industry, creativity, and hard work. I hope you will join me next time when we discuss our ancestors Cyrus and Harriet Styer! The post will include information on the Civil War, Prohibition, Westward Migration, and more.

[1] BACMC, Vol 1., p. 277

[2] https://www.livingplaces.com/PA/Montour_County/Danville_Borough/Danville_Historic_District.html

Published by The Dopplich Dutchman

Interested in Genealogy, History, Gastronomy, and Theology.

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