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Author: HuntingtonV
Surnames: Brandenburg, Steepleton, Swank, Peffly
Classification: biography
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Message Board Post:
From Biographical Memoirs of Huntington County, Indiana, 1901, pages
643-644
The late Eliphalet Brandenburg was one of the successful farmers of Huntington county, and
for many years a prominent citizen of the township of Clear Creek. He was born January
15, 1818, near New Carlisle, Clark county, Ohio, and there grew to manhood on his
father's homestead. In 1840 he came to Indiana, locating in the county of Jay, where
he purchased land, cleared a farm, and after residing thereon for a period of eight years
disposed of the place and bought a quarter section of land in Whitley county. He cleared
away the heavy timber, and a good farm was prepared for tillage, principally with his own
hands, a task attended with many difficulties and hardships. He made of the above place a
fine home, supplied with many of the comforts and conveniences of life; but in 1871 again
made a change, removing to Huntington county.
Mr. Brandenburg was twice married, the first time to Susan Steepleton, by whom he had six
children, namely: Mary, Anthony, Minerva, Sabina E., Elias and Eveline. After the death
of the mother of these children Mr. Brandenburg, on the 2d day of April, 1871, married
Mrs. Lydia A. Swank, widow of the late Jacob R. Swank, and daughter of Jacob and Mary
Peffly. She was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, February 13, 1838. By her previous
marriage Mrs. Brandenburg had two children, both deceased, and one child resulted from the
second union, to-wit: William S. Brandenburg, a farmer and stock raiser of Clear Creek
township.
Mr. Brandenburg, as previously stated, was one of Huntington county's representative
farmers, and the township of Clear Creek was proud to number him with its best and most
progressive citizens. Few men in the community where he lived were as highly respected or
enjoyed so great a personal popularity. He was a hard-working, industrious man, and had
the satisfaction of realizing the results of his arduous toil in a competency which he
enjoyed during his later years. He stood "four square" to all the world, and
won a reputation for sterling honesty, which is the most valuable heritage left to his
descendants. His life was measured according to the standard as found in the teachings of
Holy Writ, and as an humble and devout member of the Church of God he did much by his
words and example to spread the cause of religion among his many neighbors and friends of
Clear Creek township. After a long and useful life, fraught with great good to his fellow
man, he died in the hope o!
f a triumphant resurrection, May 18, 1897. At the present time the home farm, one of the
most highly improved places in Clear Creek, which was the property of Mrs. Brandenburg
previous to her marriage, is still in her possession, and she operates it with good
judgment and gratifying financial results. She is a lady of high standing in the
community, and possesses business ability of no mean order. She contributed much to her
husband's success by her wise counsels and material help, and in the management of his
large and valuable estate has increased its worth and kept intact the labors and savings
of a long life of faithful and energetic toil. She is a member of the United Brethren
church, and as such has endeared herself to the community by her many acts of benevolence
and charity, and by living a life in harmony with the religion she professes.
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