BRENAMAN [also spelled BRENNAMAN], Peter

BRENAMAN, BRENNAMAN, CRYDER, LEFFLER, SHIELDS, EAVES, QUIETT, UNDERWOOD, SWITZER, BRADSHAE, GARD

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 1/20/2014 at 07:08:13

History of Decatur County Iowa and Its People
Illustrated, Volumne II.
Prof. J. M. Howell and Heman C. Smith, Supervising Editors
The S.J. Clarke Publishing Company. pp. 324-26. Chicago. 1915.

PETER BRENAMAN

NOTE: Peter's surname has also been spelled BRENNAMAN.

PETER BRENAMAN, a farmer, who owns and together with a son-in-law operates three hundred and twenty acres of finely improved land in Grand River township, three quarters of a mile from the town of Grand River, has resided in this county since 1853 and for many years has been closely identified with its advancement. His birth occurred in Blair county, Pennsylvania, July 31, 1841, and he is a son of Henry and Esther (Cryder) Brenaman, both of whom were natives of the Keystone state. The father was of Irish descent and the mother of Dutch lineage. In the spring of 1852 they removed to Jefferson county, Iowa, and in the fall of 1853 came with their family to Decatur county. The father, who had some means, purchased a farm on the bottoms which is now the home of John Leffler and later owned the site of Grand River village. When a townsite company was formed he sold one hundred and fifty acres to them, retaining ten acres. The house which he erected is still standing. He passed away in 1885, when seventy-eight years of age, and his wife died in 1872, when sixty years old. She was a Lutheran in religious faith. To them were born five children: Peter; Sarah, who married Frank Shields and who passed away in the middle '70s, when thirty years of age; Mary, the wife of Nelson Eaves, of Grand River; Blair, of Richland township, this county; and Roland, of Grand River.

Peter Brenaman was reared in this [Decatur] county as he was but twelve years of age when he accompanied his parents here and he acquired his education in the district schools. He continued to reside under the parental roof until the 15th of August, 1862, when he enlisted in Company I, Thirty-fourth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, with which he served for exactly three years, being mustered out on the 15th of August, 1865. He became a non-commissioned officer and never faltered in the performance of his duty as a soldier. He was in eight general engagements, including the siege of Vicksburg, during which his command was a part of the Thirteenth Army Corps. Although he saw much hard fighting he was fortunate in that he was never wounded. He returned home after receiving his honorable discharge and resumed the work of farming. As the years have passed he has prospered and is now the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of excellent land in Grand River township and derives a handsome income from his farm, which he devotes to the growing of the usual crojjs and the raising of high grade stock. The place is excellently improved and the land is in a high state of cultivation and its value is further increased by the fact that it is located within three quarters of a mile of the town of Grand River.

In 1868 Mr. Brenaman married Miss Elizabeth Quiett, who was born near Knoxville, Tennessee, May 16, 1845, a daughter of Cyrus and Nancy (Underwood) Quiett, the latter of Quaker descent. Her parents removed to Edgar county, Illinois, in 1847 and after residing there for ten years removed with their family to Jefferson county, Iowa, whence in 1862 they came to Decatur county, locating on a small farm in Richland township. The father passed away upon the home farm in 1872, when seventy-two years of age. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, as was his wife, who spent her later years with a daughter, Mrs. Switzer, passing away at the latter's home in 1878, when sixty years of age. She was the mother of three daughters and one son, those aside from Mrs. Brenaman being: Sarah, the deceased wife of Jacob Switzer, her demise occurring January 25, 1912; Mrs. Mary J. Bradshaw, who lives in Grand River; and Henry C, of Leon. Mrs. Brenaman was but twelve years of age when the family removed to this state and here she grew to womanhood. She received a fair education and taught school for three terms. Mr. and Mrs. Brenaman have two daughters. Cora is the wife of Asbury Gard, who is assisting our subject in the operation of his farm. Mr. and Mrs. Gard have a daughter, Ethel Ruth, who is a member of the class of 1917 of Simpson College at Indianola. Nellie, the other daughter of our subject, died September 12, 1896, at the age of twenty-one years.

Mr. Brenaman is a republican in his political belief and has served acceptably as road supervisor, as assessor and in other local offices, while at various times he has refused proffered nominations. For years he was a member of Andrews Post, No. 376, G. A. R. He and his wife and daughter, Mrs. Gard, are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Grand River and take a commendable interest in the work of its various departments. Mr. Brenaman has won the respect of all who have been associated with him not only as a successful agriculturist but also as a man of high principles and as a citizen of praiseworthy public spirit.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2014