Biographies
For
Muscatine County Iowa
1889



Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 314

JOHN BROOKHART, and early settler and a representative farmer of Seventy-Six Township, residing on section 6, was born in Perry County, Ohio, Dec. 26, 1834. He is a son of Daniel and Elizabeth ( Tate ) Brookhart, both of German descent, the former being born in York County, Pa., while the latter was a native of Maryland. Mr. Brookhart was a wagon-maker by trade, and for many years followed that occupation in Pennsylvania. Leaving his native State, he removed to Ohio, where he again worked at his trade and was also engaged in farming. He owned three farms in Ohio, one comprising 30 acres, another 56 acres and the third 205 acres in extent. Selling his 56 acre farm, and accompanied by his family, he removed from Ohio to Muscatine County, Iowa, in 1855, but in August following his arival he was called from his new home to his final rest. His wife remained a resident of this county until her death, which occurred some years later.

Mr and Mrs. Brookhart were the parents of fourteen children, though one died in infancy , and two died in childhood. Those who lived to mature years were: Mary Ann, whose death occurred in Mercer County, Ohio, in 1855; Eliza, who died in Champaign County, Ohio; Henry, whose death occurred in Muscatine County, in 1888; David, who resides in Perry County, Ohio; Susan, whose death occurred in Muscatine County, in 1875; Daniel, a resident of Kansas; Sarah, widow of James Caton, who is living in Wood County, Ohio; Liddie, who died in Page County, Iowa, in 1878; Catherine, wife of George Rughly, of Letts, Iowa; Matilda, wife of Arthur Murdock, living in Perry County, Ohio; and John of this sketch.

The education of our subject was received in the common schools of his native State, where his life was passed until twenty years of age. He was reared to farm life. and has followed the occupation of farming since attaining his majority. He came to this country with his family in 1855, and after his father's death managed the farm for his mother until 1859. In that year he was united in marriage with Mary E. Meeker, a daughter of Jonathan and Martha ( Shellabarger ) Meeler, whose history appears in the sketch of Warren Meeker, on another page of this volume.

Mr. and Mrs. Brookhart were the parents of eight children: Charles A., born Aug. 17, 1860, wedded Mary Thomas, Oct. 12, 1882, and is now engaged in farming in this county; Jonathan, born April 11, 1862, died Nov.11, 1873, at the age of eleven years; Laura Olive, born Sept. 30, 1864, is now the wife of Allen F. Chapman, a resident farmer of Wapello County, Iowa; Elwood, born Feb. 10, 1867, is a promising young man, and cast his first vote Nov. 6, 1888, for Benjamin Harrison; B. Franklin, born March 21, 1869; Bessie, Jan.21,1872; Martha E., Sept. 10, 1874; Homer W., Oct. 2, 1881.

After his marriage Mr. Brookhart rented various farms until 1870, when he purchased forty acres of Jonathan Meeker. He engaged in its cultivation for several years, but at length sold it back to Mr. Meeker and removed to Page County, Iowa, in the month of November, 1874. He there engaged in breaking prairie and in farming for bout four years, at which time he returned to Muscatine County, n 1878. He again engaged in farming upon rented land for six years, but in 1884 purchased his present home on section 6, Seventy-Six Township. He is one of the self-made men of the county, for he was forced to make his own way in the world, and his success in life is due entirely to his own efforts. Mr. and Mrs. Brookhart with three of their children, Charle, Frank and Bessie, are members of the United Brethren Church, and Olive belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church. This family ranks high in the social world, and we are pleased to record this brief sketch of their lives in the history of Muscatine County's best citizens.


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