It is not the intention of the biographer to give in this connection a detailed history of the subject's life, but rather to note incidentally his connection with the various enterprises with which his name has been linked and to show the marked influence he wielded in advancing the interests of Stevenson township, Marion county.
Jacob Brubaker was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, in 1825, the son of Abraham Brubaker, a native of the Buckeye state as was also his wife who was known in her maidenhood as Elizabeth Myers. They came to Marion county, Illinois, in 1842 and took up government land and remained here the balance of their lives. Abraham was a man of influence in his community. He passed away March 10, 1854, and his faithful life companion joined him February 3, 1867. The number of children born to them was six.
Jacob Brubaker, our subject, came to Illinois with his parents when he was sixteen years of age and received his education in the pioneer schools where the advantages were very limited and the terms lasted only a few months out of each year, but he applied himself as best he could and laid the foundation for a good mental development which he later received by home reading and personal observation.
Mr. Brubaker was united in marriage to Jane Davis, who was born in Virginia. She was taken to Pennsylvania when two years of age and reared there, later coming to Illinois when she had reached maturity, remaining in this state until her earthly labors closed in 1895. She was a good woman, kind and gentle of disposition, and in her religious affiliations was a member of the Presbyterian church. Ten children were born to Jacob and Jane Brubaker, named in order of their birth as follows: Clifford, who lives in Stevenson township on a farm; Lillie is the wife of M. C. Holstlaw, a farmer of Stevenson township; Ella is single; John is a farmer living in Alma township, this county; Walter, who was born February 7, 1864, lives on a farm in Stevenson township. He was reared on a farm and in 1887 went to Colorado, but returned to this county and married Laura Rodgers, a native of Marion county. He has one hundred and forty acres of good land and he is regarded as an excellent farmer and neighbor. He is the father of one child, Blanche. Frank is the name of the sixth child of our subject, who is living on a farm in Stevenson township; Anna is the wife of Charles Craig, a farmer on the old Brubaker homestead; Herman is a farmer in Iuka township; the ninth and tenth child died in infancy.
Jacob Brubaker, after an eminently useful and active life, passed to his rest on June 30, 1908, lamented by a host of friends who regarded him as one of the leading men of the community and who will greatly miss him. In politics he was a Democrat and he served as school director of Stevenson township. He was known as a loyal citizen and a good man.
Extracted 06 Jun 2017 by Norma Hass from 1909 Biographical and Reminiscent History of Richland, Clay and Marion Counties, Illinois, pages 188-189.