Biography of Jacob Brunner, page 801.  History of De Kalb County, Indiana.  
Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

Jacob Brunner, farmer and stock-raiser, section 4, Troy Township, is a 
native of Stark County, Ohio, born July 30, 1837, the eldest of eight 
children of Ulrich and Mary M. (Durler) Brunner.  His father was a native of 
Switzerland, and came to America in 1832, settling in Stark County, and 
subsequently moved to Tuscarawas County, and in the fall of 1852 to De Kalb 
County, Ind., and died in Troy Township in 1861.  He was twice married, 
having four children by the first marriage, three of whom are living---
Ulrich, Christian and Peter.  Of the eight children born to him by his 
second wife, but five are living---Jacob, Caroline, David, Sarah A. and 
Susan, all residents of De Kalb County except Caroline, who lives in 
Wyandotte County, Ohio.  Jacob Brunner was reared a farmer, and also learned 
the mason’s trade which he has followed at intervals.  In 1865 he settled on 
the farm where he now lives, which was then heavily timbered, the only 
improvements being a log house and well.  He now owns sixty acres of well-
improved land, with valuable and convenient farm buildings.  He was married 
Jan. 5, 1862, to Mary E. Reese, daughter of Hambright Reese, who settled 
in this township in 1846.  She is the second of five children, and the 
only daughter.  Her brothers are: Benjamin F., of Ionia County, Mich.; 
John, of Crawfordsville, Ind.; George, of this township; and David, of 
Pleasant Lake, Steuben County.  To Mr. and Mrs. Brunner have been born 
five children---Ettie E., Ada S., J. Marian, Melvin H. and Adda. They are 
active and influential members of the United Brethren church.

Submitted by:
Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
Agoodwin@ctlnet.com