Biography of John Brechbill, pages 767/768.  History of DeKalb County, 
Indiana; B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc., Indianapolis, 1914.

John Brechbill

	The gentleman to whom the reader’s attention is now directed has, by 
perseverance, industry and a wise economy, attained a comfortable station 
in life, and is well and favorably know in DeKalb county as a result of 
the industrious life he has lived here for many years, being regarded by 
all who know him as a man of sound business principles, thoroughly up-to-
date in all phases of agriculture, and as a man who, while advancing his 
individual interest, does not neglect his general duties as a citizen.
	John Brechbill was born in Stark county, Ohio, on April 8, 1862, the 
son of Jacob and Sarah (Ober) Brechbill.  Jacob Brechbill was born in 
Bedford county, Pennsylvania, in 1832, and died near Garrett, Indiana, on 
February 21, 1902, aged sixty-nine years five months nineteen days.  In 
1854 he moved with his parents to Stark county, Ohio, and on February 3, 
1859, he married Sarah Ober, also a native of Bedford county, Pennsylvania, 
and whose death occurred on November 2, 1908.  They came to DeKalb county, 
Indiana, in 1864, settling in Keyser township, where they passed the 
remainder of their lives in the pursuit of agriculture.  They were members 
of the Brethren in Christ church and were very active in church work.  To 
them were born eight children: Martin, John, the subject, Nancy, Elizabeth, 
Sarah, Mary, Cora and Claude.  Martin, Cora and Claude are deceased.
	After securing a good common school education in the DeKalb county 
schools, the subject took up agriculture as his life work, and has 
continued to follow this calling with unusual success.  He is the owner of 
two hundred acres of good land, on which he carries on diversified farming, 
employing scientific methods in the tilling of the soil, which have well 
repaid him in bountiful harvests.
	On September 29, 1886, Mr. Brechbill was united in marriage with 
Etta E. Davidson, the daughter of Henry and Fannie (Rice) Davidson, who 
are referred to elsewhere in this work in a sketch treating of the life of 
Mr. Davidson.  To the subject and wife have been born nine children, Frank, 
Albert, Mabel, Ruth, Elmo, Pearl, John, Pauline and Lucile.  Frank was 
educated at the Bethany Bible School, Chicago, Illinois, pursuing the 
three-years course and finishing in 1912. He returned home and has been a 
preacher in Brethren in Christ, located in Keyser township.  He was married 
on September 28, 1911, to Jessie Hoover, of Mansfield, Ohio.  Albert was 
educated in Goshen College, graduating in June, 1913, and took up teaching. 
He is now principal of the Liberty Center (Ohio) high school.  Mabel and 
Ruth were educated in high and normal schools and now teaching.
	The Republican party has received the support of Mr. Brechbill, and, 
religiously, he is a member of the Brethren in Christ church, being active 
in church work.  His life had been as an open book and his standing in the 
community is such as should be a matter of pride to his family and his 
friends.	

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