Joseph DeVenny Brubaker, Sr.

Joseph DeVenny Brubaker, Sr.
born: 12 July 1897 in Beaver County, Pennsylvania
died: 6 Sept. 1978 in Beaver County, Pennsylvania
buried:  Beaver Cemetery and Mausoleum, Beaver, PA
father: Edwin Schall Brubaker (1864-1939)
mother: Carrie Josephine DeVenny (1871-1925) 
wife: Helen Marquis McDanel (1897-1958), married 24 August 1921; Gertrude Wagoner (1916-2003), married about 1960.
children: Joanne (born 1931, died at birth), Joseph DeVenny Brubaker, Jr. (b. 1933), and John Robert “ Bob” Brubaker (b. 1935)
siblings: Sarah Elizabeth Brubaker (1896-1971) and a half-brother by Edwin's first wife, Henry Sampson Brubaker (1890-1969)

Joseph DeVenny Brubaker, Sr. is my paternal grandfather. He was the second child of Edwin Schall Brubaker and his second wife, Carrie Josephine DeVenny, and was reared in New Brighton, Pennsylvania. 

Joe and his sister Sarah Elizabeth

As a teenager, Joe worked in his father’s pharmacy as a soda jerk.  In this photo, he is shown with his father (on the left), in front of the store:

He graduated from New Brighton High School in 1916. This photo from my grandmother Helen’s photo album shows her with Joe (second from left), her sister Marion, Shad (Marion’s husband), and John (the driver). This photo was probably taken about 1916.

He served in the Marine Corps in Haiti during World War I, where he contracted malaria. My father says he never could drink gin after that, as it reminded him of the quinine treatment he received. Some of the history of the U.S. involvement in Haiti during this time is covered on Wikipedia.

Upon returning to Beaver County, Joe worked as a bank teller and married his high school sweetheart, Helen Marquis McDanel, on 24 August 1921. He worked his way up into bank management, and they had three children (the first, JoAnne, died at birth in 1931).  

Joe was an avid golfer, and was very artistic.  

Helen owned these two houses, and Helen and Joe raised their two boys in one of them.

Joe Brubaker in the 1940s.

Helen and Joe with Joe Jr. (top) and Bob, about 1947

Joe with Helen, possibly at a favorite vacation place, Lake Chataqua

Joe (left) at Lake Chataqua in the 1940s.

With Helen, possibly at Bob and Ellie’s wedding in 1957

4 N. Old Oak Drive, Patterson Heights

Joe with me, probably Christmas 1964

After Helen’s death in 1958, Joe met Gaby Wagoner while on a cruise to Hawaii, and married her.  I believe it was her second marriage, but have had no success in finding details of it. 

Gertrude “Gaby” Brubaker, Joe’s second wife

Joe died in 1978.

Transcription:

Joseph Brubaker, Ex-Banker, Dies

Beaver Falls –  Joseph D. Brubaker Sr., former director and vice chairman of the board of Century National Bank and Trust Co., of Rochester, Pa., died yesterday at his home. 

Mr. Brubaker, 81, of North Old Oak Drive, Patterson Heights, also was former director and treasurer of Tower Federal Savings and Loan Association abdn past president of the Beaver County Bankers Association. Mr. Brubaker was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, New Brighton, Beaver Valley Country Club, Pittsburgh Athletic Association, and several community organizations. 

Surviving are his wife, Gertrude; two sons, Joseph D. Jr. of Glenrock, NJ, and Robert of Mt. Lebanon, and seven grandchildren. 

Friends will be received from 7 to 9 tonight and from 2 to 4 and 7-9 p.m. tomorrow at Donald D. Druschel Funeral Home, 1612 Third Ave., New Brighton. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the First Presbyterian Church, Third Avenue, New Brighton.

Burial will be in Beaver Cemetery, Beaver.

Frederick McDanel (1868-1936)

Frederick McDanel

Frederick McDanel
born: 1 Sept. 1868 in New Brighton, Beaver County, Pennsylvania
died: 21 July 1926 in New Brighton, Beaver County, Pennsylvania
buried:  Beaver Cemetery and Mausoleum, Beaver, PA
father: Richard Baxter McDanel (1844-1912)
mother: Lydia Ann Marquis (1842-1928) 
wife: Francis Effie Braden (1869-1939), married 1 April 1891
children: Marion Etta “Mac” McDanel (1895-1948, married Clarence W. “Shad’ Gordon), and Helen Marquis McDanel (1897-1958, married Joseph DeVenny Brubaker)

Frederick (left) with two of his brothers, possibly Frank S (center) and Orrin Palmer (right).

Frederick and Effie are my paternal great-great-grandparents. Frederick grew up as the son of lumber store owner and contractor Richard Baxter McDanel, and eventually became Vice President and then President of the company. His brothers Orrin Palmer (1879-1953) and Frank S.  (1873-1932) and Richard Baxter, Jr. (1880-1956) also helped run the company, as evidenced from this 1912 ad:

 

This postcard photo shows the business flooded along the Beaver River March 27, 1913:

The charm (below) on my mother’s bracelet was a mystery until I found her notes. It is commonly called a “love token,” and was made from a 2-1/2 dollar gold coin in the late 1800s. According to my mother’s notes, it is supposedly the first money ever earned by Frederick McDanel. The back of the coin was smoothed down and hand engraved with his initials, FMcD. It is possible that this is the coin Frederick is wearing on his lapel in the McDanel family photo below, as well as the portrait of him at the top of this post.

In this family photo, probably taken in the early 1900s, Frederick is shown standing in the back, directly behind his father, Richard Baxter, Sr.

McDanel family, probably early 1900s. Photo is not labeled, but I think these identifications are correct. Front row, seated: Bertha, Richard Baxter Sr., Richard Baxter Jr., Anna, Lydia Ann Marquis McDanel. Back row (mostly standing): Frederick, Frank S., Elizabeth and Orrin Palmer. Lewis McDanel, born 1870, was said to have died young.

Frederick McDanel, later in life

Francis “Effie” Braden, Frederick’s wife.

I believe the man in this this photo may be Fred McDanel. The older woman in the back on the right may be Fred's mother, Lydia Ann Marquis McDanel, and the other older woman (left, in front row) may be Effie. The child could be Fred M. Gordon (b.1922), the son of Marion McDanel and Clarence "Shad" Gordon — Fred and Effie's first grandchild, and Lydia's first great-grandchild.

Frederick died at age 57. Here is the transcription of Frederick’s obituary taken from a copy of the Beaver Falls Tribune, 21 and 22 July 1926:

Transcript of Fred McDanel’s Obituary
from the Beaver Falls Tribune, July 21, 1926
Fred McDanel, president and treasurer of the Fred McDanel Lumber Company of New Brighton entered the hospital at ________:20 pm Tuesday evening__________. Mr McDanel was 58 years of age and a lifelong resident of New Brighton. He was always active in the best interests of the community and his loyalty to his principles and honesty and integrity won for him the highest esteem of his associates. He was a member of the Pittsburgh commandery No. 1, Knights Templar, Syria Temple Shrine, Harmony Chapter 206, R.A.M., consistory of New Castle, Union Lodge 259, F. & A. M, held at New Brighton, B.P.O.E. of Beaver Falls, Beaver Valley Council U.C.T. of America, No. 464; and the Community Club of New Brighton. He was the president of the board of education of which he had been a member of 23 years, a director of the Beaver County Trust company, also a director of the Second New Brighton Building & Loan Association. He leaves his wife, Effie Braden McDanel and two daughters, Marion Gordon of Beaver and Helen Brubaker of New Brighton; also his mother, Mrs. R.B. McDanel of Detroit.  Two sisters and three brothers also survive. The time of the funeral services will be announced later.

Transcript of Fred McDanel’s Funeral
from the Beaver Falls Tribune, 22 July 1926
Services for the late Fred McDanel will be held at the family home, 620 Sixth Avenue, New Brighton, Friday afternoon at 2 o’clock, Rev. Robert Axtell, pastor of the First Presbyterian chruck, officiating. Burial will be in Beaver Cemetery.