Nathaniel Jerome Brundage

 

Nathaniel Jerome Brundage, retired farmer of Sacramento, was born in Erie County, New York, in Pendleton Township, near Niagara Falls, five miles from Lockport, April 9, 1823. When he was a small boy his parents removed to Genesee County, that State, where he received his education, attending the common schools during the winter, and working on the farm during the summer, until he became of age. Going then to Alexandria, same county, he was employed by J. C. Farnham, a marble dealer, and learned the trade of stone-dressing and lettering, working for his board. In 1845 he went to Leroy, that county, and worked for five years for Orrin Starr, of the firm of Starr & Gordon, proprietors of marble works.  September 6, 1849, he married Miss Mary Cannon, a native of England. In 1850 he moved to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, with his family, “took up” a quarter-section of land, built a log cabin and began clearing the place for cultivation; but he soon rented it and worked at his trade for a year and a half in Milwaukee, while his family remained on the farm. On this homestead his three children, Mary Jane, Virginia and Nelson W., were born. On quitting Milwaukee Mr. Brundage went to Sheboygan, Wisconsin, and for a time was engaged in the marble business. He moved his family to Oshkosh, that State, for a season, and then returned to the farm, and for several years alternated between that place and Sheboygan. His wife died at Sheboygan in 1856. He then moved to Fond du Lac County and entered into partnership with Michael McNeal in a stone quarry, and in lime works. In the autumn of 1857 he married Mrs. Phebe Riley, a daughter of James Meader, who was a farmer of Canada East. At the time of this marriage she had four children: Ann, who afterward died at the age of sixteen years; Emma, now the wife of Charles Pinkerton, of Iowa; John, who died at the age of ten years; and Addie, now the wife of James Wood, of Iowa. By the present marriage there have also been four children:

Frank, Leroy, Ella and Warren; the last named died at the age of six years.  Mr. Burndage continued to reside in Fond du Lac County, working at his trade in marble and granite, and also conducting his farm until the fall of 1872. His wife’s sister, Mrs. William Daniels, then residing in California, wrote to them of the glories of this State, and Mrs. Brundage came and visited her. She was so well pleased with the country that she desired to make it her permanent home. Accordingly Mr. Brundage came and bought 200 acres of land near by, in Franklin Township, about sixteen miles south of Sacramento, this county, where they lived seven years.  Then he bought property on M street, in the city, where he has since resided, enjoying the well earned comforts of an industrious life. In his political sympathies he is a Republican, but does not take a public part in civil affairs. He is a member of Metomen Lodge, Wisconsin, I. O.  O. F., and Mrs. Brundage is a member of the order of Daughters of Rebekah.