Montgomery County PA Archives Biographies.....Brownback, E. G. March 3, 1868 - February
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Joe Patterson jpatter@epix.net February 7, 2026, 11:06 am

Source: Biographical Annals of Montgomery County Pennsylvania, T. S. Benham & Company and the Lewis Publishing Company, 1904
Author: Ellwood Roberts, Editor

E. G. BROWNBACK, burgess of Trappe, is descended from an old 
honored family of Chester and Montgomery counties. He was 
born at Trappe, March 3, 1868, and received his education in 
the public schools, Washington Hall, and a business college 
of Philadelphia. He is the son of Edward, Jr., and Andora 
(Goodwin) Brownback, who were natives, he of Birch-Runville, 
Chester county, and she of Trappe. They were married at 
Trappe.

E. G. Brownback is a descendant of Gerhard Brownback, of 
Wurtemberg, Germany, who came to America in 1783 [1683], and 
settled at Germantown, where he married Mary Papin, daughter 
of David [Heibert] Papin, who was the first recorder of 
Germantown. David [Heibert] Papin married the daughter of 
William Rittenhouse, a descendant of the nobility of 
Prussia. William Rittenhouse wandered from his native home 
to Holland, and from there came to America in 1783 [1683]. 
He built the first paper mill in British America, at 
Germantown, in 1790 [1690], and was the first Mennonite 
bishop of Pennsylvania. He was the grandfather of David 
Rittenhouse, the greatest astronomer of his day. Gerard 
Brownback settled on a large tract of land in Chester county 
in 1720. He was the pioneer settler, and also the first 
hotel-keeper in his log house. He established and built a 
Reformed church, and went to Europe to bring a preacher for 
it when it was finished. The church still bears the name 
"Brownback Chapel." From him are descended all the 
Brownbacks, who are very numerous in Pennsylvania.

Edward Brownback (grandfather) and his wife, whose maiden 
name was Geist, lived and died in Chester county. They are 
buried in the burial ground which adjoins the Brownback 
church, of which they were members. He reared a family of 
seven children in Chester county. They were: John, Mark, 
Benjamin, Edward (father); Harriet, never married; Catherine 
(Mrs. Peter Emory); one died in infancy.

Edward Brownback (father) was reared in Chester county, and 
lived at his father's home until he was grown. Then he and 
his brother Mark removed to Montgomery county and rented and 
managed a large farm, together with stock of all kinds. His 
brother Mark married, and in 1861 they engaged in the hotel 
business at Trappe, and continued until 1868, when the 
partnership was dissolved, and Edward Brownback bought a 
farm at Trappe. He reared a family on this farm, and died 
there February 19, 1902, at the age of seventy-eight years 
and five months. He was an excellent business man and 
accumulated considerable property. For many years he was 
director and stockholder in the Spring City National hank, 
and was known as a charitable man. In politics he was a 
Democrat. His wife is still living on the old homestead at 
Trappe.

William and Sarah (Haws) Goodwin, the maternal grandparents, 
were both natives of Pennsylvania. For a number of years he 
managed the Lamb hotel, at Trappe, but was previously a 
farmer, and attended the Philadelphia market.
 
He was a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Lutheran 
church. The family were of German origin.He died at Trappe. 
The children of William and Sarah Brownback were: Mary (Mrs. 
J. Hoyer); Jane, died unmarried; Sarada, died unmarried; 
Andora (Mrs. Brownback) William (deceased), leaving two 
children; Addison, a physician, died at Kenton, Delaware.

Edward and Andora (Goodwin) Brownback had the following 
children: Edwin G.; Stella, died young; Benjamin F., 
assisting in store, is a bookkeeper by profession, born 
November 22, 1872, still unmarried.

E. G. Brownback has always lived at Trappe. He received a 
good education, and before his marriage taught school during 
the winter months, and assisted at home during the summer. 
In 1895 he married and bought the mercantile business which 
he is yet conducting at Trappe. He has a general stock of 
goods such as is required by his custom. He is a stockholder 
in the Spring City Bank, and also a director in that 
institution. He is also a stockholder in the Pennsylvania 
railroad. He is a capable business man, giving close 
attention to the management of his store. In politics he is 
a Democrat, having been postmaster under President 
Cleveland, and is prominent in his party councils in the 
borough. 

In February, 1903, he was elected burgess, and is giving 
good satisfaction in that position. He is an elder of the 
Lutheran church, Trappe, and has been superintendent of the 
Sunday-school for twelve years, worshipping in the old 
historic neighborhood, where Muhlenberg established the 
first Lutheran church in this section of the state, in 1743.

Mr. Brownback married Miss Mary V. Beaver, who was born at 
Trappe, in 1866. She is the daughter. of John K. and Mary 
(Shellenberger) Beaver, she of Bucks County, being a 
daughter of Michael Shellenberger, of an old family residing 
in the vicinity of Chalfont. John K. Beaver was born near 
Falkner Swamp, and was a tailor by trade, going later into a 
mercantile business. He worked at his trade at Skippack, and 
later went to Trappe, where after a time he formed the firm 
of Beaver & Shellenberger, which continued twenty years, 
they keeping a general store and became successful. At the 
end of that time Mr. Brownback bought the store, and Mr. 
Beaver retired. He resides at Trappe, at the age of more 
than eighty years, enjoying the repose that befits the close 
of a well-spent life. Mr. Beaver was a Whig and Republican, 
but never aspired to public office. He served as postmaster 
a number of years. He and his family are Lutherans in 
religious faith.His children: Martha (Rev. S. M. Hensch) of 
Frederick, Maryland; Mary, wife Mr. E. G. Brownback.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. E. G. Brownback: John H., born 
September 19, 1897; Oliver S., born March 23, 1899.

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