BIOS: Peter F. BRUGH, Jefferson, Somerset County, PA

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BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW, Vol. XXXII, Containing Life Sketches of Leading Citizens of 
Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania. Boston, Biographical Review 
Publishing Company: 1899, ppg 211-212.

  Peter F. Brugh, an active and prosperous agriculturalist of the township of 
Jefferson, Somerset County, was born on the farm where he now resides, July 31, 
1852, a son of Peter and Sarah M. (Fredline) Brugh.  He is a grandson of Abraham 
Brugh, who was born in the eastern part of Pennsylvania on May 11, 1781, and who 
during the earlier years of his active life, before railways were thought of, 
was for many years engaged in freighting between Baltimore, Md., and Pittsburg, 
Pa., and between Philadelphia and Wheeling, W. Va.  He carried merchandise of 
all descriptions, employing at one time six six-horse teams to do the work. 
  Abraham Brugh came as a pioneer to the county of Somerset, then Bedford 
County, in the year 1806; and buying a tract of unbroken land in Jefferson 
township, he cleared and improved a homestead.  Some Indians were still living 
in the vicinity.  They molested no one, but were fond of roaming abut and 
examining things new and strange.  A pump in Abraham Brugh's kitchen 
particularly excited their curiosity.  Walking in uninvited, they would amuse 
themselves by pumping water and making many funny manoeuvres [sic].  In 1812 two 
of Mr. Brugh's teams were pressed into the service of the United States to haul 
provisions for the army.  Not far from that time, a little earlier or a little 
later, two of his teams with their drivers were employed in carrying two loads 
of goods from the Eastern city to Tennessee, the nights being mostly passed in 
camping out.  After they arrived at their destination Mr. Brugh sold one of his 
horses for six hundred dollars, receiving that sum all in "cut money" - that is, 
dollars cut into four quarters each, or into larger or smaller fractional 
currency.  In short, Abraham Brugh was a man who did a great deal toward 
building up Somerset County in his day.  He was one of the most earnest and 
active members of the Lutheran church, and was influential in erecting the 
present house of worship in the village of Bakersville.  To him and his wife 
twelve children were born, five of whom are living; namely, Abraham, Andrew, 
Maggie, John and Joseph.
  Peter Brugh was born August 25, 1812, on the old home farm in Jefferson, and 
died in this township, January 20, 1882.  Reared to agricultural pursuits, he 
was engaged in general farming from his youth up; and for a number of years he 
kept a tavern not far from the village.  At a later time he had a hotel on his 
farm and in that part of the township known as Laurel Hill, where he furnished 
excellent entertainment for man and beast.  In 1850 he disposed of that 
property; and, buying the farm now owned and occupied by his youngest son, Peter 
F., he here made his permanent home.  He was an industrious, hard-working man 
and very successful for his day and generation.  He married Sarah M., daughter 
of Henry and Christina (Lichtyberger) Fredline, of Jefferson.  She was born in 
this township, November 29, 1815, and died June 7, 1887.  Of the eight children 
that blessed their union these five are now living: Maggie, Susan, Kate, 
Abraham, and Peter F.  Maggie is the wife of John Mellinger, of Grantsville, 
Md., and has one child, Franklin.  Susan, the widow of Frederick Neiderhiser, 
hotel-keeper at Jones' Mills, Westmoreland County, has one child, Annie.  Kate, 
the widow of George Mull, resides at Milledgeville, Carroll County, Ill.  
Abraham, hotel-keeper and merchant of Trent, Middle Creek township, has been 
three times married.  His first wife, Lizzie Morrison, died without issue.  His 
second wife, Emma Baron, left one child, Dora E.  By his third wife, Jennie 
Baker, he has one child, Emma Florence.
  Peter F. Brugh succeeded to the ownership of the parental farm on which he was 
brought up, and to the occupation of his ancestors.  Gifted with quick 
intelligence, ambition, and a faculty for doing thoroughly whatever he 
undertook, he early proved himself a valuable assistant to his father in 
improving the estate, and is now one of the foremost farmers of the community.  
He is a consistent supporter of the principles of the Republican party, and much 
interested in the welfare of his native town.
  On February 24, 1884, Mr. Brugh married Annie C. Schallis, who was born in 
Somerset township.  Her parents, Frederick and Mary (Pile) Schallis, well-known 
members of the farming community, own and occupy the homestead on which Sarah 
M., wife of Peter Brugh, was born.  Mr. Schallis is a stanch Republican, very 
active in local affairs, and has served most ably in many official capacities, 
having been School Director, Town Auditor, and Assessor.  He is at the present 
time Tax Collector of Jefferson township.  Both he and his wife are valued 
members of the Lutheran church, in which he was formerly superintendent of the 
Sunday-school, and for a number of years was an Elder and a Deacon.  Of their 
twelve children nine are living; namely, Annie C. (Mrs. Brugh), Samuel A., Sarah 
E., Ellen J., Edward F., Elizabeth M., Carrie H., Charles S., and Wesley L.  
Samuel A. Schallis is pastor of the Lutheran congregation at New Florence, 
Westmoreland County, Pa.  He married Elizabeth Miller, daughter of Henry Miller, 
of Jefferson township, and has three children - Roy, Earl, and Samuel.  Sarah E. 
is married to A. J. Weimer, merchant at Friedens, and has had three children, of 
who two James and Marcellus, are now living.  Ellen J. Schallis is the wife of 
M. Weimer, merchant at Edie.  Elizabeth M. is the wife of S. E. Knupp, lumber 
dealer of Somerset, and Carrie H. the wife of William Putnam, a farmer of 
Jefferson township.