Norman Bruce Poorbaugh

Birth: Oct. 26, 1852 Northampton Township Somerset County Pennsylvania, USA Death: Jul. 4, 1931 Somerset County Pennsylvania, USA

Bruce had a very useful life. He was a mail carrier, a general farmer farming 3 farms of 500 acres, in the saw-mill business with his brother Clell 4.221 and his brother-in-law, Jackson Meyers (4.219). He was civic minded and held many township offices. He was confirmed at Mull's and after MT, Lebanon was built in 1875 he became a member and served as trustee, deacon, and elder (1). His wife was confirmed in Fritz Lutheran Church at age 16 by Rev. Poffenberger. She united with MT Lebanon after her parentage (2). She must have been an orphan as a baby for at the age of 2 she was in the family of Benjamin & Eve Bittner in 1860 census (3). Her mother's maiden name was Stahl, her first name unknown.

1: #93 p.166 with picture. 2: Ibid. 3: #64 Brothersvalley Twp., p.110, L.l5,16,2l. by Rev. Poffenberger. AGE: 79 Years

NORMAN BRUCE POORBAUGH

Norman Bruce Poorbaugh, for many years most prominent farmer and citizen of Northampton Township, died at 8 o'clock, Saturday evening, July 4, in the Wenzel Hospital, Meyersdale, to which he had been admitted two weeks previously. He was aged 78 years, 8 months and 8 days, and enjoyed the best of health until about five years ago when he became afflicted with cataracts which rendered him totally blind for a short period. His sight was partially restored by the removal of the cataract from one eye, and he continued physically strong and well until the early part of 1930 when he suffered a severe attack of "flu" which disabled him for about three months. After he recovered from that, the first severe illness of his life, he remained in fairly good health until about two months ago when he became ill from Bright's disease and spent several weeks in a Cumberland Hospital, and returned to his home somewhat improved in health. But he soon suffered a relapse and, as he required the constant care of a physician and nursing, he was removed to the Wenzel Hospital, where his granddaughter, Miss Bernice Miller, a trained nurse from Philadelphia, helped to minister to him. But in spite of medical skill and all else that could be done for him, he grew weaker and weaker until death relieved his suffering in the evening of the Fourth of July. The immediate cause of his death was uremic poisoning. Bruce Poorbaugh, as he was familiarly known far and wide, was a native of Northampton Township, and had his home there all of his life. He came of sturdy pioneer stock, being a son of Jacob and Harriet Wagaman Poorbaugh, who were outstanding residents of Northamption Township three quarters of a century ago. He was a true son of the soil and brought the ancestral farm which was carved out of a wilderness, and upon which he lived all of his life, up to a high state of cultivation. There probably was no better farmer in Somerset County than Bruce Poorbaugh, and none who got more joy out of farming than he did. Long before a Farm Bureau was established in this county, with a graduate of the State College of Agriculture in charge, Mr. Poorbaugh was a scientific farmer. Farmers and farm agents from other counties frequently visited his fine farm to study his methods. He occasionally visited State College to secure information on late developments in agriculture, and even visited the agricultural colleges of Nebraska and New Mexico, on his travels. Farmers in the dewless Pecos Valley, New Mexico, did not know how to grow potatoes until Mr. Poorbaugh, while visiting his eldest son, who lives in Roswell, N.M., showed them how to do it. That was about eight years ago and now they are growing potatoes successfully in the Pecos Valley as the result of being shown by this grand old farmer of Northamption Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania. Mr. Poorbaugh managed his own farm as long as he could see to guide a plow or cultivator, then he turned the farm over to one of his sons, but never lost his interest in agriculture and was able to give sound advice on farming until his final illness. N. Bruce Poorbaugh and Miss Emma Gladwell of rothersvalley Township were married on June 8, 1880, by Rev. L. D. Steckel, who was at that time pastor of Amity Reformed Church, Meyersdale. They located on the ancestral farm upon which Mr. Poorbaugh was born, immediately after their wedding and remained there ever since. Ten children were born to them, all of whom survive, as does also their mother, who is now 73 years old. Mr. and Mrs. Poorbaugh celebrated their golden wedding anniversary on June 8, last year, at which time they had the pleasure of having all of their children, except two of the sons, and 29 grand- children present. The children of this estimable couple, grew up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord under the guidance of their Christian parents, and all are useful members of society and successful in their various occupations. They are: Mrs.Frank Miller, Glencoe; Harvey A. Poorbaugh, Roswell, N.M.; Jacob C. Poorbaugh, on the home farm; Oscar P. Poorbaugh, Johnstown; Charles W. Poorbaugh, Azusa, Cal.; Mrs. Elmer McKenzie, Mt. Savage, Md.; Thomas E. Poorbaugh, Glencoe R.F.D.; Robert Earl Poorbaugh, Toledo, O.; Norman B. Poorbaugh, Hyndman, and Mrs. Fred Shipley, Connellsville. He is also survived by two sisters, Mrs. E. E. Boger, of Hay's Mill and Mrs. B. F. Bittner, of Glencoe. All of the children, except Charles, came to see their father during his final illness and remained for the funeral. Harvey A., the eldest son, formerly a prominent newspaperman of Johnstown, now engaged in commercial printing in Roswell, N.M., arrived here last Friday evening in time to see and talk with his father before his demise. The sick man retained his mental faculties until the end. One of his last acts was to embrace one of his daughters who came to his deathbed. Bruce Poorbaugh was a member and one of the pillars of Mt. Lebanon Reformed Church since its inception. He served as elder, deacon, trustee and superintendent of the Sunday School, at various times during the greater part of his life. Funeral services were held at Mt. Lebanon Church at 10 o'clock Tuesday morning, conducted by the pastor, Rev. J. A. Gindlesperger, assisted by a former pastor, Rev. A. S. Kresge. There was a very large attendance of sorrowing relatives, friends and neighbors. Interment was made in Mt. Lebanon Cemetery. Mr. Poorbaugh was a stalwart Democrat in politics. During his lifetime he served at various times as Township Supervisor, Assessor, Tax Collector and School Director.

Meyersdale Republican, July 9, 1931

Family links:

Parents:

 Jacob H. Poorbaugh (1823 - 1910)

 Harriett Eva Wagaman Poorbaugh (1827 - 1892)

Spouse:

 Sarah Ellen Gladwell Poorbaugh (1857 - 1945)*

Children:

 Harriet Eva Poorbaugh Miller (1881 - 1952)*

 Harvey A. Poorbaugh (1883 - 1962)*

 Jacob Cleveland Poorbaugh (1885 - 1955)*

 Oscar Porter Poorbaugh (1887 - 1973)*

 Charles Walter Poorbaugh (1888 - 1967)*

 Nellie Grace Poorbaugh Mc Kenzie (1890 - 1954)*

 Thomas Edward Poorbaugh (1892 - 1979)*

 Robert Earl Poorbaugh (1894 - 1955)*

 Norman Bruce Poorbaugh (1896 - 1990)*

 Mabel Alberta Poorbaugh Shipley (1902 - 1980)*

Siblings:

 Sarah A Poorbaugh Bittner (1846 - 1884)*

 Child #3 Poorbaugh (1847 - 1848)*

 Cyrus Poorbaugh (1847 - 1848)*

 Child #4 Poorbaugh (1849 - 1849)*

 John D. Poorbaugh (1850 - 1850)**

 Wilson Poorbaugh (1851 - 1864)**

 Norman Bruce Poorbaugh (1852 - 1931)

 Ellen Jane Poorbaugh Meyers (1857 - 1928)*

 Melissa Mary Poorbaugh Boger (1861 - 1941)*

 Harvey Mc Clelland Poorbaugh (1863 - 1926)*

 Emma Minerva Poorbaugh Bittner (1866 - 1931)*

**Half-sibling

Burial: Lebanon Cemetery Glencoe Somerset County Pennsylvania, USA

Maintained by: poorbaugh 6.28 Originally Created by: PATTY McFERREN-BLANTON &... Record added: Jun 17, 2012 Find A Grave Memorial# 92087052