Bruner Family of

Pennsylvania and
Southwest Ontario

Bruner Family of Pennsylvania and Southwest Ontario

Notes:
- The following uses Family Tree Maker Register Report format, copied into Word and
illustrations added.
- It is divided into sections by generation number and their children. Move onto the next
section/generation for the next level. (See contents below.)
- As the prime focus is to assist interested parties in tracing their ancestors and relatives
up to about the middle of the 20th century, this only documents up to the 5th generation,
including names of children if known. Information about most of the later individuals
living (or potentially so) noted here, aside from names, births and marriages (where
known) is generally omitted.
- For security reasons, birth day and months for individuals believed to be living are
omitted.

Acknowledgements:
Several individuals assisted in providing the information and illustrations included in this
summary, most especially to Carl and Cecil Bruner, Eldon Larabee, Verlin (Bruner) and
Jack Mayne, Bill Bruner, Violet Goold (which contribution includes information from
Harry Bruner), Jane (Mayne) Cohen and others (apologies for any other names omitted).
Violet Goolds contribution was especially helpful in taking the Bruner family to the
generation preceding that of Adam Bruner (1815 1898); to his father Rev. Henry Bruner
who apparently immigrated to southwest Ontario from the USA with his father. Violets
information also added further information about Adam Bruner.
Unfortunately, much of the data in Violets correspondence seems unsourced, and the
link between her Bruner ancestors and Henry and Adams does not appear clear or
proven in this correspondence. For this reason, much of the information relating to her
family or other conjectures she makes in her correspondence is not included in the body
of this report. Notwithstanding this, she did considerable research and presents quite a
bit of data. For this reason, key parts of her correspondence largely that not included
in the body of this report is shown in an appendix, in case it is of value to other
interested parties from either Henry and Adams family or from her own Bruner family.
Violet Charlotte Kluge Goold later (1986) published a book called Bruner-Knisley kith and
kin : descendants of George Bruner and Elizabeth Tofflemire and David Knisley and
Elizabeth Hoover (310 pages), which may contain further information. Violet was the
daughter of William and Daisy May (Bruner) Kluge. She died at her home aged 104 in
March 2012. (Obituary link: http://mtvernonmo.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/violet-charlottegoold-longmont-co.html)

Memories Carl and Cecil Bruner

Carl and Cecil Bruners children put together a document of about 45 pages of the
memories they had of their lives through their growing up years. This was completed in
about 2002 and distributed to their immediate families. It is a marvellously vivid
description of their lives and times with quite different perspectives from the different
siblings. Virtually all of that material is not included here.

Additions and Amendments:

Comments and corrections can be sent to bemayne@gmail.com
(Further pre-1950 contributions of information, photos and other illustrations would be
welcomed and reviewed for potential inclusion. There is no copyright on this, so anyone
wishing to use it to build later and/or further in any way is free to do so.)
_______________________________________________________________

Bruner Family of Pennsylvania and Southwest Ontario

Contents

Notes:................................................................................................................................ 2
Acknowledgements: ....................................................................................................... 2
Memories Carl and Cecil Bruner ................................................................................ 3
Additions and Amendments: ......................................................................................... 3
Bruner Family of Pennsylvania and Southwest Ontario ............................................ 3
Generation 1 Beginning with Rev. Henry Bruner born 1785 ................................ 4
Generation 2 Beginning with Adam Bruner born 1815 ........................................... 6
Generation 3 Beginning with Frank Bruner born 1849 ........................................... 7
Generation 4 Beginning with Lewis Wilson Bruner born 1874 .............................. 8
Generation 5 Beginning with Carl Albert Bruner born 1900 ................................. 13
Appendix - Correspondence from Violet Goold (1979) ............................................ 30

Bruner Family of Pennsylvania and Southwest Ontario

Generation 1 Beginning with Rev. Henry Bruner born 1785
1.

Henry ('Rev.') Bruner-1 was born on 30 Oct 1785 in Pennsylvania, USA.

Notes for Henry ('Rev.') Bruner: General
Notes:
Violet Goold's correspondence (1979) carries a note that Henry married two times more after
Elizabeth, but that seems unlikely if she did not die until she was 97. Did they part after having
so many children?
She adds "The Bruner family originally came from Ostend, Germany and settled in Pennsylvania
...in the late 1700s. [Note: the most famous Ostend is a major port in Belgium, but there is an
Ostend, which is a suburb of Frankfort, Germany. In the late 1700s, Belgium did not exist and its
Ostend was included in Southern Netherlands and was a part of the Holy Roman Empire, before
becoming part of the Austrian Empire.] They crossed over at Queenston, part of the family settled at

a place now called Brunner near Elmira, Ont. The other part continued to Olinda, Ont."
Henry apparently came to Canada with his father.
Violet also notes: "Henry applied for land when he became of age and was granted 200 acres by
Crown Grant in 1806 in Lot 8, Concession 3, Gosforth Township. He lived and died in the log
house he built. He was a Baptist Minister and farmed."
[Below paragraph seems to be referring to a different Adam ...and possibly a different Bruner
family.] Later note from Violet: "I went to Brunner, Ont. last summer and tried to locate some of
the Bruners, but found none ...the story as of now is that there were four brothers and that one
remained in Pa., one went to Ky. and another to Ill., while the Adam line went to Canada. Adam
never made it, but his wife and children did. His wife Mary, who it was thought was a Stewart,
and remarried a Martin Tofflemire, appear too be incorrect and she married a Stewart who was
born in Green City, Pa. and captured by the Indians when their father James Stewart Sr. was
scalped by the Indians when they went from Martins Fort to check on their stock after an Indian
raid. James Jr. stayed in Canada and was farming and married Mary Bruner, widow of Adam,
and they had about 3 more children." [Notes: In the 1851 census, Rev. Henrys son Adam is
listed as born in Canada not the USA and not Alsace-Lorraine. Rev. Henrys Adam's wife's
name is shown to have been Maudlin, not Mary. There is a report of an Adam Bruner born about
1748/50 who came from Alsace-Lorraine with brothers to the USA and who died before reaching
Canada. the Commemorative Biographical Record of Essex County (Ontario, Canada)
written in 1905 relays the story of the Widow Bruner and her four children in Essex County
- she may be buried in the old Bruner United Empire Loyalist cemetery
http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/BRUNER/2003-07/1059023201 See also further
discussion in this blog: http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/BRUNER/200709/1189140794 ]

Elizabeth Ulch was born on 10 Oct 1791. She died on 13 Mar 1889.
Henry ('Rev.') Bruner and Elizabeth Ulch married 3 January 1809 in Pennsylvania. They had the
following children:
i.

Mary Bruner was born on 30 Oct 1809.

ii.

Barbara Bruner was born on 03 Sep 1811. She died in 1894.

iii. Judith 'Judy' Bruner was born on 20 Aug 1813.

3.

iv. Adam Bruner was born on 07 Sep 1815 in Canada. He married Maudlin Lebeau on 17
Nov 1835. He died on 06 Oct 1898.
v.

Jacob Bruner was born on 22 Mar 1817.

vi. Peter Bruner was born on 02 Aug 1819.

vii. Ruth Faith Bruner was born on 30 Oct 1821.
viii. Margret 'Peggy' Bruner was born on 26 Jan 1824.
ix.

Susanna Bruner was born on 24 Jul 1826.

x.

Thomas S. Bruner was born on 18 Oct 1829.

Mary Zulmer.
Henry ('Rev.') Bruner and Mary Zulmer married. They had no children.
Ann Taylor.
Henry ('Rev.') Bruner and Ann Taylor married. They had no children.

Generation 2 Beginning with Adam Bruner born 1815

2.

Adam Bruner-2 (Henry ('Rev.')-1) was born on 07 Sep 1815 in Canada. He died on 06 Oct 1898.
Notes for Adam Bruner: General
Notes:
Birth year based on 1851 census age. 6th
generation in the New World.
Was a United Empire Loyalist of Pennsylvania Deutsch origin.
"United Empire Loyalists are "the descendants of those families who, as a result of the
American revolutionary war, sacrificed their homes in retaining their loyalty to the British
Crown" - United Empire Loyalists' Association of Canada.
In the 1851 census he is listed as a farmer, born in Canada, and lived in a log house. His
children were Henry, 17; Mary, 14; Barbara, 12; John, 10; Elish, 8; Alex, 6; and Francis
[Frank?], 2. Both Adam and Maudlin are listed as age 36.
Violet Goold wrote (1979): "Adam Bruner moved to what I call the Baptist Cemetery from back of
the house of George Bruner originally, but was being farmed by George's son Reuben, and
probably Reuben's son Oliver. I think they [Adam and Maudlin] lived in Mersea Township, which
joins Gosfield Township. 1815 is a little late date for a U.E.L., Adam born in Pennsylvania would
have been too young for a U.E.L. George, Henry and Adam are reputed to have been in the war
of 1812." [Note: Last comment strange re Adam if he was born in 1815!]
There is an Ontario Archive note of land belonging to Adam Bruner in Gosforth Township, Lot
20, Conc. 5, with issue dates of 18040628 and 18040616. [The dates seem early for this Adam.
Was he born earlier than we think, or is there another Adam?]
Family legend that he skinned a wolf alive that was attacking his sheep, and he became known
as 'Wild' Adam Bruner. [Note: Violet Goold said she had heard this story, but thought it related to
a son of Abram Bruner, Lincoln Adam, who is buried in the Baptist Cemetery. She also says
Abram and brother Reuben were sons of a George Bruner a pioneer near Olinda, not far from
the land Rev. Henry had. George was married to Elizabeth Tofflemire. Abram's son, Hans
Bruner, was Violet's grandfather, and their family ended up in Sac City, Iowa and then Missouri.
Violet herself lived with husband Virgil in Marionville Missouri. According to Violet both Abram
and Reuben made brooms. (The connection of Rev Henry Bruner to Violet's family seems close
geographically in Olinda, but not clear genetically.]
Maudlin Lebeau was born on 27 Jul 1815. She died on 24 Mar 1904.
Adam Bruner and Maudlin Lebeau were married on 17 Nov 1835. They had the following
children:
3. i.
USA.

Frank Bruner was born in 1849. He died in 1932 in Farmington, Oakland, Michigan,

Generation 3 Beginning with Frank Bruner born 1849

3.

Frank Bruner-3 (Adam-2, Henry ('Rev.')-1) was born in 1849. He died in 1932 in
Farmington, Oakland, Michigan, USA.
Notes for Frank Bruner: General
Notes:
Birth date based on 1851 census. Date
of death is approximate.
Remarried in Farmington Mich., and had two further children: Ella and Forest Green Bruner. [Per
Violet this seems to have come from a Harry L. Bruner record. It is not clear which wife was
mother of Ella ...or of Clara.]
? Thibideau.
Frank Bruner and ? Thibideau married. They had the following children:
4.

i. Lewis Wilson Bruner was born in 1874 in Olinda, Ontario?. He died in 1923. He married
Violet McIndoe in Colchester, Ontario, Canada.
ii.

Ella Bruner.
Notes for Ella Bruner: General
Notes: Married. No children.

iii. Ida Bruner. She died in 1932.

Notes for Ida Bruner: General
Notes: Married. No children.
5.

iv.

Clara Bruner.

Generation 4 Beginning with Lewis Wilson Bruner born 1874

4.

Lewis Wilson Bruner-4 (Frank-3, Adam-2, Henry ('Rev.')-1) was born in 1874 in Olinda,
Ontario?. He died in 1923.
Notes for Lewis Wilson Bruner:
General Notes:
Worked as an engineer on the B&O (Baltimore and Ohio) Railroad. Died age 49, leaving ten
children; 7 boys and 3 girls, 6 of the children under 16. There was a report that son Carl and
his wife Cecil helped raise some of this family. The youngest daughter, Jean, was only 6
months old when Lewis died.
Buried Woodland Cemetery, London, Ont. (per V. Goold who heard it from Elsie and Harry
Bruner)

Lewis Wilson Bruner

Violet McIndoe/MacIndoe daughter of Joseph McIndoe/MacIndoe and Eliza Ellen
Gordon was born in 1878 in Colchester, Ontario, Canada. She belonged to the United
Empire Loyalists in London, Ontario. She died on 11 Dec 1949. (Note: only one Joseph
McIndoe found in the Scottish 1851 and 1861 censuses none on the 1841 one and
he was born in Ayrshire in 1834 and shown as living in Ayrshire in both those censuses,
but not showing up in the 1871 Scottish census. There is also a Joseph MacIndoe
showing up in the 1841 census for Ayrshire, but not in the 1851 Scottish census.
McIndoe/MacIndoe is a common Scottish spelling of this name, whereas
McIndoo/MacIndoo is very rare.)
8

Violet (McIndoe) Bruner (left photo with Arthur, right photo 1940)

House on Dundas Street, London, where Violet Sr lived with Bea and Jean and
Ronald Book. The house was split so the upstairs was a separate apartment.
Notes for Violet McIndoe:
General Notes:
Birth year is an estimate (probably by Carl Bruner in the late 60s).

Lewis Wilson Bruner and Violet McIndoe were married in Colchester, Ontario, Canada. They had
the following children:

Violet Jr and Sr with Arthur, Eric, Lloyd and Clarence

Left photo: back: Eric and Clarence; front: Arthur and Lloyd Bruner
Right photo: Violet Jr, Jean and Beatrice Bruner
i.

Beatrice Myrtle Bruner was born in 1899. She married Arthur Glass in 1921. She died
in 1961.

10

Beatrice Bruner
6.

ii. Carl Albert Bruner was born on 03 May 1900 in Leamington, Ontario, Canada. He
married Cecil Larabee on 01 Jun 1922 in Central United Church, Windsor,
Ontario, Canada. He died on 07 Nov 1987 in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada.

7.

iii.

8.

iv. Harry Lewis Bruner was born on 05 Feb 1903 in Chatham, Ontario, Canada ?. He
married Elsie Florence Barrett on 10 Aug 1931. He died on 24 Nov 1978 in
London, Ontario, Canada.
v.

Gerald Gordon Bruner was born on 09 Aug 1901. He died on 19 Sep 1965.

Violet Mary Bruner was born in 1907. She died in 1957.

Violet Mary Bruner

11

9.

vi.

Clarence Newton Bruner was born on 21 Jun 1909.

10. vii. Eric Wilbur Bruner was born on 05 Dec 1912. He died on 03 Jan 1975.
viii. Lloyd Earl Bruner was born on 30 Apr 1915. He died in Aug 1975.

Lloyd Earl Bruner

5.

11. ix.

Arthur 'Bing' Kenneth Bruner was born on 07 May 1918.

12. x.

Jean Margaret Bruner was born on 20 Sep 1922. She died on 15 Nov 1978.

Clara Bruner-4 (Frank-3, Adam-2, Henry ('Rev.')-1).

? .
? and Clara Bruner married. They had the following children:
13. i.

Edith ?.

14. ii.

? ?.

iii. Ruby ?.
Notes for Ruby ?:
General Notes:
Married. No children.

12

Generation 5 Beginning with Carl Albert Bruner born 1900

6.

Carl Albert Bruner-5 (Lewis Wilson-4, Frank-3, Adam-2, Henry ('Rev.')-1) was born on 03 May
1900 in Leamington, Ontario, Canada. He died on 07 Nov 1987 in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada.

Carl Albert Bruner

Wedding day 1922

13

Carl and Cecil Wedding day 1922

Notes for Carl Albert Bruner: General

Notes:
Violet Goold wrote: Before he married, "Carl worked in Detroit and lived with Aunt Ella and Aunt
Ida who kept a rooming/boarding house ...and Frank also lived with them. Frank Bruner was over
80 and such a kind little man, the only little Bruner."
14

Carl and colleague with train engines they drove

Carl was a locomotive engineer with the Canadian National Railway, whose long career with
them took him from driving the earlier coal-fired steam engines to the newer diesel versions. He
was laid off during the Great Depression of the 30s and hired back by the CNR near the end of it.

Cecil and Carl as young parents with Norma

15

Cecil with daughters Pat, Doris, Verlin and Norma

Bruner girls: Norma, Doris, Pat and Verlin

16

Carl Bruner holding son Bill, Kingsville

Both he and his wife Cecil had a struggle during that time with a family of five young children. His
daughter Verlin remembers a week during which the family had nothing but turnips to eat (and
she has not liked them ever since). Carl moved around with the railway, including a stint in
Belleville, Ontario, before returning to Sarnia, where he designed and built a house on Indian
Road. After his retirement they sold this house and moved to a nearby apartment (915 Colborne
Road, Sarnia N7V 3K4).

Left: Carl Bruner; Right: Cecil Bruner

17

Bruner children: Doris, Pat, Bill, Verlin and Norma

Carl and Cecil's four daughters all married during the space of the same year - within 9 months
from September 1946 to May 1947; and, on the tenth month, Carl and Cecil celebrated their
silver wedding anniversary. Three of the four daughters married men named (or nicknamed)
Jack.

18

Bruner children: Norma, Doris, Bill, Pat and Verlin (3 May, 1947)

Phil Pratt, Jack Scarrow, Bill Bruner,

Jack Mayne and Jack Sharpe 3 May 1947 in Sarnia

Left: Waltham pocket watch model Carl used for his railway job
Right: Carl in the cab with grandson Brian, 1954
When Carl retired, he had two pensions, one from the CNR for his Canadian service, and a
much smaller one to compensate for one of his frequent runs which took him to the USA - hence
qualifying him for a small US pension for that part of his work. His Social Insurance Number was
413544735.

19

Cecil and Carl Retirement Day

After his retirement, Carl and Cecil were snowbirds, and would winter in Brownsville, Texas, for
many years. During that time Carl became a rockhound as a hobby, finding and tumbling stones
to make lovely jewellery.

20

Cecil and Carl 50th Wedding Anniversary

Carl died at St. Joseph's Hospital, Sarnia, after a lengthy stay in a nursing home, where Cecil would
visit him regularly. He and Cecil had both just lived beyond their 65th wedding anniversary, and they
received a congratulatory telegram from Queen Elizabeth II (as they had also done for their 50th and
60th wedding anniversaries). Six of his grandsons were pallbearers at Carl's funeral.

21

Carl Bruner obituary 1987

Cecil Larabee daughter of William Silas Larabee and Mary Ann MacIntyre was born on 25 Nov
1900 in Nr. Merlin, Ontario, Canada. She died in 1992 in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada.

L.: Cecil Bruner and R.: Cecils obituary 1993

22

Carl Albert Bruner and Cecil Larabee were married on 01 Jun 1922 in Central United
Church, Windsor, Ontario, Canada. They had the following children:
15. i.

Norma Madeline Bruner was born in 1923. She married John 'Jack' Sharpe in 1947.

Jack Sharpe and Norma Bruner

16. ii. Verlin Evelyn Bruner was born in 1924 in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. She married Jack
Everett Mayne in 1947 in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada.

23

Jack Mayne and Verlin Bruner, May 1947

17. iii.

Doris Violet Bruner was born in 1926.

Phil Pratt and Doris Bruner

18. iv.

Patricia Helen Bruner was born in 1927.

24

Patricia Bruner (1947) and Jack Scarrow

19. v.

William Lewis Bruner was born in 1930.

Bill Bruner and Freda Sharpe

7.

Gerald Gordon Bruner-5 (Lewis Wilson-4, Frank-3, Adam-2, Henry ('Rev.')-1) was born on 09
Aug 1901. He died on 19 Sep 1965.
Mary Eloise Welch.
25

Gerald Gordon Bruner and Mary Eloise Welch married. They had the following children:
20. i.
Carol Elizabeth Bruner was born in 1942. She married Donald R. Ellingsworth in
1962.
ii.

8.

Linda Lew Bruner was born in 1949. She married Henry David Hansen on 05 Aug
1967.

Harry Lewis Bruner-5 (Lewis Wilson-4, Frank-3, Adam-2, Henry ('Rev.')-1) was born on 05 Feb
1903 in Chatham, Ontario, Canada ?. He died on 24 Nov 1978 in London, Ontario, Canada.
He married Elsie Florence Barrett.

Left: Carl and Harry Bruner;

Right: Elsie and Harry Bruner

26

Harry Bruner obituary 1978

Harry Lewis Bruner and Elsie Florence Barrett were married on 10 Aug 1931. They had the
following children:
21. i.
9.

Denys Alec Bruner was born in 1930.

Clarence Newton Bruner-5 (Lewis Wilson-4, Frank-3, Adam-2, Henry ('Rev.')-1) was born on
21 Jun 1909.
Alice Isabella Munro.
Clarence Newton Bruner and Alice Isabella Munro married. They had the following children:
i.

Terrance 'Terry' Lloyd Bruner was born in 1943.

23. ii.

Shirley Annetta Bruner was born in 1934.

24. iii.

Gary Alexander Bruner was born in 1946.

10. Eric Wilbur Bruner-5 (Lewis Wilson-4, Frank-3, Adam-2, Henry ('Rev.')-1) was born on 05 Dec
1912. He died on 03 Jan 1975.
Jean /Lemon Lenon.
27

Eric Wilbur Bruner and Jean /Lemon Lenon married. They had the following children:
24. i.

Geraldine Bruner.

25. ii.

Barbara Jean Bruner.

11. Arthur 'Bing' Kenneth Bruner-5 (Lewis Wilson-4, Frank-3, Adam-2, Henry ('Rev.')-1) was born
on 07 May 1918.
He married Grace D. MacGregor.

Grace and Art Bing Bruner

Arthur 'Bing' Kenneth Bruner and Grace D. MacGregor married. They had the following children:
26. i.

Jan David Bruner.

27. ii.

Richard Douglas Bruner.

iii. Patricia Anne Bruner.

12. Jean Margaret Bruner-5 (Lewis Wilson-4, Frank-3, Adam-2, Henry ('Rev.')-1) was born on 20
Sep 1922. She died on 15 Nov 1978.
Notes for Jean Margaret Bruner:
Buried Woodland Cemetery.
Ronald Ray Book.
28

Left: Ronald and Jean (Bruner) Book. Right: Jeans obituary, 1978
Ronald Ray Book and Jean Margaret Bruner married. They had the following children:
28. i.
ii.

Raymond Ronald Book.

Christine Alice Book.

13. Edith ?-5 (Clara-4, Frank-3, Adam-2, Henry ('Rev.')-1).

? .
? and Edith ? married. They had the following children:
i.

? ?.

14. ? ?-5 (Clara-4, Frank-3, Adam-2, Henry ('Rev.')-1).

? .
? and ? ? married. They had the following children:
i.

? ?.

ii.

? ?.

29

Appendix - Correspondence from Violet Goold (1979)

V. Goold p 1

30

V. Goold p 2

31

V. Goold p 3

32

V. Goold p 4
33

V. Goold p 5

34

V. Goold p 6
35

V. Goold p 7

36

V. Goold p 8

37

V. Goold p 9

38