Mark L. Brummitt, BiographyPorter County biographical sketches . . . .
Transcribed biography of Mark L. Brummitt
MARK L. BRUMMITT. The gentleman whose name initiates this review is the senior member of the well-known firm of the Brummitt Mercantile Company of New Carlisle, Indiana. He is a native of Porter county, Indiana, born on his father's farm on the 24th of January, 1858, the second of seven children, three sons and four daughters, of William and Mary (Lucas) Brummitt, both natives of Yorkshire, England, and both born in the year 1832. The father, who was educated in his native land, where he also learned the trade of weaving, came to Canada in 1855, and in the following year took up his abode in Porter county, Indiana. At the time of his arrival in Canada he had only ten dollars in money, and was therefore obliged to begin at the very bottom round of the ladder, but in 1857 he was able to send for his wife, and they afterwards purchased three acres of land in Porter county, going in debt for a portion of it. This little tract formed the nucleus of their afterward large estate, for by exercising the strictest economy and by hard and persistent labor they were enabled to add to it from time to time until they finally owned two hundred and sixty acres. In 1886, however, they left the county which had been their home for so many years and came to New Carlisle, where they are still living, but the father has retired from the active cares of a business life to enjoy the fruits of former toil. He owns about five hundred and thirty acres of rich and fertile farming land, and was long numbered among the leading agriculturists of St. Joseph county. Both Mr. and Mrs. Brummitt are members of the Christian church, and he is a Republican in his political affiliations. Six of their seven children are now living, namely: Mark L., whose name introduces this review; John, who was educated in the Valparaiso Normal College and is now engaged in the real estate business in that city; Maria, wife of J. Augustine, of New Carlisle; Jennie, wife of M. P. Goodykoontz, a resident farmer of Olive township, and both she and her sister were well educated and were members of the teachers' profession before their marriage: Emily, who was also a teacher, is now the wife of H. H. Loring, a prominent attorney of Valparaiso, Indiana; and A. R., the youngest of the family, is the cashier of the First National Bank of New Carlisle, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Brummitt have given their children excellent educational advantages, and all are proving an honor to the honored family name.
Mark L. Brummitt received his elementary education in the common schools, supplementing this by attendance at the Northern Indiana Normal College of Valparaiso, and while pursuing his course he and his sisters boarded themselves in order to help defray their expenses while at college. With his education completed he was engaged for six years thereafter as a teacher in Porter county, but in 1885 he came to New Carlisle and entered into partnership with Edward Thompson, business being conducted under the firm name of Thompson & Brummitt. This hardware firm continued in business during the following ten months, when Mr. Brummitt, Sr., purchased Mr. Thompson's interest, and the name was then changed to William Brummitt & Son, thus continuing until 1890. In that year another was admitted to the partnership, while in 1892 the father severed his connection therewith, and the firm then became known as The Brummitt Hardware Company. During this time they established the private bank known as the Bank of the Brummitt Hardware Company. This institution was established in the spring of 1897, in the building where their business is now located, and continued until 1900, when it was incorporated as the First National Bank of New Carlisle, where three years later, in 1903, the Brummitt Hardware Company was incorporated under the name of the Brummitt Mercantile Company, with the following officers: President and treasurer, Mark L. Brummitt; secretary, Mrs. J. Augustine; vice-president, A. R. Brummitt. The various members are noted for their business integrity, and the well-known firm needs no further mention than to say it is in the zenith of success. They handle coal, lumber, grain, farm implements and vehicles, as well as a first-class stock of shelf and heavy hardware, and the volume of their business now annually reaches forty thousand dollars. The extensive business reflects great credit on the president and manager, and in fact the town of New Carlisle may be proud to claim it among its business interests. In addition to this Mr. Brummitt also has extensive landed interests in Laporte county, Indiana, consisting of two hundred and twelve acres.
On the 7th of April, 1886, he was united in marriage to Miss Ida M. Phillips, and they have become the parents of three children, but the eldest, a son Clair, died at the age of nine years; Loren is in the ninth grade of the New Carlisle public schools, and Helen is in the fourth grade. Mrs. Brummitt is a native of Ohio, but was educated in the schools of New Carlisle, Indiana. She is a member of the Eastern Star, the Ladies of the Maccabees, and both she and her husband are members of the Christian church. Mr. Brummitt gives his political support to the Republican party, his first presidential vote having been cast for the lamented President Garfield, and he has ever since favored the "Grand Old Party." He is a member of the county council, through whose hands pass the appropriations for public expenditures, and he is now serving as president of this important body. During a period of four years he was also a member of the school board of New Carlisle. As the leading merchant and representative citizen of this city he well deserves mention in this history of St. Joseph county.
Source: Howard, Timothy Edward. 1907. A History of St. Joseph County, Indiana. Volume Two. Chicago, Illinois: Lewis Publishing Company. 1158 p.
Page(s) in Source: 909-910
This biography has been transcribed exactly as it was originally published in the source. Please note that we do not provide photocopies or digital scans of biographies appearing on this website.
Biography transcribed by Steven R. Shook