Commemorative Biographical Record of the County of Essex, J. H. Beers & Co., Toronto, 1905, p. 501-502:
Reuben Bruner, an esteemed resident of Gosfield South, County of Essex, is probably one of the most venerable citizens of this locality, belonging to one of the old families.
In early days three youths, George, Adam and Henry Bruner, accompanied their widowed mother to the County of Essex, and lived for a time on Grosse Ile. Later, when their mother married a Mr. Tofflemire, the family removed to Cedar Creek, and there the lads were reared. Of these, George was the father of our subject. Adam began farming at Olinda, but soon returned to Cedar Creek. Henry was the grandfather of J.S., Amon and Wellington Bruner, sketches of whom will be found elsewhere. A sister, Susan, married Jonas Fox.
George Bruner, like his brothers, was born in Pennsylvania. When he located in Gosfield township on his own responsibility, he settled on Lot 21, Concession 5, a government tract of 200 acres, cut the first timber on it, and built his first rough log cabin about ten rods north of our subject's current home. Later he built a two story hewed log house, which was torn down some ten years ago. He was obliged to pay a double tax on this house, as he had indulged in the comfort of a double row of windows. George Bruner lived in this home during his life, and saw much of his land cleared. In 1828 he sold fifteen acres to the Furnace Company, the plant of which was operated until around 1840, much of the surrounding land being cleared to supply charcoal. Mr. Bruner died May 12, 1834, aged fifty-seven years. He married Elizabeth Tofflemire, daughter of Martin Tofflemire, who came here from Kentucky, although he lived originally in Pennsylvania. Mrs. Bruner died in 1868, aged eighty-four years. The children born to them were the following: Eve died in infancy; Mary, who died aged eighty years, married (first) John Reaves, and (second) William Wood; Martha, wife of Thomas Boyles, of Amherstburg, died aged eighty-one years; Lazarus married Ann Skinner, and died in 1838; Ruth married Benjamin Slater and died in Gosfield; Abraham married Mary A. Mickle, and lived on a part of the homestead; Susan was the second wife of the late Benjamin Slater; and Rachel was the third wife of Benjamin Slater; Reuben; Isaac died aged two and a half years; Nancy married George Foster, and at the time of her death lived in Romney; Elizabeth married Thomas Corlett, and lived in Gosfield.
Reuben Bruner was born March 23, 1823, on the place where he grew to manhood and received his education...
Susan
Bruner
Lazarus Bruner †1838
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