J. A. BRUBAKER & SON, buyers and shippers of grain and dealers in mill feed, coal, flour, drain tile and fertilizers, are representatives of the leading business interests at Rex, Miami County, and their trade relations extend over a wide territory. James A. Brubaker, the senior member of the firm, was born in Virginia, December 11, 1848, a son of Abraham Brubaker, a part of whose life was spent in Virginia.

When about twenty-five years of age, Mr. Brubaker spent sometime in Illinois, working as truck gardener, farmer and thresher. He came to Ohio, living in Clark County until 1876, when he married and moved to Montgomery County and resided near the town of Dayton, Ohio, for five years. From there Mr. Brubaker came to Miami County and rented a farm of 120 acres, situated one mile northwest of Brandt, in Bethel Township, on which be lived for six years, when he moved to a farm of thirty acres on Honey Creek, Bethel Township, which he cultivated for sixteen years. He then sold that property and moved to Brown Station or Rex, as the post office was named, and located at his present place of business in 1904. He worked occasionally as a painter and began in his present large business by buying and selling grain and hay, but later bought out O. L. Sullivan's elevator interests. Mr. Brubaker then admitted his son to partnership and the firm has developed into a very large concern. They have added modern machinery to the original plant and make grinding feed and flour a specialty, in addition to their other industries. Mr. Brubaker is a stockholder in the First National Bank of New Carlisle. He resides on a small place of ten acres in Bethel Township and also owns a farm of 140 acres in Pratt County, Kansas.

James A. Brubaker married Miss Elizabeth C. Arnold, a daughter of Henry H. and Magdalene (Crist) Arnold, and they have the following children: Alfred A., who married Viola Rymon, and has two children, Arthur R. and Walter; Adria Alice, now deceased, who was the wife of Charles Frantz and had one son, Roy (also deceased) and two daughters, Arthena and Virgie; Henry J., who is the junior partner in the firm of J. A. Brubaker & Son; Etta M., who resides at home; and Carson A., who is a member of the class of 1912 in the Bethel High School. Mr. Brubaker is a member of the German Reformed Baptist Church. In his political opinions he is a Democrat, but in no sense is a politician.

Henry J. Brubaker was born in Bethel Township, Miami County, Ohio, March 6, 1886, and his education was secured first in Glenwood District No. 9, in Bethel Township, later in the Bethel High School, and afterwards in the Dayton Commercial College, at Dayton, Ohio, where he received his business training. Upon his return home he entered into partnership with his father and is a very enterprising member of this business house. He is also identified with the Democratic party, but only as a worthy and intelligent citizen.