My Genealogy Hound

JOHN A. BROBST, M. D. If success in a profession that calls for acuteness of perception, knowledge of the needs of the human system, and skill in applying health-giving remedies, entitles a man to grateful remembrance, then is Dr. Brobst a fit subject for representation in this volume. Since 1886 he has engaged in practice at Macungie, prior to which he followed his profession at Allentown a few months. He was also for fourteen months assistant physician in the Maryland Woman’s Hospital and the Hospital of the City of Baltimore.

A record of the life of Dr. Brobst contains much of interest. In the truest sense of the word he is a cosmopolitan, having visited almost every habitable country in the world, and by contact with people of every race gained a practical knowledge of the customs and habits of other nations. His cruise of five years proved most instructive and beneficial, but he returned to the United States at the expiration of the time, firm in the belief that his native land offered inducements and attractions superior to any country of the Old World.

The Doctor is a native of Lehigh County, Pa., and was born August 3, 1852. The Brobst family was identified with the early history of Lynn Township, Lehigh County, where were born his parents, Jonas L. and Didema (Hermany) Brobst. For some years his father was a merchant at Steinsville, and was also prominent in the politics of Lynn Township. There he continued to make his home until death. Our subject was a pupil in the common schools of Lynn Township until about sixteen, when he went to Columbus, Ohio, and for three years made his home with friends, meantime attending the high school for two and one-half years.

After leaving school our subject was for eight months an assistant in a civil engineering corps on the Mobile & Ohio Railroad in Alabama and on the Mississippi levees in Louisiana. Later he secured a position as clerk on a passenger boat running on the Mississippi River, remaining thus employed for one year. Returning to Lehigh County, he sojourned here for a short time. During the Centennial Exposition, he was a member of the police force of Philadelphia.

When our subject’s sea-faring life began he filled the position of Auditor for Secretary Thompson of the United States Navy, on the “Talapoose,” the mission of which was to settle the disputed fishery claims in Nova Scotia. Later he went on board the United States steamer “Alliance” as a member of a Government marine surveying corps. Sailing to South America, they proceeded up the Amazon River, surveying two thousand miles on the steamer, and two hundred and fifty miles on a steam yawl, making in all twenty -two hundred and fifty miles surveyed.

Upon his return from South America, our subject became a marine on the United States steamer “Wyoming,” and was appointed Captain’s Orderly. On arriving at Livorna, Italy, he was transferred to the Government steamer “Gettysburg,” a surveying vessel, on which he served as Orderly for Commander Gorrenger. For about nine months he cruised with this ship, meantime making important surveys and sea soundings around the east, south and west coast of Africa. To this expedition belongs the distinction of having discovered near the Azores a reef that had been very disastrous to shipping, and the exact location of which had never before been determined. Commander Gorrenger also transferred Cleopatra’s Needle from Egypt to New York.

When the work of this important expedition had been completed, our subject was transferred to the United States steamer “Enterprise,” on which he held the rank of Orderly-Sergeant. The ship cruised around Scotland, England, Norway and Sweden, along the eastern coast of Siberia and in the Mediterranean Sea. Stopping at Naples, Italy, Dr. Brobst visited the ruins of the ancient city of Pompeii, and scaled the heights of Mt. Vesuvius. He then went with his ship to Athens, Greece, where he visited the Acropolis, and the ruins of many old temples of that once cultured city. There he was transferred to the “Wyoming,” which conveyed the United States Minister to Turkey, through the Strait of Dardanelles to Constantinople. While in Athens he attended a banquet given to the royal family of Greece.

Subsequently the “Wyoming” made a tour of the Black Sea, stopping at Trebizona and Sebastopol, where Dr. Brobst visited the field of the memorable battle. He also spent a few days in Odessa and Yalta, and in the latter city saw Nicholas, former Czar of Russia, and grandfather of the present Czar. While at Constantinople he saw the Sultan of Turkey. After the cruise of the Black Sea was finished, the United States minister was taken to Joppa, from which point he went to Jerusalem in the interests of the United States Government.

Among the many countries that our subject visited, perhaps in none of them was he so interested, and none did he study with a keener pleasure, than that portion of Asia known as the Holy Land. He visited Bethlehem, where occurred the birth of the Savior, and Jerusalem, the place of his crucifixion; also the Dead Sea and the River Jordan, Beyrout, Tyre and Damascus. At these various places he secured many souvenirs, which he has since treasured with care. Before shipping from Asia he visited the ruins of ancient Troy.

From the Holy Land the “Wyoming” took the United States minister to Alexandria, Egypt, where they were received in state by the Khedive of Egypt. Our subject had the pleasure of seeing that famous emperor, and at Naples, Italy, also saw his exiled father, who still lives there in banishment from his native land. After visiting Cairo, Dr. Brobst journeyed to the pyramids and also saw the Sphinx. Other noted landmarks and ruins of the ancient splendor of Egypt he inspected with equal interest, thereby gaining a thorough knowledge of the customs of the people of that land during the early days of its history.

Upon shipping from Alexandria, the steamer went to Port Said, where our subject was transferred to another United .States vessel, en route to the China station, Touching harbor at Calcutta and Bombay, India, he availed himself of the opportunity to visit these cities, as well as other historic places of that country. After a short stop at Colombo, on the Island of Ceylon, the voyage eastward was resumed. During his short sojourn in Siam, our subject saw the king of that country. Somewhat later he was transferred to another Government steamer, which he accompanied on a surveying expedition to the Malay Islands, spending some three months in that locality. He then returned to Colombo, Ceylon, after which he cruised around Siam and China. While in the latter country he saw and stood on the top of the old Chinese wall. He visited Pekin, China, as well as the principal seaports of Japan, and while there experienced all the horrors of the terrible Oriental storms known as monsoons.

Again transferred, Dr. Brobst returned to Alexandria, Egypt, and witnessed the bombardment of that city by the British. Not long afterward he returned to the United States. His travels, as may be seen from a perusal of these paragraphs, included almost every portion of the Old World. He saw a number of kings, as well as other dignitaries. Many of the most famous cities of the world he visited, many spots of interest to the student of ancient history, and many places made famous as the scenes of bloody battles. Few spots that he visited proved more interesting to him than the old Catacombs of Rome, where the Christians of early days found a safe refuge from the persecutions of their enemies. Travel is a liberal education to those whose habits of close observation and mental culture have fitted them for its beneficial influences, and our subject has made the most of his excellent opportunities for gaining a broad knowledge of the peoples of the world.

At the expiration of five years of service, Dr. Brobst returned to this country and settled in Norfolk, Va. During his cruise he read medical works and became interested in the science. Resolving to follow it for his life calling he entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Baltimore, from which he was graduated in 1885. For fourteen months thereafter he filled the position of assistant physician in the Maryland Woman’s Hospital and the Hospital of the City of Baltimore. Since that time, with the exception of a few months in Allentown, he has engaged in the practice of medicine at Macungie.

October 14, 1893, Dr. Brobst was united in marriage with Miss Hannah R., daughter of James Schaffer, of Lower Macungie. They have a pleasant home in Macungie, and are prominent in the social circles of the village. In religious belief they are Lutherans. Politically the Doctor advocates the policy of the Democratic party. As a physician he is skilful in the diagnosis of difficult cases and successful in their treatment. While his practice is general, he has met with especial success in the treatment of diseases of the eye and ear, and makes a specialty of those lines. His success is worthy of especial mention because it has been gained solely through his own exertions. The money necessary for his medical education was earned by his own labors, which proves the possession on his part of energy, tireless industry and determined perseverance. Genial, companionable and entertaining, many a pleasant hour may be spent in his society, and Macungie has no citizen more popular than he.