Aunt Florence's Letter

On June 16, 1992 I visited INEZ PROWELL OTT (Sissy) and borrowed notes her mother FLORENCE BRUNER PROWELL had written on June 16, 1975 while composing a letter to a Pastor Warner. I gleaned the following information from those notes, and quoted Florence as closely as possible. Geraldine W. Bruner

Goldsboro Church of God
 Etters Box 67
 Penna.  17319
 June 16, 1975


Dear Pastor Warner:
   In reading the last copy of the Church Advocate, I read of the Mount Joy Church History 
by Ralph M. Snyder.    
   Pastor Warner, it is one of my joys to say my father, IBER LEWIS ADKINSON BRUNER, 
was one of  those boys who was raised in the Mt Joy Soldiers Orphan School.  He also had
 two brothers who were there - CALDER DANIEL APPLEY BRUNER and EDWARD JEREMIAH
ARRILIUS BRUNER.  Edward was the youngest of all three.  He was one year younger than 
my Daddy.  
   Grandpa Bruner, JEREMIAH BRUNER, was in the Northern Army 1868 - Civil War Days.  
That is how my father and his two brothers were put in the school in Mt Joy.  Grandpa Bruner 
had four brothers and fought in Virginia.
   In 1874 Grandpa Bruner lost his life.  He was killed on thr railroad bridge at Rockville, - 
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania,  He was a brakeman on the railroad, and his job was to go back 
over the cars and check on them.  It was a terrible foggy night and he had to go back over 
the cars.  While the train was making the curve, he lost his footing and fell down between 
the cars.  The same night, his infant son GEORGE BRUNER passed away with the measles. 
 A double funeral was held, and no viewing.  The four children were placed in the home. 
 The boys were placed in Mt Joy Soldiers Orphan School.  Sister went to a well to do family.

My father - IBER LEWIS ADKINSON BRUNER:

   Their training was great, wonderful, at Mt Joy Soldiers Orphan School and they came out of the 
school with many trades.  My Daddy's training was great - he was one of the best boys ever to come 
out of that school.  His learning included : Books, Bible, Cabinet Making, Wheel Wright, Shoe 
Mending, Barber - Hair Cutting, special in that- plus Baking.  He also worked in the fields for the 
farmers.  O, the tobacco field was one of his delights, to see that it was laid out right, and hung 
up in the barn.  There is an art  right there to do and master.  
   My father was a trainer and drill team leader with the boys.  His boy training was so good that 
when he was sixteen, the age to come home to his mother, Governor Pennypacker rode up Front 
Street on a big white horse to see if my Daddy would consider going back to the school.  They 
wanted him to  stay with the boys to train and drill them.  He was the best trainer they had at that 
time. 
   His mother had remarried and had additional children.  She lived on Front Street near Broad in 
the section known as HARDSCRAPPLE. Daddy had spent 13 1/2 years at the school, but now felt his 
Mother needed him more, so he did not go back.  He started out to bake, mend shoes and cut hair, he 
had to do all three.   He got a job baking in Harrisburg.  He was soon able to buy a surrey with the 
fringe on top (a four wheel carriage).  
   About that time my Mother, CARRIE EMMA HOHENSHIELDT. came to work for Judge Winhaver 
and Daddy met up with her.  I believe the surrey took her eye.  They were married in 1894 at the 
Presbyterian Church, Green and Riley Streets, Harrisburg in March and went on a honeymoon 
trip to Atlantic City which was great in those days.  After that, they set up housekeeping and 
a Baking Business in Elizabethville, PA.  Two years later on July 3, 1896 my brother 
CALDER VERN LOY BRUNER was born.  In 1898 they came back to Harrisburg and had a bake 
shop on State Street where now stands the Memorial Bridge.  There they stayed until 1903 when 
he left being in business for himself.  He went to work for Johnny Halbert at Green and Hamilton 
Streets, Harrisburg.  After that, he went to Brickers Bakery in Lemoyne as foreman.
   He bought a new home at 1837 Susquehanna Street where he lived until he passed away in 1944.  He 
worked for the Standard Bakery, Tenth and Market Streets and I was then old enough to go along and 
wrap bread with an older lady - that was fun for me.  
   Soon after that, Uncle Calder came back to the City, and wanted Daddy to go in business with him. 
 Now the Bruner Brothers were back together again with The Bruner Brothers Bakery at Penn and Broad 
Streets in Harrisburg.  This is when I left school to help my father in his business.  
   At this time Uncle Calder was also preaching at 21st and Derry Sts Methodist Church.  Daddy took 
a rheumatism sickness and I gave up working to help care for him.  For months he was in bed.  Mother 
had to care for him and us children - eight now. 
   Daddy got better, and he and Mother would take us down to Mt Joy with Mr. Romberger who took us 
all for rides.  We went to see the school often - looking out the car windows to see the school that 
Daddy went to.  My father was called a "sixteener" as were all the boys and girls at that school.  
They were called "sixteeners" because that was the age when they left the school to go out and work 
in the world.  Once a year, the Sixteeners would meet on the bank of the Susquehanna river at 
Harrisburg for a reunion.  It was a happy day, meeting with these folk.  Some would come to the 
homes and stay overnight with us just like we do for our church conferences.  
   Daddy retired from Capital Bakers where he decorated cakes.

First Brother - CALDER DANIEL APPLEY BRUNER:

   Uncle Calder was the oldest of the three Bruner brothers who were raised in the Soldiers Orphan
 School.  Their training was wonderful and they came out of the school with many trades.  Calder 
followed Baking and Pastor.  
   Calder had two daughters, and while pastoring in the 21st and Derry Street Church around Easter 
time in 1910, he lost his first wife MARTHA A. BRUNER through child birth.  His daughter MARY
 BRUNER was 10 years old, and daughter BELLA BRUNER was older.  They both graduated from
 Oberlin school.  
   He left Derry Street Church and preached in Bressler Church and took on baking at the County 
Home.  He walked from the parsonage to his baking job in Harrisburg.  He later came back to the 
church at 21st and Derry in Harrisburg and I can remember visiting often with them and his second 
wife, Aunt ELLA MAY BRUNER.  
   He went to Millersville and preached at the Methodist Church, and also baked at the State 
Teachers College.  A great life he loved and lived.  He baked at the college while he preached a few 
blocks from the school.  
   He passed away in His Service at a New Jersey church in Collinsville.  His daughter MARY BRUNER 
RICH lives near by in Camden, N.J.  Uncle Calder was buried in the East Harrisburg cemetery.  He 
lived a great life, and loved good books.  He left a good library and many friends.  We missed him 
ever so much and were always happy when he came around.  His voice - you could sit and listen a long 
time to it.  He was cut out to be a preacher, due to the training at Mt Joy.  God Bless Them All.

Second Brother - EDWARD JEREMIAH ARRILIUS BRUNER:

   He had A Great Vision.
   Uncle Ed was the youngest of the three Bruner brothers.  He was one year younger than my Daddy.  
He had good training as a Carpenter, a Minister and in Voice.  While in Mt Joy, Jesus called unto 
him to be His disciple.  Uncle Ed was like a great missionary going about doing good.  He traveled 
around after Billy Sunday.  (A world evangelist)
herever Billy Sunday went, my Uncle Ed was sure to be found there, the world over.  "Love one 
another" was his motto, and he preached that , too.  He lived a great and happy life.  When he was 
very old, and unable any longer to preach to the people, he would be carried into the church and 
repeat over and over again the words "little children, love one another".  When he was asked why he 
so often repeated those words, he replied "If this one thing were attained it would be enough".  We 
never knew when he would crop up next.  A World Wanderer in Christ.  Every Christmas he would come 
to our home and visit.  God loved him and his work.  
    Mother and Daddy are both gone now.  They raised us all to a great age.  We children all have a 
warm feeling for Mt Joy and the Soldiers Orphan School.  My father - they don't come any better.  I 
know the school played a very important part, not only for the Bruner brothers, but also the other 
boys and girls.  
 
                                 Much love and
                                in His Service,
                                 Florence Prowell