Rev. Ephraim S. Brownmiller, Ph.D., D.D., a prominent Lutheran clergyman, son of Joseph and Hannah (Stein), was born at Hamlin, Lebanon county, Oct. 5, 1853. On May 28, 1868, he was confirmed a member of the Lutheran church, by the Rev. H. Giesz, at Klopps Church, Lebanon county. He received his early education in both public and private schools. In 1868 he became organist of Christ Church, Stouchsburg, and attended the Stouchsburg Academy until 1870. In the spring of 1870 he entered Palatinate College, Myerstown, and the next fall registered as a student at Swatara Institute, Jonestown. During 1871 and 1872 he taught schools near Mt. Aetna and Wintersville, Berks county. In the spring of the latter year he entered Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, Pa., from which institution he was graduated in 1875. In 1874 he supplied as a student Union Deposit and Sand Hill Lutheran Churches, Dauphin county. In 1875 he was ordained by the Lutheran Synod of East Pennsylvania, at Reading, after which he was called as pastor by the Union Deposit parish, consisting of Union Deposit, Hill, Sandy Hollow, and Wenrich, where he remained for six years. In 1881 he took charge of Ephrata parish, in Lancaster county, consisting of Ephrata, Swamp, Schoeneck, Lincoln, and Reed's, when he united with the Ministerium of Pennsylvania. In 1889 he removed to Reading, as the successor to the late T. T. Iaeger, where he still labors with unbounded success.Dr. Brownmiller is a Democrat, and was first appointed to office from the Twelfth ward to fill an unexpired term on the Reading board of education, and was elected in 1903 and re-elected in 1907, still serving efficiently at the present time on the Finance and Building committees. He is broad and liberal minded and is greatly interested in educational affairs, and in all measures that tend toward good and clean government. He is chaplain of the Berks County Prison, which position he has held for the past thirteen years. While pastor at Union Deposit he was married to Minnie Anna Zimmerman, and their children are: Rev. Martin Luther, a graduate of Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, Pa., who was ordained May 22, 1904, and is now his father's assistant; Sadie Florence, m. to Prof. Samuel H. Ziegler, an instructor in the high school for Boys, Reading; Violet Mabel, m. to Richard R. Dry, Buffalo, N. Y.; Mary Alice, a music teacher; Miriam Ruth; Frederick Joseph; Mildred Helen, at home; and Laura May and Charles Howard, deceased.

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