Henry Brobst, proprietor Central Boiler works, situated at No. 530 Canal street and corner of Coldbrook street, was born in Miami county, Ohio, August 24, 1854, a son of Michael A. Brobst, a native of Pennsylvania. He was educated in Dayton, Ohio, and after receiving a certificate of graduation from high school of that city, went to Muncie, Ind., and engaged in the manufacture of steam boilers. He worked at his trade in Muncie a little over two years and then went to the city of Fort Wayne, where he was similarly employed until 1874, in September of which he came to Grand Rapids and engaged as foreman of the Adolph Leitelt Boiler works. For a little over three years Mr. Brobst filled the above position, and then became foreman of the Michigan Iron works, in which capacity he continued for a number of years, the meanwhile acquired the reputation of being one of the best-posted men in the manufacture of iron in the state. In March, 1885, Mr. Brobst associated himself with John Hines and established the boiler works at No. 1 Huron street, under the firm name of John Hines & Co. The firm did a prosperous business, and after an existence of five years the style was changed to Brobst & Hines, the business being conducted at the original location. On the death of Mr. Hines, which occurred in January, 1892, Mr. Brobst became sole proprietor and has since continued the business with success and financial profit, removing the plant in June, 1895, to its present location on Canal street. The large marine boilers constructed by Mr. Brobst are found in nearly every furniture factory of Grand Rapids, and have also been shipped to many manufacturing centers remote from the city. His works are fully equipped with the latest and most highly approved modern tools and appliances, and compressed air is used to operate much of the machinery to use for lifting, drilling, driving of rivets, etc., being the only plant at present to use compressed air in the city. This establishment is one of the leading industries of Grand Rapids, doing a large local and still larger general business,

and the proprietor is justly ranked among the successful manufactures of the city. Mr. Brobst is a member of the I. O. O. F. fraternity, belonging to lodge No. 12, also of Canton Pierce, No. 24. His name is found on the records of Kent camp, Modern Woodmen of America, and Daisy lodge, No. 48, B.P.O.E. Mr. Brobst’s father, Michael A. Brobst, by trade a hatter, was born of German parentage, in December, 1814, in the city of Reading, Pa.,. moved to Ohio in 1839, died in Grand Rapids, Mich., and was buried in Dayton, Ohio. The subject’s mother died in Grand Rapids, on the 4^th day of May, 1898, at the ripe old age of seventy-eight.