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FREDERICK H. BREWER

BREWER, RIPLEY, BROWER, EDSON, DOW, WASHINGTON, JACKSON

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 10/12/2019 at 20:51:32

FREDERICK H. BREWER, the fourth son and tenth child of a family of twelve children, was born in Niagara County, N. Y., November 9, 1812. His father, Abraham Brewer, was a native of New York, and his mother whose maiden name was Sarah Ripley, was a native of Connecticut. His great grandfather, Brower, as it was then spelled, came from Holland to this country about 1672. Mr. Brewer’s mother was of French extraction. His father died in 1844, at the advanced age of eighty-one. His mother died in 1862, at the ripe old age of one hundred and five. She was a personal acquaintance of General Washington’s and has danced with him a great many times. Two children were born to her after she had passed her fiftieth birthday.

In 1813, Mr. Brewer’s parents left New York, and moved to Canada West, where they lived one year. From there they went to Sandusky Bay, Ohio, where they lived until 1815. They next moved to Erie County, Pa., where they lived five years. They then went to Crawford County, Pa., where his mother died. In 1835, Mr. Brewer returned to his birthplace in New York. While there, he was apprenticed to a carpenter, and learned the trade in the ensuing two years. In 1837, he went to Cass County, Mich., and in 1839, returned to Crawford County, Pa. In the same year, he came to this State, and located at Augusta, in Des Moines County, where he worked at his trade.

In the spring of 1840, he purchased a piece of land in Pleasant Ridge township, near where he now lives. In 1847, he moved to section twenty-three, where he now resides. In 1841, December 30, Mr. Brewer was joined in marriage to Rebecca Edson. She was born in Preble County, Ohio, in 1819. They have had eight children, three sons and five daughters, all of whom are now living. Four of them are at home. Like most of our prominent men at the present time, Mr. Brewer was educated in the common school. He learned his A. B. C’s in the Sabbath school, under Lorenzo Dow. Taken altogether, he spent about two years in the common schools. In this short time, he got an education that fitted him well for the active duties of his future life. Mr. Brewer’s father was a Whig; but, through his sons influence he became a Democrat. Mr. Brewer early learned to appreciate the principles of that party, and during his political career of about forty years, has always supported them. His first vote for President was polled for Andrew Jackson. He has served his township several years as Trustee. Generally speaking, Mr. Brewer’s father’s circumstances were not very good. At one time, he was worth about $15,000, but lost all by acting as security. Under these circumstances, Mr. Brewer was thrown on his own resources for the future. In all his dealings, he has always made it a part of his work to make friends, as well as dollars. This is one of the great secrets of success. Being a good carpenter, he obtained a great deal of work to do. He also engaged in making rails, often obtaining twenty cents per hundred, which, in those times, was considered good wages. He has cut wood at twenty cents per cord. He now has a good farm which is ornamented with all the improvements of comfort. Mr. Brewer was one of three to choose the present name of their township, “Pleasant Ridge.” He is bitterly opposed to the gigantic appropriations made by Congress, and also to the frauds that are occurring almost annually. Mr. Brewer has acquired a sufficiency to enable him to pass the remainder of his life in comparative ease.

The had a little boat to row.
He and his loving wife;
They’ve picked some chips up, here and there,
Along the shore of life.

Source:
Illustrated Historical ATLAS of Lee County, IOWA
A. T. Andreas
Chicago, ILL.
1874

Transcription by Mary H. Cochrane, Volunteer


 

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