THEOPHILUS BRENIZER, M.D.

For forty-nine years Dr. Theophilus Brenizer, of Fayette township, has resided on or near his present farm, and during that time has gained a lucrative practice as a physician and surgeon. His birth occurred in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, March 14, 1846, and he is a son of David and Mary (Trimble) Brenizer, who passed their entire lives in the Keystone state. The father was a carpenter by trade, but resided upon a farm which he owned. To their union were born four sons and two daughters, those besides our subject being: Dr. George W., who passed away at the age of seventy-five years; O. C. and W. S. who are residing at Lamoni and own land in this county; Mrs. Peter Hempt, of Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, and Mrs. Emily Shaull, who died in Pennsylvania in young womanhood.

Dr. Brenizer remained under the parental roof until the Civil war and then, when a youth of sixteen, entered the quartermaster’s department of the army and was in the employ of the government for about three years, being stationed both in the east and west. When twenty years old he removed to Harrison county, Missouri, and there studied medicine under the instruction of his brother, Dr. George Brenizer. In 1871 he purchased his present home farm in Fayette township, which was then a hazel-brush thicket. He has made many improvements upon the place and, although he has several times suffered loss from fire, notably in 1886, when his fine large barn and contents burned, he has always rebuilt as soon as possible and has never become disheartened. He now owns three hundred and twenty acres of excellent land, party on section 25, Fayette township, and party across the state line in Harrison county, Missouri. He at one time owned four hundred and forty acres but has disposed of one hundred and twenty acres. About 1907, he erected a fine residence and he is numbered among the substantial men of Decatur county. For forty-nine years he has practiced medicine here and has become one of the best known homeopathic physicians in this part of the state, gaining the confidence of both the general public and his professional brethren.

Dr. Brenizer was married in the spring of 18870 to Miss Mary Hiner, who was born in West Virginia, August 26, 1851, a daughter of Mr. And Mrs. Jacob Hiner, who settled at Fort Madison, Iowa, in the latter ‘50s. After two years they removed to Decatur county and located on a farm near Decatur City. The mother passed away there but the father died in Decatur City on the 26^th of August, 1899, when eighty-six years of age. To him and his wife were born four children, those besides Mrs. Brenizer being: Mrs. Zula Tillotson, of Osceola, Iowa; Mrs. Kate Strong, of Geary, Oklahoma; and James H., who died in California. Dr. and Mrs. Brenizer are the parents of six children. Lionel D., who is farming in Fayette township, married Ida Frisby, and they have two children, Ruth Neil and Richard Rex. Lora Bea married Walter L. Frisby, a merchant of Kellerton, Iowa, and to them have been born four children: Carla; Theodore Raye; Wayne Jack, deceased; and Frank. James Lloyd is farming in Harrison county, Missouri, and married Maud Dix, by who he has two children, Velma and Frances. Harry H. and Vera T. are both at home. Mary R., the fourth in order of birth, died when seventeen months old.

Dr. Brenizer is democrat and is stanch in his support of that party, but has never accepted public office. His wife leans toward the Methodist Episcopal church and takes considerable interest in its work. For almost half a century Dr. Brenizer has resided in this section and during that time has made many warm friends, as he has invariably given his influence to the side of right and progress.