JOHN WILLIAM BREWER
John
William Brewer, who is now living retired in Corydon, for more
than a quarter of a century was actively identified with the
agricultural development of Wayne county, where he owns three
hundred and sixty acres of highly cultivated and well improved
land. He is a
member of an old New York family, his father, David Brewer,
having been born in Elmira, that state, his natal year being
1818. His
education was acquired in the common schools of the Empire
state and there he also qualified himself for an agricultural
career. In early
manhood he went to Ohio, first locating in the vicinity of
Portsmouth, that state.
After three years residence there he decided to
continue his journey westward to Illinois, where he settled in
1841. He filed
on some land in Fulton county, near Farmington, and as his
circumstances permitted increased his holdings until he owned
about two hundred and fifty acres. He continued to make his home in that
state until his death, which occurred in 1893. It was in Ohio he
met and married Miss Rebecca Picket, who was born in Scioto
county, that state, in 1819, and passed away in Illinois in
1888. Our
subject is the eldest of the seven children born of this
marriage, the other members of the family being as follows: Eleanor, who passed
away in 1910, the deceased wife of Captain A. W. Dunn; Emma,
who first married J. O. Smith and after his death became the
wife of E. H. Scales, of Corydon; one who died in infancy;
Hattie, the wife of J. L. Scales, of Corydon; Milton, who is
residing on the old homestead in Illinois; and America, who is
deceased.
John
William Brewer was reared in very much the same manner as the
sons of other pioneer farmers of Illinois. At the usual age he
began his education in the district schools, and being the
eldest son was early called upon to assist with the work of
the farm. When
he was sixteen he entered Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois,
and later became a student of Oberlin College, in Ohio. He was a student of
the latter institution during the Civil war and in May, 1864,
enlisted as a member of the One Hundred and Fiftieth Ohio
Infantry, remaining at the front until August, 1864. Upon receiving his
discharge he returned to Illinois and then resumed his studies
at Oberlin College, graduating with the class of 1865. Subsequently he
took up the study of medicine at Charity Hospital Medical
College, Cleveland, Ohio, but never completed his professional
studies. He
acted as house physician at the United States Marine Hospital
at Cleveland, Ohio, for the year 1866-67. After coming to
Iowa he engaged in teaching for a time, but during the greater
part of his active life his energies have been devoted to
farming. In
1871, he bought two hundred acres of land in Union township,
this county, and industriously applied himself to its
improvement and cultivation.
He met with success in his undertakings and later
extended the boundaries of his homestead until it comprised
three hundred and sixty acres.
There he followed general farming and stock-raising
until 1896, when he retired from active life and removed with
his family to Corydon. In
1900 he was appointed by Leslie M. Shaw as delegate to the
Farmers’ National Congress and in 1902 the same honor was
conferred upon him by Governor Albert Cummins, which shows the
wide recognition given his accurate knowledge of agricultural
needs and conditions. Mr.
Brewer is a practical man of enterprising methods and during
the long period of his active career wrought a marvelous
improvement in his farm, on which he erected substantial
buildings and introduced various modern conveniences, thus
enhancing its value as well as appearance.
In
Washington, Iowa, on the 9th of November, 1871, Mr.
Brewer was married to Miss Ella M. Taylor, a daughter of
Harvey and Eleanor (Squires) Taylor, who were natives of the
state of New York, having been reared in the vicinity of
Elmira, when they removed to Ohio, coming from the latter
state to Washington county, Iowa, in 1847. The father was a
farmer, but he also took an active interest in public affairs
and served for twenty years as justice of the peace in Ohio
and likewise in Iowa, being one of the well known pioneers of
this section. Eleven
children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Taylor, Mrs. Brewer being
the youngest of the five who are living. In order of birth
the others are as follows:
B. H. Taylor, a resident of Minburn, Iowa; David, who
is living in Nebraska; Addison, of Parkston, South Dakota; and
Mrs. I. N. Carr of Wellman, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Brewer have had five
children: Martin
T., who was born on the 1st of September, 1872, a
practicing physician of DeSoto, Iowa; Frederick, whose natal
day was the 21st of January, 1874, now residing in
Fredonia, Kansas; Bessie, the deceased wife of William A.
Morgan, Jr., of Corydon, who was born on the 23d of November,
1875, and died on the 2d of July, 1910; Sylvia, who was born
in 1883 and died in 1888; and Walter L., whose birth occurred
on December 14, 1885, now operating the old homestead as his
father’s partner.
The family are members of the Christian church at Corydon, and fraternally Mr. Brewer is affiliated with the Grand Army of the Republic, and is a member of Robert Jackson Post, Corydon. He supports the republican party, and while residing in Union township held various minor offices. Mr. Brewer enjoys a wide and favorable acquaintance in Wayne county, where he has many friends who through the long period of his residence here have had ample opportunity to test the true worth of his character.