Biography - William Brewer
William BREWER, retired, Hillsboro, is the third son of William BREWER, a Carolinian of Welsh extraction, and the youngest of three brothers. Daniel and George, eldest of that number, left Carolina at an early date, and settled in Tennessee. The family of William, Sr., was John J. and Jesse, who died in Carolina; our subject, and Thomas,who died near Evansville, Ind. The daughters were Candis, who married a Mr. WILLIAMS,settled and died in Iowa; Keziah, wife of a Mr. ALDER, near Hopkinsville, Ky., and Annie died young. The mother of these was Millie WEST, a Carolinian. The subject of this sketch was born in Chatham County, N. C., June 18, 1803; removed to ChristianCounty, Ky., and settled near Hopkinsville, with his parents, in 1807, and where they died, and where he was raised and married(Page 098) to Miss Delilah HOUGH, a native of Loudoun County, Va., where she was born October 1,1807, to Samuel and Azuba (SKINNER) HOUGH, natives of Virginia. Her grandfather HOUGH was an Englishman by birth, and came early to this country with two brothers, who settled in Vermont; he in Virginia. With this lady he lived happily for forty-four years, and until her death, August 26, 1869, when she left him with three surviving children of nine born to them - William H., now of Hillsboro; Mary, wife of S. M. GRUBBS, of Litchfield; and Ellen, wife of Alfred A. SAWYER, of Hillsboro. Mr. BREWER removed with his family to Illinois in November, 1834, and settled at Palestine, Crawford County, where he remained until the spring of 1839, when he removed to Hillsboro, his present place, of residence. In 1843, he was elected County Judge, the first Whig ever elected in Montgomery County. He was re-elected in 1845, and again in 1847, thus serving three consecutive terms. In 1850, he was elected to represent the counties of Montgomery, Bond and Clinton in the State Legislature, and served two sessions, but positively refused to suffer his name to be used for that honor longer, although often and strongly solicited. In 1853, he was elected Justice of the Peace, in which capacity he acted until 1869, when he refused to act longer. While in this office he did a very large business, and decided more cases than any other officer in the county, and what is still more remarkable, never had any of his decisions reversed. He has been an eminent example of a self-made man, who, unaided, has arisen from a humble station in life to wealth, honor and influence. From boyhood he took the side of morality and piety, and thus gained the public confidence. As a member of the Methodist Church of sixty-three years' standing, he has had a large share in building up the morals and character of the people of his community. He still, although in the late autumn of life, stands a monument of past energies rightly directed, with a large influence, large acquaintance, large experience and large means and usefulness. Mr. BREWER was married the second time, to Mrs. ROBERTS, of Elkton, Ky., and is quietly enjoying his well-earned honor and reputation in the midst of a people whose growth has been beneath his own eye. His only living son, William H. BREWER, was born January 4, 1826, in Trigg County, Ky., and in 1827 removed wit his parents to Todd County, Ky. He remained with his father during his boyhood, receiving limited advantages for education, and in manhood has been connected with his father in his business interests. He also has been twice married. First, on the 17th of November, 1857, to Miss Pernesia PHILLIPS, daughter of Capt. Thomas PHILLIPS. By her he had four children, all of whom died young, the mother following them to the grave July 27, 1867, in her thirty-fourth year. His second marriage occurred July 14, 1875, to Mrs. Mary J. BROWN, widow of William W. BROWN. By her he has three children - Mary, Dwight and Raymond. By her first husband she has two children - Ella and John T. Mr. BREWER is a stanch Republican, and with his family belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Extracted 19 Nov 2016 by Norma Hass from 1882 History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois, Part 2 Biographical Department, page 97-98.
