"Portrait & Biographical Record of the Willamette Valley Oregon."  Chapman 
Publishing Company, 1903. p. 1426.
 
JOHN F. BREWER

     Were John F. Brewer called upon to give a definition of success at once
practical and to the point, he would naturally dwell upon those attributes which
have been of personal use to him, and which have by long experience not been
found wanting. Among these would be clearness and honesty of purpose, and the
ability to grasp and use passing opportunities, however small and insignificant
they might seem at the time. It is by attention to the details that he has been
able to succeed; by doing all things well; and by continually striving to keep
abreast of the times.
     At a very early day the grandparents of Mr. Brewer removed from their
native state of North Carolina to Missouri, where their son, William Brewer, the
father of John F., was born in 1818. The family later moved to Pike county.
Ark., settled on a farm near Murfreesboro, where, the grandfather died. There
were seven children in the family of whom William was the oldest, and the
responsibility thus presented was assumed by him with courage and determination.
As a young man he clerked in a store, and afterward taught school, developing as
time went on decided mechanical ability.  Given a model, he could duplicate
almost anything of a mechanical nature, and this ability proved of great use to
him, although he never regularly applied himself as a mechanic. He married
Margaret I. Scott, a native of Georgia, and continued to live in Arkansas until
the western fever inspired him to investigate the reports to which he had
listened. In 1853 he set out across the plains, accompanied by his wife and
children, among whom was John F., born in Pike county, Ark., May 2, 1844. The
mother of Mr. Brewer came to the west in the same train, and they were on the
road about seven months, encountering on the way some unpleasant experiences.
While near the Green river they were surrounded by Indians, and as a peace
offering were obliged to divide their provisions and general properties,
resuming the journey with a much lightened burden. Coming to Lane county, Mr.
Brewer took up a claim seven miles west of Eugene, improved the same, and lived
there until his death at the age of forty-two years. He took an active interest
in Republican politics, held a number of minor offices, and was one of the very
enthusiastic workers in the United Brethren Church, of which he was a member for
many years, and class-leader in the Sunday school.  The wife who survived him
married a second and third time, her last husband being Judge John G. Sparks,
collector of internal revenues during the administration of Abraham Lincoln, and
a very prominent man of Olympia, Wash. Mrs. Sparks is still a resident of the
Sound country, making her home with a daughter at Olympia; and though past four
score years, still retains her mental and physical alertness. By her first
marriage she had nine children, of whom the following are living: Martha A.,
widow of William P. Crow, of Freewater, Wash.; John F., of this review; Mary L.,
wife of Edward Harris, of Boistfort, Wash.; Amanda C, the wife of Eben Sherwood,
of Satsop, Wash. ; James H., also of Satsop; and Eva S, the wife of C. B. Mann,
a druggist of Olympia, Wash.
     From the public schools John F. Brewer received a part of his education,
but his father's training counted for more in his life, and invariably
stimulated to further research along the lines mapped out. At the present time
he is an exceptionally well informed man, improving every opportunity to keep
himself posted on current events; and associating with people who, like himself,
appreciate the higher things of life. From his nineteenth year he has made an
independent living, and in 1865 he went to the Sound country and took up a
donation claim. The same year he married Elvira Axtell, member of one of the
earliest families of the Sound country, whose father, Josephus Axtell, built the
second house on Mound Prairie. Mrs. Brewer was born in Illinois, and. crossed
the plains with her family in 1852, going at once to the north, where the
Indians were very troublesome, and where they were obliged to live in a fort for
a couple of years for protection. Two of the sons, John C. and Thomas J. Axtell
served in the Cayuse Indian war and had many thrilling experiences. The latter
is deceased, and the former lives on part of the old claim. While living at
Grand Mound the father served as postmaster for many years. He also served in
the Indian war with his sons. He lived to be seventy-five, and his wife lived to
be seventy-three years old.
     Leaving the Sound country in 1883, Mr. Brewer moved to Freewater for a
year, and then took up his residence on a farm near Lexington, remaining there
until purchasing his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres three miles
east of Goshen. He has been successful in all of his undertakings, and the high
standard of excellence maintained on his present farm has been duplicated on the
properties hitherto, owned by him. He raises general produce and stock, his
dairy being unexcelled for neatness and good management. As a Republican he has
been a delegate to several county conventions.  The Grange counts him and his
family among its most influential members, and he is holding the secretaryship,
to which he has been continuously elected for several years. Nine children have
been reared in an atmosphere encouraging industry and study, and of these, the
oldest son, U. Grant, is living in Klamath county; Arthur M.; Anna, the wife of
John H. dark, and William H. are in Boise City, Idaho; Ethel, the wife of Wilson
Wilhelm, lives in Goshen; John H. was killed in the Philippines during the
Spanish-American war; Valentine is in business in Boise City; Rachel and
Lucretia are at home; and Milton died in infancy. Mr. Brewer is a worker and
member of the United Brethren Church, contributing generously towards its
support, as he does toward that of various organizations in which the county
abounds.

     
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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in February 2009 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.