An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., 
The Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL., 1893, pages 432-433

	WILLIAM HOLT BREWSTER, one of the representative and progressive business
men of Vancouver, was born in England in 1844, a son of John and Hannah (Holt)
Brewster, the former a native of Ireland, and the latter of England. William,
the third of six children, left school at the age of twelve years, and
accompanied his father to Australia, where the latter died in 1858. Mr. Brewster
then returned to the land of his birth, but two years later came to America,
becoming an American citizen within twenty-four hours after landing. He enlisted
in Company M, Thirteenth New York Cavalry, for the late war, and served until
1865. Although Mr. Brewster was not a direct participant in any of the noted
battles, he is none the less entitled to even greater distinction. His command
was always on scouting duty, as the advance guard of Sheridan's Army of the
Potomac, and all old soldiers will know the danger of that branch of service,
and few have a relish for the constant moving and hardships connected with
scouting, or, in other words, spying upon the movements of the enemy. While at
Loudoun Valley, Virginia, Mr. Brewster was captured, but by taking desperate
chances made his escape to the Federal lines, thereby, if not saving his life,
at least avoiding the dreaded Libby Prison.
	After the close of the struggle he was employed as clerk for Lee, Bliss &
Co., New York city, but six months later went to St. Louis, Missouri, and joined
the Third United States Cavalry. Having a knowledge of pharmacy, which he had
made a special study some years before, he was enlisted as a Steward, serving on
the frontier three years. After returning to St. Louis he became a commercial
traveler, next went to San Francisco, California; later engaged as clerk in a
dry-goods store in Portland, Oregon, and at the breaking out of the Indian war
we find him at the front, and later in charge of the post at Colville. Mr.
Brewster was discharged in 1879, and for the following twelve months was
employed as clerk for Captain Ainsworth, of the O.S.M. Company. In 1880 he
established his present business, which is one of the largest general
merchandise houses in Southwestern Washington. His stock consists of choice and
fresh fruit, groceries, and delicacies of all kinds. He also carries a fine
stock of hardware. Mr. Brewster was elected to the City Council in 1891, and has
always taken an active interest in the general development of the city and
county. Socially, he is Post Commander of the G.A.R., Ellsworth Post, No. 2, and
is a member of the A.O.U.W., K. of P., and the I.O.O.F., having passed all the
chairs in the last two orders.
	Our subject was married at Vancouver, Washington, February 25, 1879, to Lucy
L. Dupuis, and they have two children, Robert N. and William H. Mrs. Brewster
had five children by a former marriage.

Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in October 2003 by Jeffrey L. Elmer

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Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies
Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the
individual featured in the biographies.