Brillhart history in America

For my cousins, and other interested parties, in the spirit of being grateful for our forefathers who struggled greatly that we may have religious freedom and prosperity in America.

 

(From Brillharts of America, John A. Brillhart, 1926)

John Brillhard was born 1701. In the year 1721, at the age of twenty-one years, he met with a lady by the name of Marie Rariegh whom he loved, courted and later married. To, this union were born three boys John, Samuel, and Peter. The name was later changed to Brillhart.

Peter Brillhart (1726-1782) was born in 1726 and in 1745 married Mary.  He was a son of John Brillhard and Mary Rariegh Brillhart and came across the sea with his two brothers, Samuel and John.  To this union were born eleven children: Nancy, married to Joseph Graybill: Jacob, Peter, Christian, Joseph, John, Elizabeth, married to Samuel Bixler; Eva, married to Samuel Flichkenger; Annie, Barbara, and Maria, married to M. Figley.

For some years he lived in the northwest part of Switzerland, then when he with his brothers and their families came to this countryin 1737; he took up some land on the southeast side of the old Indian Trail now known as Shrewsberry Township, York County, PA., Dunkard Valley. (This land was a William Penn land grant, many of which were given to those fleeing religious persecution in Europe.)

He was an industrious man.  He managed to buy a large tract of land, and overcame many difficulties and hardships.  With his kind Christian life he helped many around him.  He and his brother, John, helped to organize the Dunkard Church, now known as the Church of the Brethren, about the year 1758, in the place where they settled.

His pioneer life was filled with cares.  He was a blacksmith and cooper by trade and a hewer of timber. 

Christian B. Brillhart, (1762-1811) son of Peter and Mary Brillhart, was married to Anna Weber.  They had six children: John, Samuel, Peter, Nancy, Christian, and Christena.  At his death Christian bestowed all his estate to his widow.  At her death she bestowed all her estate to her trusty son Peter, executor, and her daughter, Nancy.

Samuel Brillhart, (1802-1867) son of Christian and Anna Weber Brillhart, was married to Elizabeth Bealer.  They had eight children: Mary Ann, Samuel, Elizabeh, Licinda, Anna, Julian,  John F., and Isaac.

Mary Ann was married to Henry Kessler.

Samuel Brillhart, son of Samuel and Elizabeth Bealer Brillhart was married to Angeline Spangler.  They had five children: Uriah, Franklin, Lizzie, Hattie, and Emma.

Franklin Brillhart was married to Elizabth Albert.  Five children: Lous, Rosie, Clyde, Verna and Salem.

Lizzie Brillhart was married to Mr. Bransom.

Samuel Brillhart (1838-1912) came "west" in 1865.

Uriah S. Brillhart (1870-1939), son of Samuel and Angeline Spangler Brillhart, a grandson of Samuel and Elizabeth Bealer Brillhart, was born May 6, 1870, near Summum, Ill., where he was raised to manhood on a farm and completed his common school education.

In the year 1891, on Sept. 21,  he was united in marriage to Lillie Mummert.  He took up the carpenter trade which he has followed most of the time since.

In the year 1897, on Sept. 1, he united with the Church of the Brethren.  In 1906, Sept 1, he was elected to the Deacon’s office and on Sept. 18, 1907, he was called to the ministry.  Then in 1908 on the second day, his wife, who was a faithful helper, was called to the Heavenly Home, leaving him with the care of seven children.

In 1909, on Nov. 17, he was advanced to the second degree of the ministry.  In 1910, he moved to Quinter, Kansas, where he (resided until his death in 1939)

In 1914, Oct. 29, he was advanced to the Eldership and his is faithfully caring for his little flock.

(From my entry in the McDonough County History, Macomb, IL)

George S. Brillhart (1893-1955) from Astorie married Maye Winston (30 June 1896-Nov 1976) from Browning and took up residence in McDonough County, near Adair.  While living there, they had their first two sons, Charles (14 Jun 1917- Apr 1985) and Harold (4 Oct 1918- Sep 1975) and witnessed the building for the first "hard road" between Table Grove to Macomb.  They later moved to the Moore farm North-East of Industry where their third son Cline (1933) was born.  A few years later, they moved to the Everly farm near Industry  which George and Harold farming together.  All three sons graduated from Industry High School.

Harold D. Brillhart (1918-1975)

Harold married Zelma Woodruff from Industry and continued to live on the Everly farm.  They had three children Luan (14 Jul 1942), Leota (1945-1946) and David (27 May 1949).  He retired from farming in 1964 and moved into Industry where Harold held a variety of positions and eventually opened a bicycle shop.  Harold and Zelma were very active members of Industry Methodist Church, Harold being a Methodist lay speaker. He was at one time a member of the Industry school board.  Harold is fondly remembered by the boys of Industry as the kindly man who owned the bicycle shop and always had time to fix a flat or hold a hand.  Zelma worked for fifteen years at Mcdonough Power in Macomb.  Both Luan and David are graduates of Industry High School.  Luan attended Western Illinois University and graduated from the University of Illinois, Circle and currently lives in San Jose, CA. David graduated from Knox College and Carnegie-Mellon University and lives in Mobile, AL.

David K. Brillhart (1949- )