Bios: Samuel L. Brechbill, 1849: from Indiana Co
From "History of North Washington" Published 1904
Transcribed by: Candy Grubb (candyg@theofficenet.com)
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SAMUEL L. BRECHBILL
Samuel L. Brechbill, one of the most successful farmers and
stockmen of Stevens county, resides at Alyea, on Hunter creek, six miles
east of Hunters. He was born in Indiana county, Pennsylvania, May 22,
1849. His father, John, a native of Maryland, was by trade a miller,
but largely interested in agricultural pursuits. He died in 1862. The
mother, Mary A. (Wagner) Brechbill, was a Pennsylvanian, and our
subject's
great-great grandfather, George Clymer, was one of the signers of the
Declaration of Independence.
When a child our subject went with his parents to Richland county,
Ohio, and thence to Monroe county, Missouri. Here, in 1864, he enlisted
in the confederate service, Jackman's Brigade, and was in a battle on
the
Missouri river, and a number of serious skirmishes. He was at the
surrender at Shreveport, Louisiana, and the last engagement in which he
participated was on the Big Blue river, Kansas. He received a sabre
wound in Missouri, and a gunshot wound in the Big Blur fight. He still
carried the bullet. In September, 1871, he was married to Martha
Fremont,
a native of Kentucky, who died in February 1882. Her parents were
Michael and Louisa (Wilson) Fremont. Four children were born to them of
whom three are living, Henry and Charles, now attending school in St.
Louis, and Mrs. Louisa M. Smith, of Belleville, Ohio.
Mr. Brechbill came west in 1882, going first to Spokane, Walla
Walla, and a number of other points in Washington, seeking improvement
in
his health. In September, 1884, he located on his present homestead,
there being at that period, few settlers in the vicinity. He has one
hundred and sixty acres of land, nearly all fenced, and watered by an
irrigating ditch heading in Hunter creek. He raises considerable hay
and feeds a fine band of cattle. He came to this locality with but
little
capital, but is now in excellent circumstances. He is a member of the
Presbyterian church, and highly esteemed in the community in which he
resides.