JosephBriar
JOSEPHBRIAR, one of the old settlers of Hickory precinct, Cass county, Illinois,was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, February 3, 1823, son of James Briar,a native of Ireland. His grandparents were born in Ireland, of Scotch ancestry,and spent their entire lives in their native land. James Briar was rearedand married in Ireland and came to America about 1815. He first lived inNew York city and afterward in Philadelphia, Baltimore and Pittsburg. Hewas a contractor on Government works, and while in New York city was engagedin building lighthouses in New York harbor. Subsequently be was one ofthe contractors on the building of the State prison at Alleghany. In thefall of 1836 he came to Illinois. He spent the winter at Beardstown duringwhich time he looked around for a location suitable for a home, and inthe spring entered a tract of Government land in the Sangamon river bottoms.As there were no improvements on his land, he rented an improved farm eastof Virginia, and a part of the family settled on that farm while the resttook up their abode on the land he had entered, and at once began its improvement.He resided on this place until his death, February 22, 1844. The maidenname of his wife was Mary Davis. She was born in Ireland, and died on thehome farm. They reared nine children.JosephBriar was thirteen years old when he came to Illinois with his parents.There were no railroads in this State at that time, and their removal wasmade via the Ohio, Mississippi and Illinois rivers, landing at BeardstownNovember 19. Beardstown was then a small place, but was the market anddepot for supplies for many miles around. Central Illinois was sparselysettled and much of the land still owned by the Government, while in thenorthern part the surveys were yet incomplete. Deer, wild turkeys, prairiechickens, and other game abounded. He resided with his parents till attaininghis majority, when he settled on the farm he now owns and occupies. Thisplace is located on section 4, township 18, range 10, and includes 1221/2 acres of the best of Sangamon river bottom land. He has erected a niceset of frame buildings and enjoys all the comforts of a pleasant home.
In1847 Mr. Briar married Mary A. Harris, a native of England, who came withher parents to Cass county when she was a girl. She died in 1853, and thefollowing year he married Eliza Smith, a native of New York State. Thereare two children living by the first marriage: Martha J. and Emily D. Ofthe seven children born by his present wife, four are living: Joseph, Harry,Frank and Annie. Lillie, Bertie and Effie are deceased.
Mr.and Mrs. Briar are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
BiographicalReview of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois, BiographicalReview Publishing Co., Chicago, 1892, pages 272-273.
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