Bio: John A. Brewer, Bienville Parish La
Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana
The Southern Publishing Company, Chicago & Nashville,  1890
Submitted by: Gaytha Thompson



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JOHN A. BREWER


John A. Brewer is a gentleman well and favorably known to the citizens of
Bienville parish and parts of Claiborne also Webster and Lincoln Parishes,
and one of the representative agriculturists of his community. He is a native
of the former parish, his birth occurring on April 8, 18750, and is a son of
John A. and De]iah (Williams) Brewer, natives of North Carolina and Alabama,
respectively.  The father born about 1812, was reared in Georgia, where in
later years, he pursued the occupation of a farmer. He died at the age of
sixty and his wife at the age of sixty-four years.  The eleven children born
to this union-three daughters and eight sons-are named in the order of their
births, as follows: Jarrett (died in infancy), Henry (was a cotton planter
and died while in the service), Mary Jane (married to John Roberson and
resides in Arcadia, La.), Amanda (resides in Bienville Parish, Ta., and is
the wife of M. Perritt, who is an agriculturist), John A., Joseph (died at
the age of eleven), George (a farmer, was married, but died at the age of
twenty-eight years), Angeline (lives in this parish and is the wife of C.
Chanlor, a farmer), James (died at the age of nine years), Thomas (is married
and resides in Bienville Parish, be is a farmer by occupation), and B. H.
(who is well educated, is now a resident of Bienville Parish, he is the
youngest in the family).  

The early impressions of Mr. John A. Brewer were at once directed toward the
channels of agricultural pursuits, and his educational advantages were rather
neglected. However by self application and observation he has fitted himself
for the practical life of a farmer, and as he is a friend and enthusiast on
school matters, it is certain that his children will have every advantage. He
started out for himself when twenty-one years of age as a tiller of the soil
and without a dollar to begin with.  By hard work, energy and frugality he
stands to~day in his community a living example of what may be accomplished
when a determined will is at the back of every thing. 

In December, 1871, Mr. Brewer was married to Miss Amelia Ivy, a native of
Alabama, born in 1849, and educated in the common schools of her native State. 
This union has been blessed by the birth of sir children: Oscar (attending the
male college at Arcadia and will graduate in the class of 1892), Ora (is
attending the female college from which she will graduate in the class of 1891
at the early age of seventeen, she has chosen the occupation of a teacher),
Della (is also attending that college), Bertie (aged eleven), James (aged
eight years), and Floyd (the baby of the house). 

Mr. Brewer was too young to enter the service, but his ardor was at a fever
heat to take up his musket and bear homage to his country.  He has always been
a supporter of the Democratic party. Mr and Mrs. Brewer and the older members
of the family all belong to the Missionary Baptist Church, and Mn Brewer has
been superintendent of the Sunday-school for four years.  The school was
organized nine years ago with a membership of about thirty-eight and the
present enrollment is ninety-one which is highly commendable to the earnest
work of Mr. Brewer and his able assistants.  Mr. Brewer joined the church
seventeen years ago, and his work in the same has been of such a character as
to stamp him as a God-fearing and sincere Christian.  He has held the position
of school director for three years, and he is annually spending a large amount
of money to educate his children. 

He is the owner of 320 acres of land lying within three and a half miles of
the city limits, is one of the practical cotton planters of his community and
stands high in the estimation of the people.  His word is his bond and is
regarded as such by the representative men know him