Columbia-Bradford County PA Archives Biographies.....BREWSTER, Philander S. 1830 - living in 1899 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com June 29, 2005, 7:39 pm Author: Biographical Publishing Co. REV. PHILANDER S. BREWSTER, M. D., after preparing himself for the medical profession in his youth, served in the Union Army during the Rebellion and upon returning home entered the ministry, filling the pulpits of many churches until 1894, when he decided to follow the profession of his first choice. He has a large practice in and about the borough of Berwick and has been particularly successful in the treatment of chronic cases. He is a son of Daniel and Roxanna (Beeman) Brewster, and was born in Wyalusing township, Bradford County, Pa., October 4, 1830. The Brewsters are of English extraction and are probably descendants of Elder Brewster who came over in the Mayflower. James Brewster, the grandfather of our subject, was a native of Long Island, N. Y., where he resided until 1800, when he and his family, which consisted of a wife, two sons and a daughter, moved to Susquehanna County, where he spent the remainder of his days. His occupation was that of a shoemaker, which he followed with success. He was the progenitor of a family of three children, namely: Daniel, the father of our subject; El dad, who was a weaver in Susquehanna County and died at a comparatively young age; and Abigail, who married David Vergason of Bradford County, Pa. Daniel Brewster was born on Long Island, N. Y., but moved to Bradford County, Pa., with his parents. Early in life he learned the trade of tailor, but soon after moving to Wyalusing township he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, operating a farm of one hundred and twenty-four acres. He was a natural student and was well-posted on all current topics of the day. He was a Jackson Democrat and served under Gen. Jackson during the War of 1812. Although not a member of any church he was a strict adherent to the Presbyterian faith. He was united in matrimonial bonds to Roxanna Beeman and they reared a large family of twelve children, all of whom reached maturity before a death occurred. Their record is as follows: John, deceased, was a farmer and located near Chicago, Ill., at an early day, but spent the latter years of his life at New Lisbon, Wis.; Hannah, deceased, married Joseph Lee, a farmer of New Albany, Bradford County; Nelson, deceased, who was an agriculturist in Susquehanna County; Pamelia, deceased, who married Nathan Coleman, a resident of Herrick township, Bradford County;. Sally, who married William S. Lee of New Albany, Bradford County; Jane, deceased, who was the wife of Samuel Woodruff of Ohio; Jesse, deceased, who was a member of Company D, 141st Reg., Pa. Vol. Inf., and served until the winter of 1862, when he died at Falmouth, Va., as a result of exposure; Eldad, who resides in New York State; Caroline, deceased, who was the wife of John Kissle of Bradford County; Angeline, who married a Mr. Beeman of New York State; Rev. Philander S., in whom the interest of this sketch centers; and Davis D., deceased, who was a mechanic and operated a planing-mill in the mountains of California. Daniel Brewster died in Orwell township, Bradford County, Pa., aged ninety-three years, two months and twenty-three days. Rev. Philander S. Brewster was reared on his father's farm and after obtaining a good common-school education learned the trade of a blacksmith, which he followed a short time. At the age of twenty-two he began teaching school, and, as he proved an able instructor, taught for six terms, during which time he also studied medicine. In October, 1862, he was drafted into Company D, 171st Reg., Pa. Vol. Inf. for nine months' service. He served in the Army of the Potomac for eleven months when he received his discharge and upon returning home entered the ministry of the Baptist Church, being ordained in Wyalusing township. His first charge was at Lehman, Luzerne County, where he remained for four years; then he held a pastorate for one year in Lackawanna County; then at West Liberty Church, Susquehanna County, where he remained for a period of seven years. His next charges were at Lehman Lake and Union Churches of Luzerne County, where he filled the pulpits until 1889 when he was called to Berwick and officiated as pastor of the Baptist Church for five years. He had been practicing medicine also during this time, and in 1894 he left the ministry to care for his rapidly increasing patronage. He is a homeopathic physician and his success in treating chronic diseases has been exceptional, as some of his patients, who were pronounced incurable by the leading physicians of the county were placed upon their feet and are still enjoying good health. He is kind and sympathetic and wins his way to the hearts of his patients, who regard him in the light of a friend as well as a physician. Our subject was united in the holy bonds of wedlock to Nancy M. Hines, April 5, 1852, and was bereaved of her companionship by death in the same year. In 1854 he formed a second matrimonial alliance with Jane V. Migdaugh, a native of Wyalusing township, Bradford County, who died in 1885. He was subsequently married to Mrs. Mary (Bouse) Butler, relict of James Butler of Wyoming County. We are pleased to announce that an excellent portrait of Rev. Mr. Brewster appears on a page in proximity to this. Additional Comments: Extracted from: Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District Published by Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY (1899) This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/pafiles/ File size: 5.9 Kb