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Below is a family biography included in The History of Benton County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Fred Brill, merchant and postmaster of Lincoln, Mo., was born in Butler County, Ohio, March 20, 1846, being a son of Henry and Dorothy (Miller) Brill, who were born, reared and married in their native land of Germany. About 1840 they emigrated to the United States and settled in Butler County, Ohio, and there the father died in 1852. Fred Brill grew to manhood in his native county, and in March, 1864, enlisted in the Fifty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served until he received his discharge in August, 1865, at Camp Denison, Ohio, being mustered out as corporal. He was a participant in the battles of Resaca, Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain and Atlanta, and at the latter battle was taken prisoner and held two months at Andersonville. After being exchanged he returned to his regiment, the next engagement in which he participated being Savannah. Here he was also engaged in the storming of Fort McAllister, and afterward in the battle of Bentonville, N. C. After the war he continued to reside in Ohio until 1867, when, after a residence of about one year in Macon County, Ill., he came to Missouri, locating first in Pettis County, where he remained during the summer and fall, and then came to Lincoln and opened a shoe-shop; he worked at his trade until the fall of 1882, then formed a business partnership and engaged in the general mercantile business, the present firm being Brill & Wisdom. They have an excellent stock of goods, and do an annual business of about $25,000. Mr. Brill was married in Benton County, March 24, 1875, to Miss Lucy Pierce, who was born in Ohio and was reared and educated in that State and in Missouri. She is a daughter of John W. Pierce, and by Mr. Brill is the mother of four sons: Charles D., Samuel O., John W. and Harrison F. Mr. Brill is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and since August 30, 1885, has been postmaster of Lincoln, and has been notary public since the fall of 1882. He has never applied for a pension.

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This family biography is one of 86 biographies included in The History of Benton County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Benton County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Benton County, Missouri family biographies here: Benton County, Missouri Biographies

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