John Frederick Brillhart was the son of Samuel Brillhart and Elizabeth Ann Behler and the grandson of Christian B Brillhart and Anna Christena Weber. John was born in North Cordurus, York Co., PA on 17 Jun 1840 (History of York Co., PA, below). He married twice.

He first married Mary Jane Schreiner, on 22 Nov 1866. They had 6 known Brillhart children:

Elizabeth S. 24 Aug 1867 - 1872, below
Ella Katherine, 11 Jun 1870 (Justus Dietrich), below
Lucy Emma, 12 Dec 1871, (Grover M Hoff) below
Anna Pearl, 19 Jul 1873 - 1873, below
Robert Franklin, 12 Jan 1876 - 1878, below
Bertha Virginia, 22 Nov 1878, (Lewis R Krebs), below

His wife Mary died on 6 Aug 1879.

He married second to Elizabeth Smith. They had 6 known Brillhart children:

Infant, 16 Dec 1882 - ?, below
Charles Edward, Dec 1882, below
Mary Catherine, 28 May 1883 (Martin S Raber), below
Harry Allen, 1 Sep 1886, below
Gertrude Irene, 14 Apr 1890, (John Emig) below
John Frederick, Jr., 29 Jun 1892, below

On the 1850 N Codorus, York Co., PA census, I found farmer Samuel Brillhart, 49; Elizabeth Brillhart, 52; Isaac Brillhart, 24; Anna Brillhart, 22; Julia Brillhart, 20; Elizabeth Brillhart, 18; Lucinda Brillhart, 15; Samuel Brillhart, 12; JOHN Brillhart, 10; Mary Brillhart, 8 and Susan Brillhart, 6, all PA born.

On the 1860 York Division 1, York Co., PA census, tinner's apprentice, John Brillhart, age 20, born PA resided with the master tinner Daniel Heckert family. John apprenticed with Heckert for 5 years.

On 17 Jun 1863, Corp John Brillhart enlisted in B 1, PA Infantry in Codorus Township, York, Pennsylvania. On 3 Oct 1863, he was discharged. Born 17 Jun 1840 and died 8 Sep 1911. Veterans Administration Master Index Card #2684408 (see photo).

On the 1870 Jefferson, York Co., PA census, I found laborer John Brilhart, 29; wife Jane Brilhart, 22; Elizabeth Brilhart, 3 and Jefferson Brilhart, 1/12, born in June, all PA born.

On the 1880 Jefferson, York CO., PA census, I found widower and tinner, John Brilhart, 40; plus daughters: Ellen K. Brilhart, 10; Lucy E. Brilhart, 8 and Jennie Brilhart, 1, all PA born.

John is listed on the June 1890 Special Schedule of Surviving Soldiers, Sailors and Marines and WIdows in the Jefferson Borough, York Co., PA. Corporal John Brillhart, served in Co. B, 1st Batt, PA, Vols. He enlisted on 25 Jun 1863 and was discharged on 3 Oct 1863, having served 3 months and 8 days.

John applied for his military pension, on 2 Aug 1899, under invalid class, application #1233166. He served in the Union Army. His wife would apply for it following his 8 Sep 1911 death, on 21 Sep 1911 (see 2 photos on his wife's site).

On the 1900 Cordorus, York Co., PA census, I found tinner John Brillhart, 59;, born June 1840, wife of 19 years, Elizebeth, 45; Sept 1854; had 5 kids, all living: sons or daughters: Chas, 17; Dec 1882; Mary, 15, Oct 1884; Harry A, 13, Sept 1886; Gertrude, 10, Apr 1890 and John F, 7, Jun 1892, all PA born.

1 Mar 1907, John Brillhart applied and was reissued an Army Invalid Pension, Certificate #1024.028. It was increased in 1910. His service was as a Corporal in Co. B, 1st Battalion, PA.

On the 1910 Hellam, York Co., PA census, I found tinner, home and shop owner, John Brilhart, 69; wife of 42 years, Elizabeth Brillhart, 56, had 7 kids, 5 living: sons: Charles Brillhart, 23 and John F Brillhart, 17, all PA born. They lived on Berlin Street.

He died on 8 Sep 1911, leaving his wife Elizabeth, a widow. He was buried beside his 2nd wife Elizabeth Smith, who died Mar. 8, 1946.

John Brillhart died 8 Sep 1911 in York, PA at 6 AM. He was a resident of Jefferson Borough, York Co., PA, Vol. 15, p 369. It was recorded in York County Court, Register of Wills, on 29 Sep 1911 by Chas E Brillhart. Testator had a will. "Pennsylvania Deaths and Burials, 1720-1999," FamilySearch, Film #007619703 (see photo).

On the 1920 Jefferson, York Co., PA census, I found widow Elizabeth Brillhart, 65; plus sons: music teacher Charles E Brillhart, 38; tinner Harry A Brillhart, 33; plumber John F Brillhart, 27; grandchildren: William H Brillhart, 7 and Elizabeth I Raver, 10, all PA born. They lived on Baltimore Street.

There's a long bio of him in the History of York County, Pennsylvania, Volume 2, 1907, p 955, by George Reeser Prowell.

DB, #47232334 adds data on his military service: "A Civil War veteran, he first served from September 12 - 24, 1862, as a private with the Gibson Independent Company, a local militia hastily raised during a crisis period that culminated with the battle of Antietam, a bloody battle in which the Gibson unit played no role. He then enlisted in York June 17, 1863, mustered into state service at Harrisburg June 23 as a corporal with Co. B, 1st Pennsylvania (Ramsey's) Battalion of Infantry Militia, and honorably discharged with his company October 3, 1863, in Chambersburg. John died in Jefferson from "hemiplegia.""

RK shared "Jefferson" (not Jefferson Twp.) as his place of death. He died from hemiplegia at 6 a.m. on 8 Sep 1911. His wife was the informant cited on the certificate. Dr. J. R. Brodbeck of Codorus, PA, signed and dated it the same day and burial occurred 11 Sep 1911.