Ethan Brewer was born the fourth child, and third son, of his parents. He was raised in the town of his birth, Tyringham, MA. He along with the majority of his siblings, make the move to upstate New York, to the Massena area, in the early 1810s, probably to claim land earned by his father due to serving in the Revolutionary War.
By 1816 Ethan has moved to Auburn, Geauga County, Ohio. His brothers Milo and John and sister Ascha Brewer White also move to Ohio, only briefly for brother John, but permanently for the other two. While in Ohio, Ethan Brewer served as Justice of the Peace, was called "Esquire" meaning he had some law credentials. Ethan stays in Ohio for over 20 years, but sometime between 1840 and 1850, he and his family move to Columbia County, Wisconsin.
The family's fortunes seem to suffer after the move to Wisconsin. In 1857 the youngest son dies at about age 15. In 1863, the second youngest son, Henry, dies in Kansas, serving in the Civil War. In 1866, the state of things can be gauged by statements in his wife's application for benefits due to her son, Henry's death serving in the Civil War. She states "that her husband... who is and has been suffering from diseases of the lungs has in consequence not only not contributed to her support or that of himself but been an object of constant care and attention and expense on account of his sickness and ill health. That her two oldest sons have not contributed anything to her support, one having all together deserted the family years ago and the other is married. Their daughter being also married is confined to her own home and is unable to help her."
Another official paper says of Sarah Brewer: "Claimant is nearly blind and is becoming very old and infirm."
So, at the time of his death, at age 78, having succumbed to consumption, Ethan Brewer was essentially a pauper.
By 1816 Ethan has moved to Auburn, Geauga County, Ohio. His brothers Milo and John and sister Ascha Brewer White also move to Ohio, only briefly for brother John, but permanently for the other two. While in Ohio, Ethan Brewer served as Justice of the Peace, was called "Esquire" meaning he had some law credentials. Ethan stays in Ohio for over 20 years, but sometime between 1840 and 1850, he and his family move to Columbia County, Wisconsin.
The family's fortunes seem to suffer after the move to Wisconsin. In 1857 the youngest son dies at about age 15. In 1863, the second youngest son, Henry, dies in Kansas, serving in the Civil War. In 1866, the state of things can be gauged by statements in his wife's application for benefits due to her son, Henry's death serving in the Civil War. She states "that her husband... who is and has been suffering from diseases of the lungs has in consequence not only not contributed to her support or that of himself but been an object of constant care and attention and expense on account of his sickness and ill health. That her two oldest sons have not contributed anything to her support, one having all together deserted the family years ago and the other is married. Their daughter being also married is confined to her own home and is unable to help her."
Another official paper says of Sarah Brewer: "Claimant is nearly blind and is becoming very old and infirm."
So, at the time of his death, at age 78, having succumbed to consumption, Ethan Brewer was essentially a pauper.
Ethan Brewer was born the fourth child, and third son, of his parents. He was raised in the town of his birth, Tyringham, MA. He along with the majority of his siblings, make the move to upstate New York, to the Massena area, in the early 1810s, probably to claim land earned by his father due to serving in the Revolutionary War.
By 1816 Ethan has moved to Auburn, Geauga County, Ohio. His brothers Milo and John and sister Ascha Brewer White also move to Ohio, only briefly for brother John, but permanently for the other two. While in Ohio, Ethan Brewer served as Justice of the Peace, was called "Esquire" meaning he had some law credentials. Ethan stays in Ohio for over 20 years, but sometime between 1840 and 1850, he and his family move to Columbia County, Wisconsin.
The family's fortunes seem to suffer after the move to Wisconsin. In 1857 the youngest son dies at about age 15. In 1863, the second youngest son, Henry, dies in Kansas, serving in the Civil War. In 1866, the state of things can be gauged by statements in his wife's application for benefits due to her son, Henry's death serving in the Civil War. She states "that her husband... who is and has been suffering from diseases of the lungs has in consequence not only not contributed to her support or that of himself but been an object of constant care and attention and expense on account of his sickness and ill health. That her two oldest sons have not contributed anything to her support, one having all together deserted the family years ago and the other is married. Their daughter being also married is confined to her own home and is unable to help her."
Another official paper says of Sarah Brewer: "Claimant is nearly blind and is becoming very old and infirm."
So, at the time of his death, at age 78, having succumbed to consumption, Ethan Brewer was essentially a pauper.
By 1816 Ethan has moved to Auburn, Geauga County, Ohio. His brothers Milo and John and sister Ascha Brewer White also move to Ohio, only briefly for brother John, but permanently for the other two. While in Ohio, Ethan Brewer served as Justice of the Peace, was called "Esquire" meaning he had some law credentials. Ethan stays in Ohio for over 20 years, but sometime between 1840 and 1850, he and his family move to Columbia County, Wisconsin.
The family's fortunes seem to suffer after the move to Wisconsin. In 1857 the youngest son dies at about age 15. In 1863, the second youngest son, Henry, dies in Kansas, serving in the Civil War. In 1866, the state of things can be gauged by statements in his wife's application for benefits due to her son, Henry's death serving in the Civil War. She states "that her husband... who is and has been suffering from diseases of the lungs has in consequence not only not contributed to her support or that of himself but been an object of constant care and attention and expense on account of his sickness and ill health. That her two oldest sons have not contributed anything to her support, one having all together deserted the family years ago and the other is married. Their daughter being also married is confined to her own home and is unable to help her."
Another official paper says of Sarah Brewer: "Claimant is nearly blind and is becoming very old and infirm."
So, at the time of his death, at age 78, having succumbed to consumption, Ethan Brewer was essentially a pauper.
