Asahel Brines was a 19th Century frontier farmer who's life was defined by movement. Remembered as an Illinois pioneer farmer, he grew up on the New York frontier during the first years of the new nation. Born about 1803 in Windham, Greene County, New York, now called Prattsville, his parents Edward Brines jr and Patience Cook were tenant farmers in the scenic Catskill Mountains just west of the Hudson River with his uncle John Brines, according to a tax records. His brothers Russel and Roswell were born here in 1804 and 1806. They would build a brotherly bond that would last a lifetime. Asahel was referred to in many ways including; Asa, Acel, Asel, Ashel, Aseal and Ashail. In the Holy Bible Asahel's name means "made by God." Asahel was King David's nephew. It was possible he was named after Asahel Hull, his parent's closest rural neighbor at the time of his birth in Windham, New York. The neighbor was a middle aged veteran of the American Revolution who happened to have defended New York City from the 1776 British invasion alongside his grandfather, Edward Brine Sr., who was at the same battle.
Asahel like his older siblings got his education on the frontier, during the off growing season, being educated from a local ordained minister Rev. Henry B. Stimson who also taught school during the week. Asahel Brines' name is listed in the Register of the District School Taught By Stimson in Ashland in May 1807. Soon after his family would forge ahead west into Allegany County, the upstate New York frontier opening up to new settlers. At 13 years-old Asahel and his family's life was hard, as history cites, a famine was gripping the community where they lived in 1816 due to failing crops in what was called "the year without summer." Even so, his immediate family grew to a dozen siblings. That very year he began a new adventure, traveling some 660 miles over, at times, treacherous water on a flatboat filled with provisions and his mother's prized English China buried in flour barrels for safe keeping. The Brines and ten other families were once again on the move heading to the Illinois frontier where promises of good timber and game was the draw. His family would help found the Illinois town of Friendsville taming the Edwards County/Wabash County area in the process. At age 18 he met a local farmer's daughter Susan Hull who he married about 1820 in Wabash County, IL. Together they had ten children; Enos 1821-1840, Harriet 1823-1860, Henry Jefferson 1825-1890 (twin), James Madison 1825-1907 (twin), Charles G. 1829-1861, Edward 1829-1909, Asahel Henry 1832-1901, Samuel 1834-1911, Mary Ann 1835-1899, Maria C. 1838-1909.
At 26 with 4 children in tow the Brines couple helped pioneer the fledgling Schuyler County, IL. He made the more than 200 mile trip with his brothers Russel and Roswell arriving the day after Christmas 1826, according to an 1859 account. The county had just formed the year before at a time when there was allegedly only "one log hut" and wild animals and Indians roaming the countryside. The Illinois River was frozen over at the time the men arrived to enter the territory. History records the three Brines brothers worked all day cutting the ice that they might float and cross in a flat boat.
A distance of about 2,000 feet. And the brothers took refuge in the Chadsey settlement near present day Pleasant View. In 1827 he is listed as a member of the Petite Jury for the Schuyler County Circuit Court in Rushville.
By 1830 he had moved to Lawrence County missing the Cholera epidemic that decimated the population just a year later. Moving between Wabash, Schuyler and Lawrence County Asahel always was on the move. Asahel returned to Wabash County by 1840. It was about this time his first wife died. In Aug of 1844 secured 40 acres there, according to federal land grant. By 1847 he married Susanna Wood the daughter of a longtime farmer of Wabash County Jeremiah Wood. She had three children from her previous marriage to Joseph Preston who died just years earlier: Martha, David & Harriett Preston. Asahel and Susanna had four children of their own together; Obed W. 1848-1908, Larner Benney 1849-1911, George Washington 1852-1929 and Laura Louisa "Eliza" Brines 1857-1933. Susanna died in 1860. He wed a third time to Elmira Boxer (Boyer) Feb 1861. They had no children. By 1860 he moved his large family back to Lawrence County, IL where he contracted Smallpox and died at the age of 61.
Asahel Brines died 14 May 1864 in Lawrence County, Illinois. He is buried at Wright Cemetery in Lawrence County, IL.
Excerpt of "Brines Across America" by J R Brines
Sources: US Census Records, "William Roswell Brines" Beardstown Star Newspaper July 1896, Asahel Brines Family Bible, Illinois, Public Land Purchase Records, 1813-1909, U.S. General Land Office Records, 1796-1907, Web: Illinois, Find A Grave Index, 1809-2012, 1827-1828 Tax assessment list-Schuyler-IL, Early Day Settlers By Howard F. Dyson, 1918 - transcribed by Linda Conrad Brines, Revolutionary War Service Cards for Edward Brine and Asahel Hull - National Archive and Records Administration, Ancestry.com, Windham CT School Register-Register of District School Taught By The Rev. Henry B. Stimson, 1807, Public Health Reports 1896-1970 by the Association of Schools of Public Health Vol 15, no 19 May 11, 1900 Smallpox in Illinois p1113-1114, transcribed Petite Jury list from 3 Sept 1827 in the 1997 Schuylerite newspaper Volume 9 No. 4 provided by Gary & Linda Brines.
Asahel like his older siblings got his education on the frontier, during the off growing season, being educated from a local ordained minister Rev. Henry B. Stimson who also taught school during the week. Asahel Brines' name is listed in the Register of the District School Taught By Stimson in Ashland in May 1807. Soon after his family would forge ahead west into Allegany County, the upstate New York frontier opening up to new settlers. At 13 years-old Asahel and his family's life was hard, as history cites, a famine was gripping the community where they lived in 1816 due to failing crops in what was called "the year without summer." Even so, his immediate family grew to a dozen siblings. That very year he began a new adventure, traveling some 660 miles over, at times, treacherous water on a flatboat filled with provisions and his mother's prized English China buried in flour barrels for safe keeping. The Brines and ten other families were once again on the move heading to the Illinois frontier where promises of good timber and game was the draw. His family would help found the Illinois town of Friendsville taming the Edwards County/Wabash County area in the process. At age 18 he met a local farmer's daughter Susan Hull who he married about 1820 in Wabash County, IL. Together they had ten children; Enos 1821-1840, Harriet 1823-1860, Henry Jefferson 1825-1890 (twin), James Madison 1825-1907 (twin), Charles G. 1829-1861, Edward 1829-1909, Asahel Henry 1832-1901, Samuel 1834-1911, Mary Ann 1835-1899, Maria C. 1838-1909.
At 26 with 4 children in tow the Brines couple helped pioneer the fledgling Schuyler County, IL. He made the more than 200 mile trip with his brothers Russel and Roswell arriving the day after Christmas 1826, according to an 1859 account. The county had just formed the year before at a time when there was allegedly only "one log hut" and wild animals and Indians roaming the countryside. The Illinois River was frozen over at the time the men arrived to enter the territory. History records the three Brines brothers worked all day cutting the ice that they might float and cross in a flat boat.
A distance of about 2,000 feet. And the brothers took refuge in the Chadsey settlement near present day Pleasant View. In 1827 he is listed as a member of the Petite Jury for the Schuyler County Circuit Court in Rushville.
By 1830 he had moved to Lawrence County missing the Cholera epidemic that decimated the population just a year later. Moving between Wabash, Schuyler and Lawrence County Asahel always was on the move. Asahel returned to Wabash County by 1840. It was about this time his first wife died. In Aug of 1844 secured 40 acres there, according to federal land grant. By 1847 he married Susanna Wood the daughter of a longtime farmer of Wabash County Jeremiah Wood. She had three children from her previous marriage to Joseph Preston who died just years earlier: Martha, David & Harriett Preston. Asahel and Susanna had four children of their own together; Obed W. 1848-1908, Larner Benney 1849-1911, George Washington 1852-1929 and Laura Louisa "Eliza" Brines 1857-1933. Susanna died in 1860. He wed a third time to Elmira Boxer (Boyer) Feb 1861. They had no children. By 1860 he moved his large family back to Lawrence County, IL where he contracted Smallpox and died at the age of 61.
Asahel Brines died 14 May 1864 in Lawrence County, Illinois. He is buried at Wright Cemetery in Lawrence County, IL.
Excerpt of "Brines Across America" by J R Brines
Sources: US Census Records, "William Roswell Brines" Beardstown Star Newspaper July 1896, Asahel Brines Family Bible, Illinois, Public Land Purchase Records, 1813-1909, U.S. General Land Office Records, 1796-1907, Web: Illinois, Find A Grave Index, 1809-2012, 1827-1828 Tax assessment list-Schuyler-IL, Early Day Settlers By Howard F. Dyson, 1918 - transcribed by Linda Conrad Brines, Revolutionary War Service Cards for Edward Brine and Asahel Hull - National Archive and Records Administration, Ancestry.com, Windham CT School Register-Register of District School Taught By The Rev. Henry B. Stimson, 1807, Public Health Reports 1896-1970 by the Association of Schools of Public Health Vol 15, no 19 May 11, 1900 Smallpox in Illinois p1113-1114, transcribed Petite Jury list from 3 Sept 1827 in the 1997 Schuylerite newspaper Volume 9 No. 4 provided by Gary & Linda Brines.
Asahel Brines was a 19th Century frontier farmer who's life was defined by movement. Remembered as an Illinois pioneer farmer, he grew up on the New York frontier during the first years of the new nation. Born about 1803 in Windham, Greene County, New York, now called Prattsville, his parents Edward Brines jr and Patience Cook were tenant farmers in the scenic Catskill Mountains just west of the Hudson River with his uncle John Brines, according to a tax records. His brothers Russel and Roswell were born here in 1804 and 1806. They would build a brotherly bond that would last a lifetime. Asahel was referred to in many ways including; Asa, Acel, Asel, Ashel, Aseal and Ashail. In the Holy Bible Asahel's name means "made by God." Asahel was King David's nephew. It was possible he was named after Asahel Hull, his parent's closest rural neighbor at the time of his birth in Windham, New York. The neighbor was a middle aged veteran of the American Revolution who happened to have defended New York City from the 1776 British invasion alongside his grandfather, Edward Brine Sr., who was at the same battle.
Asahel like his older siblings got his education on the frontier, during the off growing season, being educated from a local ordained minister Rev. Henry B. Stimson who also taught school during the week. Asahel Brines' name is listed in the Register of the District School Taught By Stimson in Ashland in May 1807. Soon after his family would forge ahead west into Allegany County, the upstate New York frontier opening up to new settlers. At 13 years-old Asahel and his family's life was hard, as history cites, a famine was gripping the community where they lived in 1816 due to failing crops in what was called "the year without summer." Even so, his immediate family grew to a dozen siblings. That very year he began a new adventure, traveling some 660 miles over, at times, treacherous water on a flatboat filled with provisions and his mother's prized English China buried in flour barrels for safe keeping. The Brines and ten other families were once again on the move heading to the Illinois frontier where promises of good timber and game was the draw. His family would help found the Illinois town of Friendsville taming the Edwards County/Wabash County area in the process. At age 18 he met a local farmer's daughter Susan Hull who he married about 1820 in Wabash County, IL. Together they had ten children; Enos 1821-1840, Harriet 1823-1860, Henry Jefferson 1825-1890 (twin), James Madison 1825-1907 (twin), Charles G. 1829-1861, Edward 1829-1909, Asahel Henry 1832-1901, Samuel 1834-1911, Mary Ann 1835-1899, Maria C. 1838-1909.
At 26 with 4 children in tow the Brines couple helped pioneer the fledgling Schuyler County, IL. He made the more than 200 mile trip with his brothers Russel and Roswell arriving the day after Christmas 1826, according to an 1859 account. The county had just formed the year before at a time when there was allegedly only "one log hut" and wild animals and Indians roaming the countryside. The Illinois River was frozen over at the time the men arrived to enter the territory. History records the three Brines brothers worked all day cutting the ice that they might float and cross in a flat boat.
A distance of about 2,000 feet. And the brothers took refuge in the Chadsey settlement near present day Pleasant View. In 1827 he is listed as a member of the Petite Jury for the Schuyler County Circuit Court in Rushville.
By 1830 he had moved to Lawrence County missing the Cholera epidemic that decimated the population just a year later. Moving between Wabash, Schuyler and Lawrence County Asahel always was on the move. Asahel returned to Wabash County by 1840. It was about this time his first wife died. In Aug of 1844 secured 40 acres there, according to federal land grant. By 1847 he married Susanna Wood the daughter of a longtime farmer of Wabash County Jeremiah Wood. She had three children from her previous marriage to Joseph Preston who died just years earlier: Martha, David & Harriett Preston. Asahel and Susanna had four children of their own together; Obed W. 1848-1908, Larner Benney 1849-1911, George Washington 1852-1929 and Laura Louisa "Eliza" Brines 1857-1933. Susanna died in 1860. He wed a third time to Elmira Boxer (Boyer) Feb 1861. They had no children. By 1860 he moved his large family back to Lawrence County, IL where he contracted Smallpox and died at the age of 61.
Asahel Brines died 14 May 1864 in Lawrence County, Illinois. He is buried at Wright Cemetery in Lawrence County, IL.
Excerpt of "Brines Across America" by J R Brines
Sources: US Census Records, "William Roswell Brines" Beardstown Star Newspaper July 1896, Asahel Brines Family Bible, Illinois, Public Land Purchase Records, 1813-1909, U.S. General Land Office Records, 1796-1907, Web: Illinois, Find A Grave Index, 1809-2012, 1827-1828 Tax assessment list-Schuyler-IL, Early Day Settlers By Howard F. Dyson, 1918 - transcribed by Linda Conrad Brines, Revolutionary War Service Cards for Edward Brine and Asahel Hull - National Archive and Records Administration, Ancestry.com, Windham CT School Register-Register of District School Taught By The Rev. Henry B. Stimson, 1807, Public Health Reports 1896-1970 by the Association of Schools of Public Health Vol 15, no 19 May 11, 1900 Smallpox in Illinois p1113-1114, transcribed Petite Jury list from 3 Sept 1827 in the 1997 Schuylerite newspaper Volume 9 No. 4 provided by Gary & Linda Brines.
Asahel like his older siblings got his education on the frontier, during the off growing season, being educated from a local ordained minister Rev. Henry B. Stimson who also taught school during the week. Asahel Brines' name is listed in the Register of the District School Taught By Stimson in Ashland in May 1807. Soon after his family would forge ahead west into Allegany County, the upstate New York frontier opening up to new settlers. At 13 years-old Asahel and his family's life was hard, as history cites, a famine was gripping the community where they lived in 1816 due to failing crops in what was called "the year without summer." Even so, his immediate family grew to a dozen siblings. That very year he began a new adventure, traveling some 660 miles over, at times, treacherous water on a flatboat filled with provisions and his mother's prized English China buried in flour barrels for safe keeping. The Brines and ten other families were once again on the move heading to the Illinois frontier where promises of good timber and game was the draw. His family would help found the Illinois town of Friendsville taming the Edwards County/Wabash County area in the process. At age 18 he met a local farmer's daughter Susan Hull who he married about 1820 in Wabash County, IL. Together they had ten children; Enos 1821-1840, Harriet 1823-1860, Henry Jefferson 1825-1890 (twin), James Madison 1825-1907 (twin), Charles G. 1829-1861, Edward 1829-1909, Asahel Henry 1832-1901, Samuel 1834-1911, Mary Ann 1835-1899, Maria C. 1838-1909.
At 26 with 4 children in tow the Brines couple helped pioneer the fledgling Schuyler County, IL. He made the more than 200 mile trip with his brothers Russel and Roswell arriving the day after Christmas 1826, according to an 1859 account. The county had just formed the year before at a time when there was allegedly only "one log hut" and wild animals and Indians roaming the countryside. The Illinois River was frozen over at the time the men arrived to enter the territory. History records the three Brines brothers worked all day cutting the ice that they might float and cross in a flat boat.
A distance of about 2,000 feet. And the brothers took refuge in the Chadsey settlement near present day Pleasant View. In 1827 he is listed as a member of the Petite Jury for the Schuyler County Circuit Court in Rushville.
By 1830 he had moved to Lawrence County missing the Cholera epidemic that decimated the population just a year later. Moving between Wabash, Schuyler and Lawrence County Asahel always was on the move. Asahel returned to Wabash County by 1840. It was about this time his first wife died. In Aug of 1844 secured 40 acres there, according to federal land grant. By 1847 he married Susanna Wood the daughter of a longtime farmer of Wabash County Jeremiah Wood. She had three children from her previous marriage to Joseph Preston who died just years earlier: Martha, David & Harriett Preston. Asahel and Susanna had four children of their own together; Obed W. 1848-1908, Larner Benney 1849-1911, George Washington 1852-1929 and Laura Louisa "Eliza" Brines 1857-1933. Susanna died in 1860. He wed a third time to Elmira Boxer (Boyer) Feb 1861. They had no children. By 1860 he moved his large family back to Lawrence County, IL where he contracted Smallpox and died at the age of 61.
Asahel Brines died 14 May 1864 in Lawrence County, Illinois. He is buried at Wright Cemetery in Lawrence County, IL.
Excerpt of "Brines Across America" by J R Brines
Sources: US Census Records, "William Roswell Brines" Beardstown Star Newspaper July 1896, Asahel Brines Family Bible, Illinois, Public Land Purchase Records, 1813-1909, U.S. General Land Office Records, 1796-1907, Web: Illinois, Find A Grave Index, 1809-2012, 1827-1828 Tax assessment list-Schuyler-IL, Early Day Settlers By Howard F. Dyson, 1918 - transcribed by Linda Conrad Brines, Revolutionary War Service Cards for Edward Brine and Asahel Hull - National Archive and Records Administration, Ancestry.com, Windham CT School Register-Register of District School Taught By The Rev. Henry B. Stimson, 1807, Public Health Reports 1896-1970 by the Association of Schools of Public Health Vol 15, no 19 May 11, 1900 Smallpox in Illinois p1113-1114, transcribed Petite Jury list from 3 Sept 1827 in the 1997 Schuylerite newspaper Volume 9 No. 4 provided by Gary & Linda Brines.
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