Everett Groff Brines was a farmer and skilled worker in the automotive industry. He built B-29's during World War II and spent 40 years building cars for Chrysler Corp. Born in Bellmont, Wabash County, Illinois July 23, 1900 to James Russell Brines and Flora Viola Groff-Brines, Everett grew up on the third generation family farm in Mt. Carmel. He was described as medium height and build with blue eyes and light colored hair.
In 1918, Everett graduated from the 8th grade. He was 18-years-old but they only went to school from Thanksgiving time to the first of February. After the first of February they would begin the farming for the year.
When his brother Gilbert went off to serve in World War I, Everett had to stay behind and do the farming with his father. They would hitch three mules together to plow in the muddy fields otherwise they used tractors. Mules were easier to unlodge from the mud.
Everett grew an interest in tinkering with things while working in the farm shop. In 1920, Everett enrolled at Swainey Auto and Tractor School in Kansas City, Missouri. He learned automotive work, welding and even made batteries from scratch.
In the winter time he worked the rails as a fireman on the Illinois Railroad. The fireman fed coal into the locomotive. His route went from Mt. Carmel to Carbonddale and Chicago. He would go as far as 8 hours would take you. Then catch the next train down to Mt. Carmel.
In 1921 using his experience on the railroad, he got a pass on the train and went to Detroit and was hired by Ford Motor Company. Ford paid him $0.50 an hour as a welder. He worked for Ford until 1924 when he went over to Dodge, when Walter Chrysler bought the Dodge Corporation. He spent 41 years with Chrysler and became a foreman in the sheet metal experimental division.
In 1926, he met an Allendale, IL girl Katherine Florence Stillwell, a local teacher, while visiting Wabash County. She just happened to be the girlfriend of his brother Virgil. They met while Everett was driving them to a church picnic in Adams Corner. When Virgil intentionally knocked her off the teeter-totter Everett came to her aid. Virgil reportedly laughed it off. That was the end of her relationship with Virgil and the beginning with Everett. Soon Everett was corresponding with Katherine from Detroit and went back to Illinois to visit her. During a stroll in a park near Adams Corners, Illinois Everett proposed marriage on a park bench. Together they had two sons; William Everett and James Richard.
They lived in Highland Park, Wayne County, Michigan in suburban Detroit until he retired in 1968. Work life was dangerous in the car factory. One time, Everett was walking past a power hammer in the factory, the belt broke and the power hammer hit him in the shins. Some 40 years later he developed skin cancer in the same spot. When he had a appendicitis in 1940 the company paid him half his usual wage until he got out of the hospital then he only took home half his wage home until he paid back all of the money used during the hospital stay. That's was their idea of disability pay back then. During WW II his Chrysler plant switched over to making bombers for the war effort. His job was to hammer out the engine cowlings for the B-29 bombers used in the War on Japan. After the war he made cars again.
He was a Republican and fiscally responsible. He paid double the house payments until his house was paid off. In his spare time he was a basketball and baseball coach for his sons' teams and went to protestant church.
Everett was a very gentle person he never forced anybody, he knew how to coach everybody. But at Chrysler they said he was hell on wheels, he could really cuss a guy out but his nickname was "Happy."
His son Jim remembers him as very active, never read a book.
"He would say to me, 'look up in the sky there is at least two hours of daylight left. Get out of that chair, quit reading that book. There is a lot you can get done with two hours of daylight. You can read that book after dark," Jim said. "If you had a minute he would find something for you to do."
He use to say "if you have a problem, get a project" and you'll work it out.
In 1968 they sold their house and moved to Mt. Carmel. He and his brother decided to plant corn for one season, for old times sake. In the February of 1972 they sold their house and moved to Arizona where his sons found work. Katherine and Everett lived in a condo in Sun City, Maricopa County, Arizona. Katherine died of a stroke 22 Apr 1979. Everett remarried a retired teacher by the name of Helen. She passed in 1993. Everett died 22 April 1995 several months before his 95th birthday. Everett is entombed in a mausoleum with his wife Katherine at Sunland Memorial Park in Sun City, Maricopa County, Arizona.
Sources: Jon Brines memories of Everett, Interview with James Richard and William Everett Brines, US Census Records, Ancestry.com, Birth and death records, U.S. Public Records Index, U.S. Social Security Death Index, U.S. World War I Draft Registration Card
In 1918, Everett graduated from the 8th grade. He was 18-years-old but they only went to school from Thanksgiving time to the first of February. After the first of February they would begin the farming for the year.
When his brother Gilbert went off to serve in World War I, Everett had to stay behind and do the farming with his father. They would hitch three mules together to plow in the muddy fields otherwise they used tractors. Mules were easier to unlodge from the mud.
Everett grew an interest in tinkering with things while working in the farm shop. In 1920, Everett enrolled at Swainey Auto and Tractor School in Kansas City, Missouri. He learned automotive work, welding and even made batteries from scratch.
In the winter time he worked the rails as a fireman on the Illinois Railroad. The fireman fed coal into the locomotive. His route went from Mt. Carmel to Carbonddale and Chicago. He would go as far as 8 hours would take you. Then catch the next train down to Mt. Carmel.
In 1921 using his experience on the railroad, he got a pass on the train and went to Detroit and was hired by Ford Motor Company. Ford paid him $0.50 an hour as a welder. He worked for Ford until 1924 when he went over to Dodge, when Walter Chrysler bought the Dodge Corporation. He spent 41 years with Chrysler and became a foreman in the sheet metal experimental division.
In 1926, he met an Allendale, IL girl Katherine Florence Stillwell, a local teacher, while visiting Wabash County. She just happened to be the girlfriend of his brother Virgil. They met while Everett was driving them to a church picnic in Adams Corner. When Virgil intentionally knocked her off the teeter-totter Everett came to her aid. Virgil reportedly laughed it off. That was the end of her relationship with Virgil and the beginning with Everett. Soon Everett was corresponding with Katherine from Detroit and went back to Illinois to visit her. During a stroll in a park near Adams Corners, Illinois Everett proposed marriage on a park bench. Together they had two sons; William Everett and James Richard.
They lived in Highland Park, Wayne County, Michigan in suburban Detroit until he retired in 1968. Work life was dangerous in the car factory. One time, Everett was walking past a power hammer in the factory, the belt broke and the power hammer hit him in the shins. Some 40 years later he developed skin cancer in the same spot. When he had a appendicitis in 1940 the company paid him half his usual wage until he got out of the hospital then he only took home half his wage home until he paid back all of the money used during the hospital stay. That's was their idea of disability pay back then. During WW II his Chrysler plant switched over to making bombers for the war effort. His job was to hammer out the engine cowlings for the B-29 bombers used in the War on Japan. After the war he made cars again.
He was a Republican and fiscally responsible. He paid double the house payments until his house was paid off. In his spare time he was a basketball and baseball coach for his sons' teams and went to protestant church.
Everett was a very gentle person he never forced anybody, he knew how to coach everybody. But at Chrysler they said he was hell on wheels, he could really cuss a guy out but his nickname was "Happy."
His son Jim remembers him as very active, never read a book.
"He would say to me, 'look up in the sky there is at least two hours of daylight left. Get out of that chair, quit reading that book. There is a lot you can get done with two hours of daylight. You can read that book after dark," Jim said. "If you had a minute he would find something for you to do."
He use to say "if you have a problem, get a project" and you'll work it out.
In 1968 they sold their house and moved to Mt. Carmel. He and his brother decided to plant corn for one season, for old times sake. In the February of 1972 they sold their house and moved to Arizona where his sons found work. Katherine and Everett lived in a condo in Sun City, Maricopa County, Arizona. Katherine died of a stroke 22 Apr 1979. Everett remarried a retired teacher by the name of Helen. She passed in 1993. Everett died 22 April 1995 several months before his 95th birthday. Everett is entombed in a mausoleum with his wife Katherine at Sunland Memorial Park in Sun City, Maricopa County, Arizona.
Sources: Jon Brines memories of Everett, Interview with James Richard and William Everett Brines, US Census Records, Ancestry.com, Birth and death records, U.S. Public Records Index, U.S. Social Security Death Index, U.S. World War I Draft Registration Card
Everett Groff Brines was a farmer and skilled worker in the automotive industry. He built B-29's during World War II and spent 40 years building cars for Chrysler Corp. Born in Bellmont, Wabash County, Illinois July 23, 1900 to James Russell Brines and Flora Viola Groff-Brines, Everett grew up on the third generation family farm in Mt. Carmel. He was described as medium height and build with blue eyes and light colored hair.
In 1918, Everett graduated from the 8th grade. He was 18-years-old but they only went to school from Thanksgiving time to the first of February. After the first of February they would begin the farming for the year.
When his brother Gilbert went off to serve in World War I, Everett had to stay behind and do the farming with his father. They would hitch three mules together to plow in the muddy fields otherwise they used tractors. Mules were easier to unlodge from the mud.
Everett grew an interest in tinkering with things while working in the farm shop. In 1920, Everett enrolled at Swainey Auto and Tractor School in Kansas City, Missouri. He learned automotive work, welding and even made batteries from scratch.
In the winter time he worked the rails as a fireman on the Illinois Railroad. The fireman fed coal into the locomotive. His route went from Mt. Carmel to Carbonddale and Chicago. He would go as far as 8 hours would take you. Then catch the next train down to Mt. Carmel.
In 1921 using his experience on the railroad, he got a pass on the train and went to Detroit and was hired by Ford Motor Company. Ford paid him $0.50 an hour as a welder. He worked for Ford until 1924 when he went over to Dodge, when Walter Chrysler bought the Dodge Corporation. He spent 41 years with Chrysler and became a foreman in the sheet metal experimental division.
In 1926, he met an Allendale, IL girl Katherine Florence Stillwell, a local teacher, while visiting Wabash County. She just happened to be the girlfriend of his brother Virgil. They met while Everett was driving them to a church picnic in Adams Corner. When Virgil intentionally knocked her off the teeter-totter Everett came to her aid. Virgil reportedly laughed it off. That was the end of her relationship with Virgil and the beginning with Everett. Soon Everett was corresponding with Katherine from Detroit and went back to Illinois to visit her. During a stroll in a park near Adams Corners, Illinois Everett proposed marriage on a park bench. Together they had two sons; William Everett and James Richard.
They lived in Highland Park, Wayne County, Michigan in suburban Detroit until he retired in 1968. Work life was dangerous in the car factory. One time, Everett was walking past a power hammer in the factory, the belt broke and the power hammer hit him in the shins. Some 40 years later he developed skin cancer in the same spot. When he had a appendicitis in 1940 the company paid him half his usual wage until he got out of the hospital then he only took home half his wage home until he paid back all of the money used during the hospital stay. That's was their idea of disability pay back then. During WW II his Chrysler plant switched over to making bombers for the war effort. His job was to hammer out the engine cowlings for the B-29 bombers used in the War on Japan. After the war he made cars again.
He was a Republican and fiscally responsible. He paid double the house payments until his house was paid off. In his spare time he was a basketball and baseball coach for his sons' teams and went to protestant church.
Everett was a very gentle person he never forced anybody, he knew how to coach everybody. But at Chrysler they said he was hell on wheels, he could really cuss a guy out but his nickname was "Happy."
His son Jim remembers him as very active, never read a book.
"He would say to me, 'look up in the sky there is at least two hours of daylight left. Get out of that chair, quit reading that book. There is a lot you can get done with two hours of daylight. You can read that book after dark," Jim said. "If you had a minute he would find something for you to do."
He use to say "if you have a problem, get a project" and you'll work it out.
In 1968 they sold their house and moved to Mt. Carmel. He and his brother decided to plant corn for one season, for old times sake. In the February of 1972 they sold their house and moved to Arizona where his sons found work. Katherine and Everett lived in a condo in Sun City, Maricopa County, Arizona. Katherine died of a stroke 22 Apr 1979. Everett remarried a retired teacher by the name of Helen. She passed in 1993. Everett died 22 April 1995 several months before his 95th birthday. Everett is entombed in a mausoleum with his wife Katherine at Sunland Memorial Park in Sun City, Maricopa County, Arizona.
Sources: Jon Brines memories of Everett, Interview with James Richard and William Everett Brines, US Census Records, Ancestry.com, Birth and death records, U.S. Public Records Index, U.S. Social Security Death Index, U.S. World War I Draft Registration Card
In 1918, Everett graduated from the 8th grade. He was 18-years-old but they only went to school from Thanksgiving time to the first of February. After the first of February they would begin the farming for the year.
When his brother Gilbert went off to serve in World War I, Everett had to stay behind and do the farming with his father. They would hitch three mules together to plow in the muddy fields otherwise they used tractors. Mules were easier to unlodge from the mud.
Everett grew an interest in tinkering with things while working in the farm shop. In 1920, Everett enrolled at Swainey Auto and Tractor School in Kansas City, Missouri. He learned automotive work, welding and even made batteries from scratch.
In the winter time he worked the rails as a fireman on the Illinois Railroad. The fireman fed coal into the locomotive. His route went from Mt. Carmel to Carbonddale and Chicago. He would go as far as 8 hours would take you. Then catch the next train down to Mt. Carmel.
In 1921 using his experience on the railroad, he got a pass on the train and went to Detroit and was hired by Ford Motor Company. Ford paid him $0.50 an hour as a welder. He worked for Ford until 1924 when he went over to Dodge, when Walter Chrysler bought the Dodge Corporation. He spent 41 years with Chrysler and became a foreman in the sheet metal experimental division.
In 1926, he met an Allendale, IL girl Katherine Florence Stillwell, a local teacher, while visiting Wabash County. She just happened to be the girlfriend of his brother Virgil. They met while Everett was driving them to a church picnic in Adams Corner. When Virgil intentionally knocked her off the teeter-totter Everett came to her aid. Virgil reportedly laughed it off. That was the end of her relationship with Virgil and the beginning with Everett. Soon Everett was corresponding with Katherine from Detroit and went back to Illinois to visit her. During a stroll in a park near Adams Corners, Illinois Everett proposed marriage on a park bench. Together they had two sons; William Everett and James Richard.
They lived in Highland Park, Wayne County, Michigan in suburban Detroit until he retired in 1968. Work life was dangerous in the car factory. One time, Everett was walking past a power hammer in the factory, the belt broke and the power hammer hit him in the shins. Some 40 years later he developed skin cancer in the same spot. When he had a appendicitis in 1940 the company paid him half his usual wage until he got out of the hospital then he only took home half his wage home until he paid back all of the money used during the hospital stay. That's was their idea of disability pay back then. During WW II his Chrysler plant switched over to making bombers for the war effort. His job was to hammer out the engine cowlings for the B-29 bombers used in the War on Japan. After the war he made cars again.
He was a Republican and fiscally responsible. He paid double the house payments until his house was paid off. In his spare time he was a basketball and baseball coach for his sons' teams and went to protestant church.
Everett was a very gentle person he never forced anybody, he knew how to coach everybody. But at Chrysler they said he was hell on wheels, he could really cuss a guy out but his nickname was "Happy."
His son Jim remembers him as very active, never read a book.
"He would say to me, 'look up in the sky there is at least two hours of daylight left. Get out of that chair, quit reading that book. There is a lot you can get done with two hours of daylight. You can read that book after dark," Jim said. "If you had a minute he would find something for you to do."
He use to say "if you have a problem, get a project" and you'll work it out.
In 1968 they sold their house and moved to Mt. Carmel. He and his brother decided to plant corn for one season, for old times sake. In the February of 1972 they sold their house and moved to Arizona where his sons found work. Katherine and Everett lived in a condo in Sun City, Maricopa County, Arizona. Katherine died of a stroke 22 Apr 1979. Everett remarried a retired teacher by the name of Helen. She passed in 1993. Everett died 22 April 1995 several months before his 95th birthday. Everett is entombed in a mausoleum with his wife Katherine at Sunland Memorial Park in Sun City, Maricopa County, Arizona.
Sources: Jon Brines memories of Everett, Interview with James Richard and William Everett Brines, US Census Records, Ancestry.com, Birth and death records, U.S. Public Records Index, U.S. Social Security Death Index, U.S. World War I Draft Registration Card
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