Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-08-01
DEATH OF A PIONEER.

Petroleum-A Former Pittsburger.
Ex-Congressman Francis B. Brewer, of
Westfeld, n. Y, who died on Friday last,
was buried yesterday morning in the Brewer
family lot in Allegheny Cemetery and,
although it is more than 80 years since he
was permanent resident of this city, he
has always retained business interests here
which have called him frequently 10 Pitts
burg and have kept alive old acquaintance
ships and friendly associations, SO that the
news of his death will occasion sincere re-
gret to many of the older residents OF the
city. He was born in Keene, n. H., in 1920
and was the son of the late Ebenezer
Brewer, OF this city, whose large fortune
was almost entirely devoted by his will to
charitable and religious objects and in his
| benevolence and generosity DR.. Brewer was
a worthy successor OF his father.
At the breaking out of the War of 1912,
EbeneZer Brewer joined the Boston Light
Infantry and served on the Northern from
tier, and later organized and commanded a
cavalry company. He was extensively en-
river until 1S45 when he removed to West
ern Pennsylvania and purchased large tim
Der tracts on Oil creek, built sawmills at
Titusville, and made his residence and busi-
ness headquarters in this city.
Discovered the Virtues of Petroleum.
|. Francis B. Brewer had been given lib.
eral education, preparing for college at
Kimbal Academy, graduating with honors
at Dartmouth in lS4S, and taking his degree
at the Dartmouth Medical College in 1886
In 1851 his father offered him an interest in
his business here, and DR.. Brewer removed
from Plymouth, Mass, where he was prao-
ticing his profession, and for more than 20
years has actively engaged in business
in Pittsburg. While at Titusville in
1853 his interest was aroused by a
al AZ.
land of Brewer, Watson & Co, at the "up-
per mill" and he collected a barrel of the
oil and sent it to his former teacher Prof.
BENZ Silliman, the elder, then at Yale,
with the request that it be analyzed, and an
opinion given as to its commercial value
At the same time time Samuel kier was col
lecting crude oil from a small vein struck in
salt well at Tarentum and was bottling
and selling it as medicine. Francis B.
Brewer was the first man who ascertafned
the commercial value of Pennsylvania Pc
troleum as an illuminator and lubricant, as
business matter. Prof Siulliman informed
him that the oil was valuable, but that 1t
was mot likely to be found in quantities su.-
ficient to make it commercially important"
but DR.. Brewer determined to make q trial
and organized the "Pennsylvania Rock OIL
Company, in 1854 and interested mum;
was himself a director and secretary
of the company. A pump was put into the
oil spring and the crude oil was secured in
quantities sufficient to light the saw mill
where it was also used as a lubricant, but it
was more than two years before the COM
pany could determine the most promising
method of increasing the supply. Colonel
E. L. Drake, who was a resident of New
Haven, was sent out as a representative of
the eastern stockholders and undertook to
bore a well at the old spring; but number
enthusiasm and declined to stand assess
ments for the cost of the well. Another
corporation was formed which took lease
of the property, and after prolonged delay
and embarrassments arising from ignorance
of the methods of artesian well-boring, all
of which were finally overcome by the
and his mechanical assistant, William
Smith, the first oil well was struck in
August, 1859, at depth of SO feet.
Dropped Lumber and Took Up Oil.
The timber lands of Brewer, Watson & Co.
and their mill properties turned out to be,
generally, productive oil territory, and they
secured many other valuable properties
under leases. The lumber business was
closed out and the firm for the next u years
engaged in producing and shipping petrol
cum. The active management was in the
hands of DR.. Brewer, though his father held
the position OF senior partner. The re-
timing inte erests OF the firm were extensive,
but were principally conducted by the firm
of Brewer, Burke Co., in which the late
George 4. Brewer represented the family
interest. The offices on "Duquesne Way"
were for many years the center of local in
terest in the petroleum trade and have been
occupied by the Standard Oil Company
since the original firms dissolved.
DR.. Brewer moved to Westfeld, n Y in
1861 and has since lived there, and alter
closing out his oil interests devoted him.
self to banking and manufacturing He
served during the latter part of the war as
medical inspector and military state
agent for New York, and was twice elected
to the New York Legislature. He was ap-
pointed by President Grant Government
director of the Union Pacific Railroad and
reappointed by President Hayes In 1882 he
was elected to Congress from the Chautau-
Qua-Cattaraugus district by large major
tty over three competitors. He was re-
spected and beloved by all who knew him
and passed away after brief illness with
all his iamilly around him. His wife Susan
H., daughter of the late Prof. Heman Rood,
Of Hanover, n. H., survives him as do three
sons, Eben Brewer, of Erie; f. b. Brewer
Jr., of Westfield, and DIR. George E. Brewer
of New York. The sons and William C.
Fitch, ESQ.,, of Buffalo husband of DR..
Brewers deceased daughter, accompanied
the remains to Pittsburg and acted as
bearers at the interment in the cemetery
ITO rro