Owen C. Brewer
Owen C. Brewer was born in Liberty Township, Butler County, February 4, 1851, being the younger son of Peter K. and Mary (Flenner) Brewer, the former a native of Maryland, where he was born in 1809. He came to Ohio in 1831, settling on the place in Liberty Township, where he spent the remainder of his days. He was married in 1837 to a daughter of David Flenner, and reared a family of five children, all living and residents of this county. He was a successful farmer, dying September 1, 1871. His wife, who was born in 1807, is still living, at the age of seventy-four.
Owen C. Brewer was educated in the public schools until he was eighteen years of age, being brought up to farming, and then engaged in teaching for some four years. In 1872 he was appointed to a position in the auditor's office, and in 1873 was made a deputy auditor, holding that position until June, 1874, when he received the appointment of secretary of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphan Home, at Xenia, with W. D. Kerr as superintendent. While there Messrs. Kerr and Brewer introduced the industrial branches, which made the institution self-sustaining. He was there until the end of Governor Allen's term, when he returned to Hamilton, there acting as a clothing salesman until March, 1882, when he began the clothing trade in his present location.
Mr. Brewer was married, in 1875, to Miss Diana Stark, of Xenia. They have two children, Paul K. and Earl C. Mrs. Brewer is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Brewer is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and also of the Knights of Honor. He was elected a member of the board of education from the Fourth Ward, in 1879, and re-elected in 1881, both times without opposition. He was clerk of the board for two years and a half, and became its president in April, 1882.
From A History and Biographical Cyclopædia of Butler County Ohio, With Illustrations and Sketches of its Representative Men and Pioneers, Western Biographical Publishing Company, Cincinnati Ohio, 1882.