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WILLIAM M. BREWER, grocer and commission merchant, 415 East Monroe Street, settled in Springfield and engaged in the grocery business eight years ago, at 323 South Fifth street. Five years later he moved to his present store. Besides keeping a general stock of groceries, in which he has a fine retail trade, he makes a specialty of commission jobbing in fruits and produce, of which he handles large quantities, and intends to constantly enlarge this branch of his business.
Daniel and Elenor (McVey) Brewer, were Pennsylvanians by nativity, and were the parents of nine children, of whom William M. is one of the six living. His father died when he was a lad eight years of age, and his mother seven years later. The former was of Dutch and the latter of Scotch descent. In September, 1861, the subject of this sketch enlisted in company A, Third Illinois Cavalry, and served under General Curtiss in the department west of the Mississippi, until discharged, from ill health, in the spring of 1863. He fought in the battle of Pea Ridge and several skirmishes. He did clerical duty in the Adjutant's office, and as private secretary for Colonel E. A. Carr several months, and was subsequently made hospital steward, in which capacity he served until he retired from the army. Mr. Brewer came from Ohio to Sangamon county, Illinois, in 1856, and followed the avocation of teaching school about four years. Te then bought a dry goods store in Chatham,
which he owned till 1866; then sold out, and moved to Virden, Macoupin county, where he engaged in merchandising, first in furniture, and then in groceries, until he removed to Springfield. In the fall of 1863, he married Virginia Sims, of Chatham, and a native of Kentucky. They have two daughters living. Mr. Brewer is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and of the A. O. U. W., and was Master Workman of Capital City Lodge, No. 38, last term.