#34--Abraham Brinker (Louisa Moser) Pioneer of Butler County PA 1774-1850

Abraham Brinker of Butler Co, “Pioneer”

My grandfather (Charles Tilton) said once he'd gone to college "far from Butler" intentionally.  He made some reference to being too much a part of Butler. I looked closely at his ancestors who were born or had settled in Butler County, had to agree that his roots were very deep in Butler County.
The yellow boxes in the tree below indicate Butler people.

My grandfather's great-great grandfather, Abraham Brinker was born in 1774 in Easton, Northampton County (Bethlehem, Nazareth (partly in Lehigh County) PA and was the son Jacob Brinker and Susannah Hinkel (of another post) .
The Brinker family had moved to western PA to Franklin Twp, Westmoreland County (Denmark Manor,  SE of Pittsburgh).  In 1800 Abraham was 26 years old.

Researching this early "pioneer of Butler," I found probably too much (can it be?) on Abraham Butler. My earliest search rendered an old history of Butler from 1883 (but the 1895 history of Butler is more thorough).

The (better) 1895 History of Butler County contains this  biographical sketch of Abraham Brinker:

CAPT. ABRAHAM BRINKER was one of the pioneer tavern keepers of Butler, where he erected a log building on the site of the Citizen office in 1804. He was a native of Northampton county, Pennsylvania, whence he removed to Westmoreland county, and later to Butler. He carried on the Mansion House until 1809, and then sold out to Jacob Mechling, who conducted this well remembered hostelry for many years.        

After disposing of his tavern, Captain BRINKER purchased a tract of land on Bonny Brook, in what is now Summit township, and erected the old stone mill yet standing, about three miles northeast of Butler, at the mouth of Brinker's run, named in his honor. Here he operated a grist mill, a carding mill and a distillery, in connection with a large farm.                                                                                                    He was one of the prominent men of pioneer days, and a man of considerable enterprise and public spirit. He commanded a company under Col. John PURVIANCE at Erie in the War of 1812, composed of the hardy sons of Butler county.                                      He served as county commissioner two terms, was also a justice of the peace, and filled several of the local offices during his residence on Bonny Brook. Captain BRINKER married Louisa MOSER.

1804
At the age of 30 in 1804, he'd moved to the newly formed town of Butler, and he built a log house south of the site of the court house, in which he kept tavern called The Mansion House for a number of years.

1804-1809 - Buying Lots in Butler &  The Mansion House (Public House) in Butler

The first sale (auction) of lots in what was to become the new town of Butler, Pennsylvania was held on Aug. 10-13, 1803. Abraham Brinker bought:.
Lot #13 for  $126.00.
Lot #14 for      90.00.
Lot #95 for      10.50.
 
The second auction was held Aug. 14-16, 1804.
Abraham Brinker bought:
Lot #3 for $43.00.

Abraham and others also paid $20.00 each for Lots #150 & 151 to be use for a cemetery.
(However Abraham and others are in the Brinker Cemetery on Bonnie Brook Rd. off Hwy 422
in Butler Co., PA.).
Abraham build the fourth cabin in the new town of Butler.



Brinker nabs 1st sale of land lots in Butler town 1803



Abraham Brinker builds 4th log cabin in Butler 1804

Brinker nabs 2nd sale of land lots in Butler in 1804

The Mansion House  - Public House

“The Mansion House, which was erected by Abraham BRINKER soon after the town was laid out.

It was a log building, stood on the side of the Citizen and Record offices, and was a noted landmark for many years. He was granted his first license in 1805.

Mr. BRINKER kept the Mansion House until 1809, then sold it to Jacob Mechling, and removed to a farm on Bonny Brook, where he erected a grist-mill and carding-mill. “

 As mentioned above, Abraham sold The Mansion House in 1809 to Jacob Mechling.  Abraham was  35 years old when he did this, he moved out of town a bit.

Brinker’s Mills & Bonny Brook

Lands:

Thomas Smith came in 1796 to the township, and in 1813 Abraham Brinker purchased Smith's 200 acres. Abraham Brinker moved to the Bonny Brook area of Summit Township in 1813.

Mills and Farm

Abraham was "an extremely industrial man and within a year built a built a carding mill, saw mill and distillery, and in 1814 erected a stone grist mill. He kept a large farm."

He was described as “one of the most prominent and enterprising men of his time.” 

Brinker's Mills = Bonny Brook

A few years after Brinker moved from Butler into Summit Township a post office was established and at some point Bonny Brook post office became known as Brinker's Mills. "The name of this small community went back and forth an untold number of times."

Erects a School

The children of the pioneers of Summit township attended, in 1813, at a log school-house near Brinker’s mill. Then eventually the school had a frame building which Brinker, the Gilliands and Martins erected, about 1818.

 
War of 1812

 (from The History of Butler County:)

"At the City of Erie, a peninsula, over six miles in length, arches out into the water of Lake Erie forming an expansive natural harbor.

French explorers recognized the intrinsic value of the harbor and in 1753 constructed Fort Presque Isle on the mainland near the harbor entrance. The name Presque Isle means “almost an island” in French and referred to the nearby peninsula.

Fort Presque Isle and its portage was became a vital link between the French fur trade network in the Great Lakes and its colony on the Gulf Coast.

Control of the Presque Isle region was wrested from the French in 1760 during the French and Indian War, and following the Revolution, the area was incorporated into the State of Pennsylvania in 1792.

During the War of 1812, the harbor at Presque Isle was used to construct six warships, including the Brig Niagara, which played a role in Admiral Perry’s convincing victory over the British in the historic Battle of Lake Erie.

The first lighthouse at Erie, and indeed the first American lighthouse on the Great Lakes, was constructed on a mainland bluff in 1818, not far from the site of Fort Presque Isle.

On July 19, 1818, the appearance of the British fleet off Presque Isle, evinced a determination on the part of the enemy to not only compass the destruction of the half-finished American fleet, but to invade the State itself.

Commodore Perry, appreciating the gravity of the situation and the necessity for prompt resistance, sent a courier to General Mead, of Meadville, asking for reinforcements.

The next day, General Mead sent the following circular into every settlement within the Sixteenth Militia district:

CITIZENS TO ARMS
    Your State is invaded. The enemy has arrived at Erie, threatening to destroy our navy and the town. His course, hitherto marked with rapine and fire wherever he touched our shore, must be arrested. The cries of infants and women, of the aged and infirm, the devoted victims of the enemy and his savage allies, call on you for defense and protection.
Your home, your property, your all, require you to march immediately to the course of action. Arms and ammunition will be furnished to those who have none, at the place of rendezvous near to Erie, and every exertion will be made for your subsistence and accommodations. Your service to be useful must be rendered immediately. The delay of an hour may be fatal to your country, in securing the enemy in his plunder and favoring his escape.

~~David Mead, Maj. Gen. 19th D. P. M.

The response was prompt. Butler County furnishing her full quota of men, and contributing to the notable naval victory that followed. In appreciation of the valuable services thus rendered.

Commodore Perry sent the following letter to General MEAD:

U. S. SLOOP OF WAR LAWRENCE

OFF ERIE August 7, 1813

    Sir:- I beg leave to express to you the great obligation I consider myself under for the ready, prompt, and efficient service rendered by the militia under your command, in assisting us in getting the squadron over the bar at the mouth of the harbor, and request you will accept, Sir, the assurances that I shall always recollect with pleasure the alacrity with which you repaired, with your division, to the defense of public property at this place, on the prospect of an invasion. With great respect, I am, Sir,

           Your obedient servant,                       

O.H. PERRY.

Maj. Gen. David MEAD,     Pennsylvania Militia, Erie

The 38 year old Abraham Brinker served as a Captain, commanding a company under Col. John Purviance at Erie in the War of 1812.

Brinker's Company, War of 1812

“Captain Brinker ...was noted for his polite manners and accommodating disposition.”

Public Offices

Abraham Brinker was one of the most prominent citizens of his time; served as Justice of the Peace and as County Commissioner.

Abraham Brinker, County Commissioner 1817 for the Newly Incorporated town of Butler, PA

“THE TOWN INCORPORATED
Almost a decade and a half elapsed before inhabitants began to think of taking a step forward by aspiring to a corporate government….Butler was incorporated as a borough by an act entitled "An act to erect the town of Milton, in the county of Northumberland, and the town of Butler, in the county of Butler, into boroughs,"… passed February 26 [1817] of the same month.

The charter was issued May 2, 1817, by Governor Snyder….

Thus was the borough brought into corporate existence…. The first vote recorded by the borough of Butler for State and county officers was that of October14, 1817.

LISTS OFFICES, CANDIDATES AND RESULTS, including:

Francis Fryer twelve, Abraham BRINKER fourteen, David Dougal eight, and Moses Hanlen three, for county commissioners;”

 Abraham Brinker had already served once before as County Commissioner in 1806.

Abraham Brinker, Butler County Commissioner, twice (1806, 1818)

Abraham Brinker, Justice of the Peace

As a Justice of the Peace, Abraham settled differences, per this example:

Amicable action and on hearing the parties Judgment in favor of Plff's for seventeen dollars and eighteen cents--
   Credit as per Clark MCPHERRINS Recd for $6--Feb 12--1830.
   Feb 12th 1830 Sci Fa issued to James GLENN, 28th Aug 1830 to appear 3d Sept 1830--Then continued to the 27th inst--Def't met as summoned. James MCCURDY sworn on part of Plff, and after hearing the proofs I continued this case to the 11th day of Dec next under my own Judgment.
   Dec 11th 1830 Judgt in favor of Deft James MARTIN for forty-two cents.
   Dec 3d 1830 the Pl'ff appeals to the Court of Common Pleas of Butler County.
   I certify the foregoing to be a true transcript of a Judgment rendered by me from which the plaintiffs have appealed.
   Witness my hand and seal this 29th Dec 1830.
                                             ABM BRINKER [Seal].
It is deemed of sufficient interest to let it be seen how important (?) much of the litigation is upon which professional men are required to spend the knowledge they have acquired at a cost of time, money and mental exertion. Here was a case originating in a small indebtedness of $11. The defendant alleged he had paid it in the lifetime of the original creditor. The executors refused to believe this, and had a Sci Fa issued to revive this judgment. After a lengthy deliberation, the Squire gives judgment for defendant for 42 cents. From this the plaintiffs appeal; it is finally referred to arbitrators, and they, after giving it their best attention, render an award for defendant for 77 cents.

One history wrote of him:

"He was public-­spirited and generous, encouraged and supported schools and his influence was exerted for the good of the community and individual people.

He had sound judgment. Very often when any dispute arose among his neighbors they would say, "Let us leave the matter to Squire Brinker."

Many problems were settled quietly and to the satisfaction of all interested parties without the law in this manner.

There being no public houses near, his house and Squire McCurdy's, often gave entertainment to travelers on the pike.

Squire McCurdy was a religious man and his home was often visited by ministers, who came to preach at the schoolhouse.

As his house stood on one side of the creek and Mr. Brinker's on the other, it became a common saying among the settlers that Bonny Brook had the law on one side and the Gospel on the other."

Death and Burial:
Abraham predeceased his wife, dying at his home in Summit Township in 1850 and was buried in Bonny Brook cemetery.

Abraham Brinker's headstone

Abraham Brinker Bonny Brook Cemetery

His widow Louisa lived some years after him, and died in Butler at one of her daughter's homes.

Children of Abraham and Louisa Moser:
Note:~Alternative names and variant spellings are designated by / mark
~Jacob was also called John

~ Female married names are in brackets [ ]
Speculative :A) Abraham Jr’s birthdate
B) Maria is speculative (could be an iteration of Mary)
Note:
Henry appears in most histories without a birthdate.

All children were born in Summit Twp, Butler Co., PA

1. Jacob (AKA "John") (Col.) 1796-1853  

2. Abraham T  (a junior)
3. Catherine /Catharine Brinker [McCandless] B 1797-?
3. Mary / Polly  Magdalena   [Henry]  1799–1842
4. Susannah /Susan Brinker [Henry]  1800 -1895
5. ? uncertain Maria (possibly Mary) 1801 –
6. Elizabeth / Eliza / Elisa [Prosser] 1808 -1887
6.  Louisa  [McLaughlin, McGlaughlin]  21 JUN 1810– 1855
7. Sarah  [Zeigler] 1812– 1881
8. Margaret  1817 – 1822
9. Henry  1818 or 1819 -?
10. Amy M.  [Ritchie]  1820– 1857

A Free-bie

The 1895 History of Butler includes a biographical sketch with a mention of my great-grandmother (Flora G Bancroft), and a bio sketch of her father (Prof PS Bancroft, Post #4 ), and her mother Bella Brinker, her grandfather (Col. Jacob Brinker) and her great-grandfather (Abraham Brinker, Bella Brinkers' grandfather).

Bella Brinker [Bancroft], granddaughter of Abraham Brinker

Sources:
Ancestry.com
History of Butler County Pennsylvania - 1883
History of Butler Co. Published by R. C. Brown Co., Publishers, 1895
Catherine Fox Snyder in Butler Freeport Community Trail Newsletter, Saxonburg PA 16056           Taped memoirs of Charles Bancroft Tilton

Post-script:
Abraham's Wife's name: Louisa or Eliza Moser?

The Mosers were one of the first settlers of the area. I believe the confusion with Lousia/Eliza Brinkers stemmed from the 1883 History, and was correct in the 1895 History. However, that there were so many Brinkers, and that Louisa Brinker and Abraham had a daughter Eliza, and a daughter Louisa does add to the confusion. 
I am 99.9% certain Abraham's wife was Lousia Moser, not Eliza.


Abraham Brinker of Summit TWP or Abraham Brinker of Clearfield TWP?

There has been a small amount of confusion over whether there was an Abraham Brinker Jr. I think there was:
A portion of Summit Township later became Clearfield Township.

Clearfield Township was  is the location of the another Abraham Brinker.  The son, Abraham Brinker Jr, married Peter Henry’s daughter. And it was Peter Henry who cleared the portion of Summit Twp that became Clearfield Township.
This leads me to believe that the other Abraham Brinker of Clearfield is Abraham Brinker, Jr
---------------
But, as an aside, there was another Abraham Brinker who married a Jane Gallagher, the daughter of Hugh Gallagher and Jennie Butler.
I don't think this was a relative of my Abraham Brinker.
HUGH GALLAGHER, a native of Donegal county, Ireland, immigrated to Pennsylvania about 1800, and settled in Clearfield township, Butler county. He purchased about 300 acres of land, erected a cabin, and spent the remaining years of his life engaged in making a home for his family.
He married Jennie BUTLER, a native of Maryland, and their family consisted of the following children: 1 John, who died in Winfield township;
2William, who died in Clearfield township; Hugh, who died upon the old homestead;
3 Eunice, deceased wife of Patrick DOUGHERTY;
4Marjorie, deceased wife of John DUGAN;
5 Catherine, wife of Edward WINNER, of Oakland township
6  Jane, who married Abraham Brinker, and for her second husband John COCHRAN.