BIOGRAPHY: Samuel J. BRISBIN, Mifflin County, PA

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The Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley, Comprising 
the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata, and Perry, Pennsylvania.
Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897, Volume I, pages 424-425.

  SAMUEL J. BRISBIN, Lewistown, Mifflin county, Pa., was born at Boalsburg, 
Centre county, Pa., October 24, 1825.  He is a son of Samuel and Nancy 
(Johnston) Brisbin, the former of Irish, and the latter of Scotch-Irish descent.  
Their family were named as follows:  William, married Eliza Brown;  Margaret 
(Mrs. Samuel Bender);  Samuel J.;  Ezra D.;  John;  Benjamin;  Mary Ellen, died 
at the age of nineteen;  two children died in infancy.  Mrs. Samuel Brisbin, who 
was born in Lancaster county, died in 1836;  Mr. Brisbin was born in 1800, and 
died in 1861.
  Their third child, Samuel J. Brisbin, was educated in the common schools of 
his native place, which he attended regularly until he was fourteen years old;  
he then began to learn the tailoring business with Jonathan Schaffer, of 
Boalsburg, and remained in his employ for six years;  but during this time, 
being diligent and ambitious, he continued to attend school at intervals, as his 
work would permit;  for, although obliged to earn his own livelihood at an early 
age, his excellent sense told him that the best preparation for a man's struggle 
with the world is thorough moral and intellectual training.  At the age of 
twenty-one, young Brisbin went to Marietta, Lancaster county, Pa., and there 
worked at his trade for four months;  then, on August 6, 1846, to Lewistown, 
Mifflin county.  Here he continued to be engaged in tailoring until 1855, when 
he embarked in mercantile business in connection with Abram Blymeyer and 
continued in the same until 1877.  Since the latter date, Judge Brisbin has been 
largely engaged as trustee and administrator, in the settlement of estates, and 
as guardian for numerous wards in Mifflin county.  He is also extensively 
interested in the insurance business.  He was elected to his present position, 
that of associate judge of Mifflin county, in 1891, for a term of five years.  
He adheres to the Republican party.
  Samuel J. Brisbin was married, December 25, 1850, to Catherine, daughter of 
Abraham and Leah Blymeyer.  Two of their children, Mary Ellen;  and Samuel J., 
died in infancy;  the others are:  Charles B.;  Anna L., wife of G. L. Russell, 
of the firm of William Russell & Son, Lewistown;  Abram B.;  William E.;  and 
Helen B.  The family attend the Methodist Episcopal church.