Biographical Sketch of Henry L. Brinton (1893); Chester Co., PA

Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by John Morris <jmcdmorris@comcast.net>.

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Source: "Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chester County, Pennsylvania,
comprising a historical sketch of the county", by Samuel T. Wiley and edited by
Winfield Scott Garner, Gresham Publishing Company, Philadelphia, PA, 1893, pp.
459-460.

"HENRY L. BRINTON, of the firm of H. L. Brinton & Sons, publishers of the 'Oxford 
Press', is a veteran in journalism.  As a business man he has been successful,
and is widely known as a ready writer who weilds a trenchant pen.  He is the
eldest son of Joseph and Susan (Hackett) Brinton, and was born on the historic
battle ground of Brandywine, Birmingham township, Chester county, Pennsylvania,
August 6, 1836.  The English family of Brinton, from (which) those in America
derive descent, took their name from the parish of Brinton in Berkshire.  The
first of whom there is any definite account was Robert de Brinton, who received
a manor in Shropshire from King Henry II about 1160.  His lineal descendants
removed to Staffordshire about 1450, and from that county came William Brinton
in 1684 and settled in the township since called Birmingham, Chester county,
Pennsylvania.  As his home in England was near that town, it is suposed that he
gave the name to the township.  He had a son, William Brinton, who was a Quaker,
and had suffered persecution on that account in England.  William married Jane
Thatcher, and had two sons, Joseph and Edward, who were prominent and active
citizens, and from them has descended the numerous Brinton family of this
country, among whom have been many men of marked individuality and great force
of character.

"William Brinton, paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a
prominent Friend or Quaker of Birmingham township, and kept the church records
for many years.  He was  farmer by occupation, and his residence, which is still
standing, was built directly on the ground made famous by being the scene of the
unfortunate battle, September 11, 1777, between General Washington and General
Howe, when the American forces were compelled to retreat after a loss of twelve
hundred in killed, wounded and prisoners.  William Brinton was federalist in
politics, and died at his home in Birmingham township in 1812, at the remarkable
age of ninety-two years.  His wife was Deborah Darlington, who was born on the
Brandywine battle ground, and they reared a family of eight children, three sons
and five daughters.  One of these sons was Joseph Brinton (father), who was born
on the old homestead in 1786, where he lived all his life, and where he died in
1865, in his eight-first year.  His entire life was devoted to agricultural
pursuits, and he became prosperous and well-to-do, owning considerable land in
his later years.  In the war of 1812, he served as a soldier, and afterward held
a number of local offices in his township.  He was a man of great activity and
fine mental powers, and unusually well informed for a man with only the limited
education attainable in that day.  He was twice married, first to Jane Crossley,
by whom he had a family of two sons and four daughters; and after her death he
wedded Susan Hackett.  By this second marriage he had a family of ten children,
eight of whom lived to reach maturity.

"Henry L. Brinton was reared principally on his father's farm in Birmingham
township, and received a good English education in the common schools of that
locality.  After leaving school, at the age f seventeen he became apprentice in
the office of the 'Village Record', at West Chester, and learned the trade of
printer.  He then engaged in teaching for a time, after which he became a can-
vasser for the 'American Republican'.  In the summer of 1859 he became assistant
editor on the latter journal and occupied that position for eighteen months.  He
came to Oxford in the spring of 1861 and started a job printing establishment,
which he operated successfully for a period of five years.  In February, 1866,
he began the publication of a weekly paper called the 'Oxford Press', which he
conductged alone until 1869, when he admitted D. Hayes into partnership, under
the firm name of Brinton & Hayes, and they continued the printing and publishing
business until 1870, when Mr. Brinton disposed of his interest to Mr. Hayes, who
then conducted the enterprise under the firm name of George D. Hayes & Co.  Some
time in 1871 Mr. Brinton became editor of the 'Press', in the employ of Hayes &
Co., and in 1876 repurchased a half interest in the business, which was afterward
conducted in the name of Hayes & Brinton until 1892.  In the latter year Mr.
Brinton purchased his partner's interest, and admitting his two sons, Douglas E.
and William G. into partnership, formed the firm of H. L. Brinton & Sons, who
have since been the editors and publishers of the 'Press'.  The business has
proved a grand success, the 'Press' now having a circulation of thirty-five
hundred copies weekly.  The 'Press' is strictly independent in politics and
depends for popularity on its merits as a newspaper, devoting much attention to
local affairs.  It is ably edited and its business affairs are well managed.

"In January, 1859, Mr. Brinton was married to Sarah F. Fisher, a daughter of
James and Sarah Fishser, and to them was born a family of three children, two
sons and one daughter.

"Politically Mr. Brinton is a republican, but never allows his politics to inter-
fere with the independent attitude of his paper.  He was elected school director
soon after coming to Oxford, and is now president of the board.  He has also
served one term as member of the town council.  In the fall of 1892 he was
elected president of the Oxford Board of Trade.  On July 6, 1863, he enlisted in
Co. A, 43d Pennsylvania infantry, as a private.  He served only six weeks, being
discharged at Harrisburg in August, 1863.  His four brothers - T. Elwood, Alfred,
David R. P. and Levis - all served as soldiers in the civil war, the first being
lieutenant in Co. C, independent battery; Alfred serving first in Co. M, 181st
Pennsylvania infantry, and afterward re-enlisting in Co. G, 20th cavalry, and
participating in the campaign through the valley of Virginia; while David R. P.
and Levis Brinton were members of Co. A, 1st Pennsylvania reserves.  David was
severely wounded while on picket duty in Virginia."