B. F. Brillhart, who is numbered among the substantial agriculturists of Coshocton county, is a representative of one of the oldest families of this section of the state. He is now the owner of one hundred and eighty-four acres of land in Monroe township, which constitutes the old hoemtsead property. He was born April 28, 1849, a son of Samuel and Mary (Chambers) Brillhart. The family is of Holland descent, the paternal grandfather of our subject, John Brillhart, having come from the country to America in a very early day. He located in York, Pennsylvania, and it was there that Samuel Brillhart was born in 1795. He was, however, reared in Rockingham county, Virginia, having been taken there by his parents during his boyhood.

At the age of thirty-six years Samuel Brillhart made his way to Coshocton county, Ohio, and located on a farm in Monroe township. He was a natural mechanic and during his youth learned the trades of a cooper, wagonmaker, blacksmith and house joiner. He was also a gunsmith and was an expert at shooting. He became a wealthy man, owning at the time of his death one thousand acres of land in Monroe township, though he started out in life almost penniless. He was engaged in general agricultural pursuits and also speculated in lands, accumulating a competence in this manner. He died in 1870 and was buried in Spring Mountain cemetery. He was twice married, being only twenty years of age when he married Miss Susanna Whitezel, by whom he had nine children, namely: David, Mary Anne, Elizabeth, Sarah, John and Catherine, all of whom are deceased; Samuel, a resident of Blissfield, Ohio; Phoebe, deceased; and one who died in infancy. In 1838 he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Chambers, who was born in 1806 and died in 1897. Their union was blessed with three Children: William A., of Muncie, Indiana; H. H., now living retired in Warsaw, who is mention on another page of this work; and B. F., of this review.

B. F. Brillhart was educated in the district schools of Monroe township and in early life assisted his father in the operation of the home place until the latter's death, after which he managed the farm for his mother until he himself took possession of the property. In 1883 he erected a fine brick residence, which is one of the largest and most substantial in Monroe township. He has otherwise improved the place with good building and has placed the field under a high state of cultivation. He has one hundred and eighty-four acres and is engaged in general agricultural pursuits and stock-raising, making a specialty of sheep. Like his father, he learned the trades of blacksmith and wagonmaker but has always given his time and attention to farming and is today numbered among the successful citizens of this section of the state.

Mr. Brillhart was married November 27, 1873, to Miss Eliza A. Miller, who was born in Keene township, Coshocton county, a daughter of Saul and Elizabeth (Miller) Miller. He great-grandfather, Henry Miller, served for seven years in the Revolutionary war, while her grandfather, Nicholas Miller, belong to a company of militia organized to defend the homes against the Indians. The latter came to Coshocton county from Hampshire county, Virginia and preempted land from the government, which he cleared and improved. While building his cabin he lived under a rock and often had to frighten away the bears and other wild animals. His wife bore the maiden name of Mary Darling and was a daughter of Robert and Cynthia (Severs) Darling. She drove a four-horse team on the removal of her family to this county when she was eighteen years of age. Mrs. Brillhart's father, Saul Miller, was born in Keene township, September 8, 1815, and became a prosperous farmer, owning at the time of his death more than seven hundred acres of land in that township. He died December 30, 1882, at the age of sixty-seven years and Mrs. Brillhart's mother passed away in 1870, being laid to rest in Roscoe cemetery. Mr. Miller was again married in 1881, his second union being with Jane Cresap. By his first wife he had thirteen children, four of whom died in infancy, the other being Franklin D., deceased, who was a soldier of the Civil war; Eliza A., now Mrs. Brillhart; Alexander, deceased; Anderson D.; Mary, deceased; Howard; Isabel, deceased; Julia; and Lizzie. On the maternal side Mrs. Brillhart is a great-great-granddaughter of Major William Robinson, of the Revolutionary war, who during Dunmore's war was captured by the Indians and three times tied to the stake to be burned but each time was untied by Logan, chief of the Mingoes, and a belt of wampum was placed around his waist as a mark of adoption. (See Howell's History of Ohio for further particulars). The Major's daughter Margaret was Mrs. Brillhart's great-grandmother, and her daughter, Edith Tanner, was the grandmother and Elizabeth A. Miller the mother of Mrs. Brillhart.

Mr. Brillhart gives his political support to the republican party where nation issues are involved but at local elections he casts an independent ballot. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church but they attend the Evangelical church. Mr. Brillhart has spent his entire life on his present farm and it has therefore been made dear to him through the associations of his early boyhood and youth as well as through the experiences of later life. He is thoroughly identified with every interest tended to promote the welfare of his community and no man in this section of the state is held in higher esteem than is Mr. Brillhart.