Francis Brill
American farmer and politician (1836–1913)
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Francis Brill (October 1, 1836 – March 25, 1913) was an American farmer and politician from New York.
Life
Brill was born on October 1, 1836 in Jersey City, New Jersey,[1] the son of John Brill.[2]
Brill attended Anthon's Grammar School of Columbia College in New York City as well as the academy in Newark. He was drafted during the American Civil War but sent a substitute. He served as School Commissioner of Newark's 12th ward from 1861 to 1862. He later moved to Mattituck, New York. A seed grower and farmer, he wrote an agricultural work called "Farm Gardening and Seed Growing." In 1876, he was elected to the New York State Assembly as a Democrat, representing Suffolk County. He served in the Assembly in 1877.[1]
Brill moved to Riverhead in 1881,[3] followed by Hempstead in 1886.[4] He had a seed farm in Mattituck and had a national reputation for his specialty of cauliflower and cabbage. He had his headquarters in Riverhead until he moved to Hempstead, where he established a wholesale seed business. He also served as town clerk of Hempstead for three years.[5]
In 1857, Brill married Ann E. McDonald.[2] Their children were A. Walter, Mrs. John S. Nichols, Mrs. Louis F. Huleu, Libbie, and Mrs. Walter Badger.[5]
Brill died at the Hempstead Sanitorium from intestinal trouble on March 25, 1913.[5]