Henry Breier, who is well and favorably known throughout Sugar Creek township, where he has been a life-long resident, was born on June 2 1873, on the Breier homestead in this county and is the son of William F. and Christine (Rosener) Breier, both natives of Frilee, Germany. William F. Breier was born in February, 1834, and was the son of William and Christina (Deerburg) Breier, both natives of Frilee, Germany, who immigrated to America some years subsequent to their marriage and located in this county, where they operated a farm until death. William Breier was born about 1806 and died in 1888, in Sugar Creek township, of this county, on the homestead which he established and which is still in the possession of the family.

Henry Breier was reared on the Breier homestead and educated under the instruction of Mr. Wagner in the German school. He also received instruction in his studies of Mr. Counzilman and his last year as a student was in the old No. 3 school. Upon the completion of his student days he continued to assist his father with the work on the home farm until he was twenty-four years of age. On February 21, 1897, Henry Breier and Sophia Eickman, daughter of Henry W. and Matilda (Krentler) Eickman, were united in marriage and since that time have resided on the present farm with the exception of seven years which were spent on the Breier homestead. This place is well improved and is a part of the old homestead, a portion of it having been received as his inheritance and the balance purchaed from the other heirs. The fifty-six acres lie in Sugar Creek townshp, the entire property being devoted to the raising of diversified crops and hogs. Thirty head of hogs are fed out while three head of draft horses and four head of milch couws are kept. Henry Breier is a Democrat in his political views and active in politics. In his religious affiliations, he is a member of the German Lutheran church, as is also his wife, in which denomination he serves as assistant treasurer.

Sophia (Eickman) Breier was born on June 13, 1876, on the Eickman homestead, which is located two and one-half miles to the northwest of New Palestine, Indiana. Henry W. Eickman, her father, was born on January 13, 1841, on the same farm. His wife was a native of Germany, having been born in that country in 1848. Her death occurred on February 24, 1895. They were the parents of these children: Mary, Carrie, Charles, who died when a child; Harry, Sophia, Nanie, Amelia, Ella and Benjamin, who died in infancy.

Transcribed from History of Hancock County, Indiana, Its People, Industries and Institutions by George J. Richman, B. L., Federal Publishing Co., Indianapolis, Indiana, 1916. Page 971-972.

Submitted by Sylvia (Rose) Duda, Laingsburg, MI October 19, 2001.

Return to 1916 Index | Return to Hancock Co. Main Page