History of Erie County, Pennsylvania, 1884
Gustav Brevillier Biography
Gustav F. Brevillier, retailed manufacturer, Erie, was born Sept. 8, 1830, in Lichtenfels. Bavaria, Germany. After attending a common and a high school in Thuringia till 1846, and the Polytechnic Institute at Vienna, Austria, until 1848, he came to this country, where he expected to find ready employment as a draughtsman or civil engineer, but failing in this, he concluded to learn a trade. He worked as an apprentice and as a journeyman soap-boiler, until the autumn of 1852, when, in company with a large number of other young men he came West to seek his fortune.
Arriving at Erie he considered the location a good one, and commenced on a very small scale the manufacture of soap and candies, at the corner of Holland and 6th Sts. After about ten years of unremitting labor, the business assumed considerable proportions, and extended over a large territory. In 1871, on account of failing health, Mr. Brevillier retired from business, and, together with his family, made a visit to Europe, and returned after an absence of four years. Mr. Brevillier was among the first manufacturers of Erie to utilize natural gas for heating and illuminating purposes.
In 1854, he married Miss Johanna Stuebner, of Germany; this union has been blessed with nine children, five of whom survive. Mr. Brevillier held, in former years, many honorary offices in different societies, and has acceptably served in the Common Council and City School Board.
Source: History of Erie County, Pennsylvania; City of Erie; Chicago; Warner, Beers & Co.; 1884
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