American Legion post named for Bristol man

Recently, there has been an inquiry made to me concerning the James C. Brewer Post No. 15 of the American Legion. 
I am sure there are others in my reading area who would like to have such information. 
The line of James Carlock Brewer, for whom this post was named, begins with William Phillip Brewer, who was born in Carter County, Tenn., July 30, 1826. In some manner, he was a cousin of Robert L. and Alfred Taylor of Carter County, each of who became a governor of Tennessee. 
Though born the same year, he was an uncle of Col.. N. M. Taylor for whom Taylor Street in Bristol, Tenn., is named. 
Early in life, Mr. Brewer married Elizabeth (Lizzie) Rhea Netherland, born Nov. 30, 1830. She was of that prominent family of Netherlands who were early pioneers of the Kingsport, Tenn., area. 
She was a sister of Sarah Anne Netherland, first wife of Bristol doctor W. N. (Nick) Vance. She was also a sister of Harriett Samuel Woods Netherland, who married John G. King, son of the Rev. James King of Bristol. 
It was John G. King who persuaded the Brewers to move here from Carter County to the new and thriving town of Bristol. It is told that another incentive was that the Brewers were pro-Confederate, while most of their Carter County neighbors were pro-Union. This created a very unpleasant and potentially dangerous situation even in those years immediately preceding the Civil War. 
The Brewers came to Bristol about 1858. They moved into a house at 25 3rd St. and remained there until after the death of Mrs. Brewer on Sept. 9, 1896. It should be mentioned here that 3rd Street, at that time, was considered to be an elite and desirable address. 
Mr. Brewer soon became a prominent citizen of Bristol. First, he was a partner with L. F. Johnson in a produce commission house located between the railroad and Front Street and just north of the depot. For a short time, he served as the local depot agent. 
He was a trustee of the Bristol High School that was soon to become King College. He served on the city council of Bristol, Tenn., and for a while as Bristol postmaster. Along with his many activities and business pursuits, he also operated an insurance agency. Finally he found his real forte in the stove and tinware business. This business prospered to the point that he erected a three-story brick building at 530 Main St. about 1887 or 1888. Here, his firm became known as W. P. Brewer and Sons. Two of his sons worked with him in this business. 
After a long and successful business career, he moved into the home of his son, J.K. Brewer, at 220 Johnson St. in Bristol, Va. He died there in the first room to the right as one enters the front hall on Jan. 29, 1904. He and his wife are buried in Section 1B in our historic East Hill Cemetery.
A son of this family was Samuel N. Brewer who died at the age of 24. Then, Ben Willie Brewer died at age 2, and Vance Brewer died as a baby. The children of whom I am aware, other than those mentioned, were John Alf Brewer (1859-1930) who married Willie Hogue and long lived at 417 Pennsylvania Ave. (the house burned several years ago). 
Willie Hogue was a sister of Sena Hogue who married the noted A. D. Reynolds of Bristol fame. 
Then there was Harriett (Hattie), born 1864, who married Dr. Joseph S. Bachman. Her twin was James King Brewer who was named for the Rev. James King. He was long an insurance and real estate agent with offices at 17 6th St. 
He married Olive Carlock, daughter of the Rev. L.L.H. Carlock who was the third president of Sullins College in Bristol, Va. 
At first, James King Brewer and his wife established their home on Locust Street in Bristol, Tenn. About 1900, they built a fine, late Victorian house at 220 Johnson St. in Bristol, Va. It was while living on Locust Street that their first child was born. This was James Carlock Brewer, born May 26, 1896.  He grew up at the Johnson Street home.
He became well educated and seemed to have a promising future. Then came World War I. He entered service and soon became a 2nd lieutenant in his division. He was killed in the Battle of Belleau Wood on June 11, 1918. 
In 1923, his body was returned here and buried in Section 3 of our historic East Hill Cemetery. It was in his honor that the James C. Brewer Post No. 15 American Legion was named.

BUD PHILLIPS is a local historian and author. He can be reached at (276) 466-6435.