The History of Hendricks County (Chicago: Interstate Publishing, 1885)--Middle Township, page 702
James H. Brill, M.D., was born in Fredericks County, Va., Dec. 13, 1843, a son of John H. and Sarah A. Brill. In 1852 his parents moved to Hendricks County, and settled near Belleville, in Liberty Township, where they lived until 1867, then moved to Chariton County, Mo., where the mother died in 1870. James H. Brill was reared on a farm and upon reaching manhood he learned the blacksmith's trade, which he followed about three years. Not liking the business and having early had a desire to be a physician, in the fall of 1868 he entered Asbury University, (now DePauw) where he remained a year, thus laying the foundation for his future life of usefulness. In the spring of 1869 he began the study of medicine with Dr. L.H. Kennedy, of Danville, remaining with him till the fall of 1870, when he entered the Miami Medical College, at Cincinnati, and attended the entire five-months session. The summer of 1871 he spent in Danville with his former preceptor, and the following fall again entered Miami College, from which he graduated in March, 1872. He located in Pittsboro where he has built up a large practice. He is a close student of his profession and is recognized by all as one of the most successful and reliable practitioners of the county. He is a member of the Hendricks County Medical Society, the State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. His residence is just outside the corporation of Pittsboro, where he owns 182 acres of valuable land. He also owns a quarter-section in Nebraska. He has given considerable attention to breeding blooded cattle of the Hereford and Aberdeen Angus varieties, and was the first to introduce the pure breeds in Hendricks County. Dr. Brill was married Oct. 10, 1872, to Alice Alexander, daughter of James P. Alexander. They have two children--Ada, born May 13, 1875, and Ernest, born April 19, 1879. Dr. Brill is a member of the Masonic fraternity; also a member of the Christian church.