John T. Brotherton

    John T. Brotherton, general merchant, Dundee, Indiana, was born in Preble County, Ohio, November 8, 1838, a son of John T. and Polly (West) Brotherton. John T. Brotherton, Sr., was born in North Carolina in 1800, and when sixteen years of age accompanied his parents to Preble County, Ohio, where he grew to manhood and was married, and in 1840, with his wife and two children, he moved to Indiana and settled in Wells County. In the spring of 1858, they moved to Crawford County, Wisconsin, but not liking the country they returned to Indiana, and located in Allen County, where the father, overcome by discouragements and disease, died in August, 1858. The mother then returned with her family to Wells County, where she passed the remainder of her life. They had a family of ten children, seven of whom were born in Wells County. The eldest died in Preble County, aged one year, and the others in the order of their births are as follows -Sarah A., John T., William, James, George, Hannah, Nancy, Thomas and Eliza. William, James and George were soldiers in the war of the Rebellion, and William sacrificed his life for his country, living but four days after his return home.

    John T. Brotherton, Jr., was reared in Wells County, living there until after his marriage. He was married March 3, 1864, to Miss Abigail Wright, who was born in Clinton County, Ohio, May 30, 1845, a daughter of Jesse and Eliza (Woolsey) Wright. When she was less than a year old, her parents moved to Wells County, Indiana, where her father died. Her mother afterward married again, and is now living in Blackford County with a son of her second marriage.

    Mr. and Mrs. Brotherton have had six children -Emma E., Mary F., Irvin O., Rosa W., James C. and Ada O.

    Mr. Brotherton is a self-made man, starting in life with no means; he has accumulated an ample fortune, and is now numbered among the prosperous business men of the county.

Source: Biographical and Historical Record of Jay and Blackford County, Indiana. The Lewis Publishing Co., 1887, page 873.