Joseph T. Brashear

    Joseph T. Brashear, Mayor of the city of Madison, is a native of Washington County, Pennsylvania. Was born May 10, 1832. His parents were Basil and Margaret (Trotter) Brashear, who were born in Steubenville, Ohio, and Claysville, Pennsylvania. His father was a tailor by trade. His mother died when he was three years old.

    Mr. Brashear received only the education afforded by the common schools of the county.

    In 1848 he removed to Steubenville, Ohio, where he commenced the trade of blacksmithing, and worked there until 1851, when he came to Madison, Indiana.

    He continued at his trade here, and started in to work for J. S. & R. E. Neal, foundrymen, for whom he worked up to 1860. In that year he, with others, began the steamboat building, at which he continued until 1865, when he went into partnership with Mr. A. Campbell, in the manufacture of steam boilers, and remained in this for three years.

    In 1868 he, with John W. Vawter, engaged in the manufacture of agricultural implements at N. Madison for four years, at which time he sold out his interest and engaged again in blacksmithing as foreman for Cobb, Stribling & Co., foundrymen, in Madison.

    In May, 1875, he made the race for mayor of Madison on the Democratic ticket, beating the incumbent, Alexander White, 157 votes. Served for two years, when he was re-nominated, and ran against Captain Powers whom he defeated by 474 votes. This was the election of 1877. In 1879 he again made the race for mayor, this time against John W. Linck, and was elected by forty-two votes.

    In 1881 he was defeated in the Democratic Convention for the nomination, and Mr. S. J. Smith, a Republican, was elected. In 1883 the Republican re-nominated Mr. Smith, and the Democrats nominated Mr. Brashear, and he was elected by 183 majority. In 1885 he was again nominated as a candidate by the Democrats, and defeated Mr. John Pattie, Republican nominee, fifty-five votes. in 1887, ran again, his opponent being Capt. H. B. Foster, who he beat by a majority of twenty-four.

    September 3, 1853, he was married to Miss Nancy Conaway, of Madison. They have eight children.

    He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and Knights of Honor. In ten years he has been absent but two times from meetings of the City Council.

Source: Biographical and Historical Souvenir for the counties of Clark, Crawford, Harrison, Floyd, Jefferson, Jennings, Scott and Washington, Indiana. By John M. Gresham & Co., 1889.