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JOHN A. CATHCART
John A. Cathcart, who for many years was a prominent merchant and citizen of Brownville, came to this place in 1828, at the solicitation of his friend and relative, Elizur Fairman, one of the owners of the Brownville cotton factory. Mr. Cathcart was then living in Rochester, New York, engaged in mercantile business. Mr. Fairman wrote his friend urging him to come to Brownville and invest in the “cotton factory,” representing that prospects for making a fortune here were flattering. Cathcart soon succeeded in disposing of his business, and a real estate interest in Rochester, which, if retained a few years, would have made him a fortune. He came to Brownville, invested $10,000 in the “cotton factory,” and used to say “his only return was one bale of sheeting!” He afterwards commenced the sale of dry goods, groceries, etc., at this place, which he continued successfully for Twenty-five years, though many of the latter years of his life an invalid. He died in 1852, leaving his business to his son, W. A. Cathcart, now of Bay City, Michigan.
Transcribed by Holice B. Young from Jefferson Co. History by L. H. Everts.
Copyright January 2000 by Sherrye Luther Woodworth