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GEORGE BRAIN, SR., deceased, came from England to America in the year 1829; he left Liverpool in August it a
sail vessel, and was six weeks on the voyage to Philadelphia; there were no ocean steamers then. He came to Philadelphia
expecting to settle in Pennsylvania, but, becoming acquainted with Mr. Jeremiah Warder, who was about settling
in Springfield, he took Mr. Warder's advice and came to Springfield. Mr. Brain's route was by way of New York and
Albany, thence by Erie Canal to Buffalo, and by steamboat from Buffalo to Sandusky, and, as it happened, the last
steamer before the close of navigation for the season: from Sandusky to Springfield by wagon, over a corduroy road,
in some places not very comfortable; the contrast between then and now as to travel is observable. Mr. Brain and
his wife, Mary (Whitehead) Brain, brought with them seven children - Mary, now Mrs. Willard; Joseph J. W., deceased;
Anna, the late Mrs. Green; Lydia and Martha, now living on High street; Lucy, now the widow of Dr. John Stoddard,
who was a surgeon in the Union army, and killed while in that service; George, of whom more hereafter; William
G. Brain, the youngest, is the only American born of the family, now lumber dealer in Springfield. Maria Hipkins
came to America with Mr. Brain, and is yet an inmate of the family, and is now in her 77th year. Mr. Brain purchased
a farm near what was then the village, but now the city, of Springfield, on which he lived till the time of his
death, which occurred March 11, 1851, by his being thrown from his horse against a tree, killing him almost instantly.
He was, as to his religious connection when in England, an Independent, but, finding none of the order in Springfield,
he united with the First Presbyterian Church. and afterward with the First Congregational Church. His wife survived
him more than twenty years, and died in 1872, in the 81st year of her age. The younger George Brain was born in
Staffordshire, England, March 2, 1827; he came with his parents to America, as before stated, in 1829, and has
always lived on the farm, except a year or two when employed in Dr. John Ludlow's drug store. He was married, May
22, 1860, to Sarah M. Willard, daughter of Levi and Sarah (Illen) Willard, in Decatur, DeKalb Co., Ga., at which
place Sarah A. was born July 6, 1839, and where her father had been in successful business many years as a merchant.
His residence is now on North Limestone street, Springfield; too old and infirm to attend to any active business.
Mr. Brain has six children living - Willard, Jessie A., George R, Mary, Bessie and Grace. Alice died in infancy.
Mr. Brain was too young when he left England (only 2½ years old) to have any political opinions, and, in
his growth to manhood, he became thoroughly Americanized; he is a quiet, unassuming gentleman, doing his duty throughout
life in that upright, straightforward manner that has won for him the respect, good will and confidence of a large
circle of the best citizens of Clark County.
From:
History of Clark County, Ohio
W. H. Beers & Co.
Chicago 1881
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