The Cash Book of John Brazee, 1841-1844, Ohio

John Trafford Brazee was born in the State of New York, on December 24, 1800. When a mere child he was left an orphan; he had one brother older than himself, and a sister, younger; for a time he and his sister were taken care of by their grandmother.

He acquired his education in the Ohio University at Athens, and studied law with Joseph Dana, one of the professors in the university. After his admission to the bar, he opened an office and commenced practice in the town of Gallipolis. During his course at the university, he accepted a proposition, (the solicitation of Thomas Ewing) to teach a six months' term of school in Lancaster, at $200.00 for the term. During his stay in this place, he formed the acquaintance of Mary Jane Schofield, daughter of Judge Schofield, to whom he was married in November, 1829.

He practiced his profession in Gallipolis until 1833, when he removed to Lancaster. For a period of nearly thirty years he was a member of the Lancaster bar, practicing also in other counties. In 1855, he was elected to the Senate of Ohio, and. during the session of 1856 and 1857, took active part in the perfecting of an act, providing for the establishment of the "Bank of Ohio." He possessed a taste for agricultural pursuits, to which he gradually directed his attention. During the last years of his life, he withdrew from the law business and gave his time to the management of his farm.

In 1878, under his dictation, a sketch of his life was written, and published in the Lancaster Gazette, shortly after his death, October 27, 1880. From its paragraphs we find the following accounts, which we quote for our readers: "In his tenth year he was left under the care of a man by the name of Lane," who, to use Mr. Brazee's terms, "was an ignorant, high-tempered, profane, stupid man. and his wife no better."

This book was purchased from Steve Finer Rare Books in 2000.