U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Brake, James R. ------------------------------------------------------------------- History of Ritchie County by Minnie Kendall Lowther Wheeling News Litho. Co., Wheeling W.Va., 1911 Page 578 James R. Brake was long a conspicuous figure in the business circles of this community. He, with his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Bush Brake, came from Lewis county to Bone creek, where they resided for a number of years before the Civil war, in which he served as a soldier. Shortly after the close of this struggle, he came to the old homestead here and formed a partnership with Thomas Baker in the mercantile business. They later changed their place of business to Pennsboro, where they dissolved partnership; and Mr. Brake returned here and continued in this business until his death, when his sons took charge. The store has been closed for several years now, and the old homestead is owned by John M. Summers, though occupied by Town Brake, who married Miss Vira, daughter of Mr. Summers. Mr. Brake was at one time a member of the County court and was widely known in business circles, as are his sons. Several of his children died in childhood, but the surviving ones are as follows: A. Steele, and H. W., reside in the far West; Wirt, at Buckhannon; Pitt G., at Parkersburg; and Town, at the old home. ------------------------------------------------------------------- (son of James R. Brake) From Death Certificate, Ritchie County, WV #1309 FULL-NAME: Mr. James Townsen Brake - "Town" BIRTH-DATE: April 6, 1870 BIRTH-PLACE: Berea, W.Va. DEATH-DATE: January 16, 1926 (at age 55y-9m-10d) DEATH-PLACE: Pennsboro, Clay District, Ritchie County, WV MARITAL-STATUS: Married (Alvira Brake) OCCUPATION: Hotel Mgr, employed FATHER: James R. Brake (born in W.Va.) MOTHER: Elizabeth A. Bush (born in W.Va.) CAUSE-OF-DEATH: Influenza / Pneumonia INFORMANT: Helen Brake (of Pennsboro, W.Va.) BURIAL: Mason Cemetery, Pennsboro, W.Va. His tombstone is in Mount Harmony Masonic Cemetery, Pennsboro, WV J. T. Brake (1870-1926) ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Ritchie County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/ritchie/bios.html -------------------------------------------------------------------