John Brazee cash book

John Trafford Brazee was born in the state of New York on 24 December 1800. He was orphaned as a child and 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. While still at the university, he accepted a proposal by Thomas Ewing to teach a six months' term of school in Lancaster, at $200.00 for the term. While there he met Mary Jane Schofield, daughter of Judge Schofield, whom he married in November 1829.

He practiced law in Gallipolis until 1833, when he removed to Lancaster. For nearly thirty years he was a member of the Lancaster bar, practicing also in other counties. In 1855, he was elected to the Ohio senate and during the 1856 and 1857 session participated in writing the act that established the Bank of Ohio. He had an interest in agriculture and during the last years of his life withdrew from his law business and devoted his time to the management of his farm.

In 1878, he dictated a sketch of his life, which was published in the Lancaster Gazette shortly after his death on 27 October 1880.