ALFRED L. BRASHEAR

(From the History of Callaway County Missouri, 1884, page 536-537.)
Transcribed by Kris Breid, 15 September 2004

ALFRED L. BRASHEAR, of Brashear & Ballaseux, dealers in general merchandise, Portland. Mr. Brashear, who is at the head of one of the largest general merchandise houses in the county and is one of the most influential citizens of Auxvasse township, was born in Scott county, Kentucky, on the 9th of September, 1835. His father, Otho M. Brashear, was also a native of Kentucky. His mother’s maiden name was Jenetta Suggett. When Alfred L. was still in infancy, in 1836, his parents removed to Missouri and settled on Coates’ prairie of Callaway County, where his father bought land and improved a farm. There the son grew to manhood and was educated in the common schools of the neighborhood.

At the age of twenty he entered a store in Portland as clerk for W. L. Wheeler, in which he continued for some four years. He and his brother then formed a partnership in merchandising and together they carried on a general store some seven or eight years. Mr. Brashear then sold out to his brother and in 1867 went to St. Louis, where he was engaged for about six or eight months as a traveling salesman for a wholesale house. Returning after this to Portland, he opened out again in business in partnership with Mr. D. C. Arens, and after conducting the store with Mr. Arens several years he purchased his partner’s interest and continued to carry on the store until 1874, when he sold out the business and accepted a position as clerk on a steamboat on the Missouri river. In this he continued for two seasons, and in 1877 he again engaged in business at Portland.

In 1878 he formed a partnership with Mr. Ballaseux and moved into his present building, formerly occupied by Brashear & Lyons. They carry a stock of about $10,000 value and do a very large business, Mr. Ballaseux being in the wholesale grocery trade. So far as goods in this line are concerned, they are able to sell to their customers at prices which can hardly be competed with by other dealers. Mr. Brashear was reared in this township [Auxvasse] from infancy and is personally known to every one in it as a man of unimpeachable integrity, good business qualifications and a kind a accommodating neighbor, so that his personal popularity has much to so in bringing the firm the large trade it enjoys. He has been postmaster, as he still is, for nearly twenty-five years, but not continuously. He has held several positions of local prominence, in each of which he has acquitted himself with credit and to the entire satisfaction of the public.

On the 2d of April, 1861, Mr. Brashear was married to Miss Rosa C. Arens, of this place, daughter of ‘Squire D. C. Arens, and a most amiable and accomplished lady. She was educated at the Sister’s Convent in St. Louis. Mr. And Mrs. Brashear have four children: Albert N., educated at Herman (sic) and in St. Louis, and now clerking for his father; Nettie E., George P. and Adolph. Charles, the second son, is now deceased. Mr. Brashear’s grandfather, Jackson Suggett, was one of the early settlers of this county. He came from Kentucky and died here at an advanced age.

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