George Francis Brady Sr. (1831 - 1911)

Born Jan 1831 in County Galway, Ireland

Died 14 Jul 1911 at age 80 in Norwalk, Huron, Ohio, United States

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Biography

Private George Brady Sr. served with the United States Army during the Mexican-American War
Service Started: 18 Jan 1847
Unit(s): Company A, 11th US Infantry
Service Ended: Sep 1848

Captain George Brady Sr. served in the United States Civil War.
Enlisted: 15 Sep 1861
Mustered out: 9 May 1863
Side: USA
Regiment(s): 42nd Ohio Infantry, Company E;103rd Ohio Infantry, Company H;

George was born in 1831, there is a dispute over the actual date. One source says 19 January and his tombstone says 31 January. George served in both the Mexican War and the Civil War. He rose to the rank of Captain of Company H of the 103rd OVI during the Civil War until he had to resign because of health issues on 9 May 1863. George moved to Norwalk in 1875 and in 1889 he was elected to the State Senate. He passed away in 1911.

• On. Feb. 13, 2019, the curator of the Firelands Historical Society, in Norwalk, Ohio, sent information that the Society has the cigar store Indian, made of wood and plaster in the 1860s, that George F. Brady, and then his son, displayed at their cigar store in Norwalk. The son then sold the business to Mart Haas and Pete Zipfel, possibly prior to 1906. Haas and Zipfel were still in business in 1937.

Biographical Sketch

CAPTAIN GEORGE F. BRADY

The city of Norwalk, Ohio, can boast of no better citizen than Captain Georg-e F. Brady, and the Diocese of Cleveland has few better Catholics than is he. To know him is to respect him.

He was born at Eyrcourt in the county of Galway, Ireland, January 19, 1831. His father, Mr. Martin Brady, married the daughter of a wealthy English family. Her maiden name was Miss Jane Banbury. She was disinherited and disowned by her family and friends because of her matrimonial alliance with "a mere Irish Catholic." In consequence, when their son George, the subject of this sketch, was in his seventh year, they emigrated to the United States, taking up their abode in Cecil county, Maryland, where they remained two years, and where the elder Brady passed away.

The family then removed to Wilmington, Delaware, where later young George was indentured to learn the business of a tobacconist. In 1847, when in his seventeenth year, he enlisted in Company A, 11th U. S. I., and served bravely during the Mexican war. In 1849 he re-enlisted in the U. S. Dragoons and remained in the regular army until 1854. Returning to civil life, he located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he was married to Miss Ellen L. McNamee by the Rev. Father Cantwell in St. Philip Neri's Church, August 4, 1854. He was then well acquainted with the present Rt. Rev. Bishop of Cleveland, who, at the time, was a youth attending the local schools.

Mr. Brady remained in that city until 1858, when he removed his family to the town of Elyria, Lorain county, Ohio. On the breaking out of the War of the Rebellion, in 1861, he enlisted as first lieutenant in the 42nd O. V. I., the late President Garfield's regiment. He served with his regiment until 1862, when he was transferred by Governor David Tod to become captain of Company H, 103rd O. V. I. He remained actively at the front until June 9, 1863, when disabilities received in the line of duty forced him to resign his command.

Returning to Elyria to recruit his shattered health, he remained there for some time. He then visited Philadelphia, and finally decided to make the city of Norwalk, Ohio, his home. He removed there in 1875, and has since been identified with the j)lace. In 1889 he was elected as a Democrat to the State Senate and served with distinction in the 69th General Assembly. He is now a member of the Norwalk board of equalization and revision, and, although in his seventieth year, is most active and energetic.

Mrs. Captain Brady died in Norwalk, August 29, 1897. The three children born to Captain and Mrs. Brady are: Anna, who is Mrs. Thomas Dowd, of Oakland, California; Martin B., residing at Oakland, California; and George F., Jr., who is engaged in business in Norwalk. Captain Brady's ancestors for seven hundred years suffered persecutions for faith and country in Ireland. His grandfather, Bartholomew Brady, was engaged in the rebellion of 1798, and was brutally treated after he was taken prisoner by the British at the battle of Ballinahinch. The Captain is full of their patriotism, fire, and love of liberty. He is both a soldier and a statesman, and on every occasion has exhibited the courage of his convictions. He esteems physical fear as the "virtue of slaves," while an unjustifiable right-about-face he regards as cowardice both physical and moral. He is most decided in character, is tender of heart, and loyal to faith, to country, and to friends. In all respects he is a manly man who may always be found in the open, fighting under the fiag across whose folds are inscribed his principles and his convictions, which, in political life, are those of .-\ndrew Jackson: "Equal rights to all and special privileges to none."

In matters religious, and touching Church discipline. Captain Brady is a soldier in his faithfulness, obedience, and bravery. He is devoted to the cause, is prompt in fulfilling commands and in carrying out instructions, while in the battle against vice and in behalf of virtue he almost anticipates the orders of his General. His humility is not inconsistent with his bravery, nor is his readiness to obey at all in conflict with his intelligence. He is a faithful, practical Catholic, is generous in support of religion and education, and at all times gladdens the heart of his pastor by his exhibition of good will, and his soldierly zeal for God's honor, the spread of religion, and the salvation of souls.^[1]

103rd OVI Memorial Foundation

The 103rd O.V.I. is a private organization whose members are all direct descendants of the veterans of the 103rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry. We are always discovering new members; if you believe that you might be a member please contact us. We will check our records; if you are a descendant you are welcome to join us for the entire week of our annual reunion. [1]

Sources

1. ↑ Carr, Michael W. "The History of Catholicity in Northern Ohio and in the Diocese of Cleveland" Volumne II. Cleveland: J.B. Savage Press, 1903.

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/75425666/george_f-brady: accessed March 28, 2024), memorial page for George F. Brady Sr. (31 Jan 1831–14 Jul 1911), Find a Grave Memorial ID 75425666, citing Saint Mary Cemetery, Norwalk, Huron County, Ohio, USA; Maintained by William Stark (contributor 46521610).

• The National Archives in Washington, DC; Washington, DC, USA; Historical Register of National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, 1866-1938; Series: M1749

• Year: 1900; Census Place: Norwalk, Huron, Ohio; Roll: 1288; Page: 6; Enumeration District: 0032