My Genealogy Hound

HON. CHARLES B. BROCKWAY was a man who in life attained an enviable position, and who, since his death, is remembered as a courageous, generous and honorable man. He was a son of Burban and Lois A. (Bostwick) Brockway, and was born in Ontario county, New York, December 6, 1810, and died December 4, 1883. The earliest mention of the representatives of this family in America, Wolston Brockway, is found in the town records of Lyme, Connecticut, where it is stated on December 3, 1659, he purchased housing and land from John Reynolds, then living at Norwich, Connecticut, but formerly of Lyme. From Wolston Brockway came the Hon. Chas. B. Brockway. Burban Brockway was born in Lyme, Connecticut, March 1, 1767, being the youngest of a family of ten children. His father and several of his older brothers served in the Revolutionary war. Burban Brockway began a sea-faring life at the age of eighteen years, and when twenty-three years of age he married Lois Anne Bostwick, of New Milford, Connecticut, and located at Catskill, New York, where he left his family while he followed his chosen occupation. In 1797 he removed his family to Ontario county, located in the wilderness, and commenced clearing up a farm with the idea of following an agricultural life; but in 1813 he removed to the town of Ripley (then Portland), Chautauqua county, and located on a tract of land of which he held possession until his death, and it still remains in the family. This property is located one mile east of the village of Ripley, and there Mr. Brockway lived until his death, which occurred September 2, 1861. He was a member of the Episcopal church, and on the organization of St. Paul’s church at Mayville was elected its senior warden. Mr. Brockway reared a family of four sons and five daughters, of which our subject was the youngest.

Charles B. Brockway removed with his parents to Ripley, Chautauqua county, in 1814, and at their arrival the land was covered with dense woods. But meager educational facilities were at hand, and the better part of his knowledge was obtained after he had attained manhood. His childhood and youth were passed in the usual manner incident to the early pioneers. Mr. Brockway was a constant reader, and his mind was practical. He took an active part in the preservation of the Union during the civil war, devoting all of his time and much means in enlisting volunteers from his own and adjoining towns, and aiding them to secure equipments. In 1838 he was elected a member of the Board of Supervisors for Chautauqua county, and held that office for thirteen years, part of the time as chairman of the board. Although at that time but twenty-eight years of age, he showed extraordinary ability and good judgment in conducting the affairs of the county, and familiarized himself with all her needs. When he abdicated this position, he was elected associate judge of the county, and at the end of his term of office was made a justice of the peace, which office he held for fourteen years. His administration of those offices was highly satisfactory, and had it not been for his natural modesty and desire to avoid the turmoil of public life, he would have been elevated to more distinguished positions. Mr. Brockway was a man of strong moral convictions, which gave him a standing among his neighbors and attracted their confidence, and his services as a counselor and conveyancer were much sought after. He was a regular attendant at church and a liberal supporter of every public enterprise, whether religious or secular, that had for its object the public weal. Hon. Charles B. Brockway was the friend of the poor, the widow and the fatherless, and their appeals to his liberality were always met with substantial responses.

He married Rachel Rebecca Sterrett, a daughter of David Sterrett, who was a representative of one of the old and respected families of the Keystone State. Their union was blessed with the following children: Mary S., who married Hon. James M. Williams, May 21, 1882, — a lawyer of Cleveland, Ohio, who for two years was a member of the Ohio Assembly, where he was the recognized leader of the Democracy; he has edited one edition of the statute laws of Ohio, and revised several others; Martha, who died when thirteen years of age; Charles B., now living in the town of Ripley, thoroughly identified with local politics and a well-known republican; David S., died in infancy; Belle R., also died in infancy; and Frederick, born July 20, 1854, and on September 15, 1877, married Emma L. Cushman, a daughter of Leverett and Ann (Wilson) Cushman; they have three children, — Byron, May and Fred.