Although now living retired, Albert M. Brotherton has been an active factor in the building interests of Piqua, his native city, where he was born on the 16th of October, 1844. His father, Philemon Brotherton, was born in Onondaga county, New York, in 1815, and when a boy of ten years came with his parents to Ohio, the family locating in Hamilton county, where he remained until 1829,--the year of his arrival in Piqua. Here he was engaged in the manufacture of brick until 1852, when he retired from that department of labor. For some years he was engaged in the cooperage business, employing from five to six hands and shipping the barrels manufactured to Cincinnati. Subsequently he conducted a grocery and produce business until 1885, when he retired to private life, having gained a handsome competence as the result of his careful management and well-directed labors. He continued his residence in Piqua until called to the home beyond at the age of seventy-nine years, and was one of the most highly respected citizens. In early life he gave his political support to the Democracy, but at the time of the civil war he transferred his allegiance to the Republican party, with which he affiliated until Grant's second term, when he returned to the Democracy. He was cemetery trustee for six years, but never desired office, preferring to devote his time and energies to his business interests, in which he met with splendid success. He was an active member of the Presbyterian church, and his aid was given cheerfully and largely to every movement which he believed would prove of public benefit. His father, Abel Brotherton, was a native of Syracuse county, New York, and with three brothers he came to Ohio in 1800. He was a soldier in the war of 1812 and was afterward granted a pension by the government. He died at the advanced age of ninety-six years, after fifteen years residence in Miami county. In politics he was an active Democrat. He belonged to one of the old families of the country, although there is no authentic records extant concerning its establishment in this country. On the maternal side our subject is descended from one of the old families of Pennsylvania. His mother, who bore the maiden name of Nancy Morton, was born in Erie county, Pennsylvania, and came to Logan county, Ohio, with her parents during her early girlhood. They removed to Miami county about 1836, and here the parents of our subject were married. Mrs. Brotherton spent the remainder of her life in Piqua and survived her husband only twenty-three days, dying at the age of eighty-five. She was an active member of the Presbyterian church and a lady whose many excellencies of character commended her to the friendship and regard of all with whom she came in contact. She had two children: Albert M., and Frank P., who is just eight years younger than his brother, and is now foreman in the lumber yard and planing mill here.

Albert M. Brotherton spent his boyhood days in Piqua and attended the public schools. He left the high school before he was eighteen years of age to enlist, on the 5th of September, 1861, as a member of Company K, First Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which he served for three years and one month. He took part in a number of important engagements, including the battles of Shiloh, Pittsburg Landing, Perryville, Stone River, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge and Atlanta, and on the expiration of his term of service was honorably discharged at Nashville, Tennessee, on the 24th of September, 1864. He was captured at the battle of Stone River, but was only held as a prisoner for about an hour, when he was recaptured by Union cavalry troops. He sustained four slight flesh wounds, but was always found at his post of duty, faithfully performing every task assigned to him.

Mr. Brotherton was not quite twenty-one years of age when he returned from the war with an honorable military record, which many an older veteran might well have envied. He afterward attended a commercial college in Indianapolis, Indiana, and later entered upon his business career in the capacity of bookkeeper. He then sold lumber for several years and followed the millwright's trade in Ohio and eastern Indiana in connection with his father-in-law, Peter Weaver. He was thus engaged for several years, and then began contracting and building on his own account in Piqua, erecting the South street and North street school houses, remodeling the opera house and rebuilding the Frank Gray Woolen Mill. He also built an addition to that plant and erected many of the dwelling houses of Piqua, building thirty-five in one year. He has charge of the Investment Company here and owns considerable property in Piqua, together with a valuable farm of two hundred acres in Mercer county. His business career was a very active one, in which indolence and idleness were at no times manifest. On the other hand energy, perseverance and enterprise are numbered among his chief characteristics and have contributed in large measure to his success. In 1896 he retired to private life and is now enjoying a rest which he richly merits.

On the 26th of December, 1867, Mr. Brotherton was united in marriage to Miss Anna Weaver, daughter of Peter and Susan (Tunyson) Weaver, who removed from New Jersey to Miami county, Ohio, at an early day. Her father was a millwright and worked in the lock mills here. Mrs. Brotherton was reared in Piqua and is widely known in the city. She belongs to the Presbyterian church, and Mr. Brotherton is very generous in his contributions to its support. In politics he is a Democrat and is active in working for his friends who desire office, but has never sought political preferment for himself. He served on the central committee of the county for seven years, and, as every true American citizen should do, feels a deep interest in the success of the principles which he advocates. He belongs to both the lodge and the encampment of the Odd Fellows society, in Piqua, and to the Improved Order of Red Men. He is also a member of Alexander Mitchell Post, G.A.R., of which he has served as commander. Although he inherited his father's estate, he has added largely to it, his powers of management enabling him to greatly augment his capital, until he is to-day one of the most substantial citizens of Miami county. His business methods have ever been straightforward and honorable, and well does he deserve classification among the representative men of the city.