About Henry Brother

Born in Frederick, Maryland in 1801, Henry Brother traveled with his family, led by patriarch Valentine Brother, to survey and establish villages of upstate New York.

In 1836 Henry Brother was one of the original authors of Bath.

He drafted the original plan for the village to be “regularly incorporated and completely organized” and he laid out the boundaries in May. “Beginning at Morris Street where the same intersects a road leading to the old race-course…”. (McMaster, Guy H. 1853.)

Bath’s first elected officials included men who became long-time family friends, spouses, business partners, and political connections: the Gavsevoorts, the Smeads, the Lyons, and Whitings. Civil War Marine Charley Brother, the youngest son of Henry, would later run through the neighborhood and enjoy their drama and liar benching; they enjoyed his.

Charley Brother was raised to be proud of its village, now the county seat of Steuben County, named after Captain Fredrich Wilhelm Von Steuben, who wrote the disciplinary code – A Manual of Arms – and who helped George Washington focus his frustrated troops. Von Steuben served in the state assembly as Valentine Brother did.

For this historic business of incorporation in June 1836, Henry and the other older boys of Bath went to the home of A. R. Gould, Sr. Gould was the hotel keeper for the landmark tavern, the Clinton House. Henry was elected treasurer. Soon after, Henry Brother ran for sheriff and won. This was in 1837 but he also served another term as sheriff.

“for Steuben was nothing if not Democratic, as that term was then understood – and it was only when the Democratic brethren were not in harmony that a Whig had the least prospect of success at the polls.

It was, indeed, a great political event when that popular gentleman, Henry Brother, made is first winning contest for Sheriff.”

(The Painted Post. Oct 30, 1837)

A business man and church elder, he also helped establish the Steuben County Agricultural Society. He died in 1887 and is buried in the Grove Cemetery in Bath, NY.

Letter to Charley Brother, USMC

November 4, 1862

Dear Son,

I write this in the expectation it will be the last letter you will receive from home before you leave on your cruise.

As you may well suppose this is an occasion of deep concern to us and will cause in us a lively interest in the movements of your ship. I am afraid you are not well prepared for a voyage and enclose you here four dollars for the purpose of enabling you to procure such little comforts as you may want & wanting and in that way use up all your earnings

You must at any rate, curb and control your appetite for superfluities and you will soon learn to live on the rations furnished you with comfort.

It would be well to provide a little memo book in which to write out a journal of your cruise which will be interesting to look over afterwards.

You should have some reading for your voyage and if yourself and messmates should each purchase a different book the whole would afford an amt. of reading sufficient to while away the hours which otherwise might hang heavy on your hands.

I know not whether there is any chance for preferment in your department of the service, but if there is, it can only be obtained by merit & proficiency in your duties. So it behooves you to exert yourself to the upmost & be prompt and punctual in the discharge of your duties. Remembering your duty first of all to your God. Read your Bible and peruse your prayer Book daily and let your motto, while in the service, be God & your Country.

We learned yesterday of the death of Maria Goodspeed which leaves Aunt Rice quite alone.

I am obliged to close in order to send this by by the young ladies who go down to see you & their more particular friends off. Goodby, God Bless you.

Yours Affectionately, H. Brother.

Smith, C. Carter. 1964. Two Naval Journals, 1864, at the Battle of Mobile Bay: the Journal of Mr. John C. O'Connell, CSN, on the C.S.S. Tennessee, and the journal of Pvt. Charles Brother, USMC, on the U.S.S. Hartford. Chicago: Wyvern Press of S.F.E., Inc.