Benjamin Brady

Narrative:

     Benjamin Brady was born about 1791 in Virginia.^5,6,7
     Benjamin married Sophia Flora, daughter of Joseph Flora Jr. and Catharine Toot, on 20 Feb 1813 in Halifax Co., Virginia.^1,8,9 Benjamin and Sophia Flora moved to Ohio shortly after their marriage.
     Benjamin appeared on the 1830 Federal Census of Fairfield Twp., Highland Co., Ohio, with a household consisting of one male under age 5 (unknown), one age 5 to 10 (son Walter), one age 10 to 15 (son Barzilla), one age 20 to 30 (unknown), and one age 30 to 40 (himself), one female under age 5 (daughter Angelina), one age 5 to 10 (Elvira), one age 10 to 15 (Arena), one age 15 to 20 (Mariah), and one age 30 to 40 (wife Sophia.)¹²
     Benjamin appeared on the 1840 Federal Census of Fairfield Twp., Highland Co., Ohio, with a household consisting of one male age 15 to 20 (unknown), one age 20 to 30 (son Walter), and one age 40 to 50 (himself), one female age 10 to 15 (daughter Angelina), one age 15 to 20 (Elvira), one age 20 to 30 (Arena), and one age 40 to 50 (wife Sophia.)¹³
     He and Elihu Hiatt operated one of the largest stores in the new town of Centerfield, Ohio, for years.¹⁴ Just when Benjamin left the store is unclear, but by 1840 he was claiming only to be a farmer. He continued that occupation after moving to Missouri.^15,2,3

Moving to Missouri --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     Benjamin and Sophia and their children, including those already married, moved to Missouri between 1840 and 1850. Benjamin and Sophia appeared on the 1850 Federal Census of Marshall Twp., Platte Co., Missouri, enumerated 14 Sep 1850, reporting real estate valued at $4,800. Their children Angelina and Elvira were listed as living with them. There were also three slaves, a female age 25 and two children, ages 4 and 1.^2,16
     Benjamin appeared on the 1860 Federal Census of Marshall Twp., Platte Co., Missouri, enumerated 13 Aug 1860, reporting real estate valued at $3,200 and personal estate of $3,500. His children Arena and Elvira were listed as living with him, as was Arena's son, Paul A. Street. He also reported four slaves, a female age 35 and three children, ages 8, 5, and 3. Sophia was listed in Green Twp. with their son Walter and his wife.^3,17
     Benjamin filed a claim of $550 against the estate of his son Walter. The basis for the claim is not known, but the court, after hearing testimony, allowed it 6 Apr 1863.¹⁸
     Benjamin and Sophia retired from the farm and moved to town by 1870. They appeared on the 1870 Federal Census of Weston, Platte Co., Missouri, enumerated 27 Aug 1870, reporting no real or personal estate owned by him, but $2,000 personal estate of hers. Their daughter Elvira was listed as living with them.¹⁹
     Benjamin died on 1 Jun 1876.¹⁰ He was buried in Laurel Hill Cemetery, Weston, Platte Co., Missouri.¹¹

An Extensive Probate --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     Benjamin died intestate (without leaving a will) and letters of administration for his estate were issued on 8 Jul 1876 in Platte Co., Missouri, probate court to William M. Kruser after his widow relinquished her right to serve as administrator.²⁰
     On 23 Jul 1876 the administrator filed an inventory of Benjamin's estate and an appraisement of his personal effects. The personal effects consisted of a press, bureau, and feather bed appraised at $16; two bed steads, a set of chairs and table at $5; a yearling hufer at $10; and a stack of wheat at $32, for a total of $63. The administrator was authorized to sell the personal effects for not less than their apprised value. The inventory has not been found.^21,22 On 6 Dec 1876 he filed a report to the court that he had sold the press, chairs, feather bed, hufer, and wheat to various buyers for a total of $98, all but the press for more than their appraised value. The sale of the wheat was subject to the cost of thrashing and hauling. He had not been able to sell the bureau, bed steads, and table at the appraised value. He requested and received permission to sell them at the best price he could obtain.²³
     On 23 Oct 1876 the administrator was ordered to purchase "a suitable monument or tombstone" for Benjamin's grave. He was authorized to spend $50 from the estate for it.²⁴ On 28 Dec 1876 he filed an additional inventory of the estate, which has not been found, and an additional appraisement of personal property. The latter consisted of 62 bushels of corn in the shock, appraised for $15.^25,26 He reported on 13 Jul 1877 that he had sold the remaining personal property. He had sold the corn to the Benjamin's widow for $15.50 and the table to her for $2.00. He had also sold the bureau and bed stead for $1.50.²⁷
     On 17 Aug 1877 the court ordered the administrator to pay the widow $150 of the $400 she was entitled to under the law.²⁸ He filed his first annual settlement on 13 Jul, 1877, and a final settlement on 27 May 1878. He reported he had collected a total of $1,954 on behalf of the estate. That included $117 from sale of Benjamin's personal property, $1,542 worth of notes Benjamin had held, and the balance from cash on hand and interest collected. Expenses totaled $460, including $35 for a coffin, the tombstone for $50, $63 to a doctor, and $12.10 to thrash the wheat and haul it to market. The balance was primarily his commission ($98), various taxes, and fees related to probate.^29,30
     On 24 Jan 1878 the court ordered the administrator to pay Benjamin's widow the balance of the $400 she was entitled to. He was also ordered to pay $150 to each of his living children, Angelina, Mariah and Elvira, and an equal share of $150 to the children of his deceased children, Arena, Walter and Barzilla.³¹ On 25 Jul 1878 the court ordered him to distribute the balance shown on the final accounting, $193.33, to be distributed equally to his living children and the heirs of his deceased children.³²