Charles H. Brownell  

Charles Henry Brownell Birth Jun 2 1847 Cleveland, Ohio DEATH 25 Nov 1924 Peru, Miami County, Indiana BURIAL Mount Hope Cemetery Peru, Miami County, Indiana, son of Abner Crary Brownell and Eliza Adams Smith

Charles H. Brownell, president of the Citizen's National Bank of Peru, Indiana; was born in the city of Cleveland, Ohio on the 2^d June 1847, and is the son of Abner C. and Eliza (Smith) Brownell.

The father was prominently identified with business activities in Cleveland until 1858, when he came with his family to Peru, Indiana, and here he was for some time associated with his father-in-law Jesse Smith, in the distillery business. He was a man of much initiative and constructive ability and soon gained a position of prominence in connection with the business activities of Miami county. He was on of the organizers of the Citizens' National Bank in 1871, this institution having been the successor of the private banking house of Bonds, Hogland & Company. He attained a large and worthy success and was one of the honored and influential citizens of this section of the state and at the time on his death, which occurred in 1878. He was a staunch supporter of the cause of the Democratic party and prior to coming to Indiana he had served as mayor of the city of Cleveland, Ohio. He was about sixty-five years of age at the time of his death, and of his children, one son and one daughter are now living.

In the public schools of his native city Charles H. Brownell gained his very early training, and he was but ten years of age when came the family removal to Peru, Indiana, where he has since that time maintained his home, save for a brief interval passed in the early part of his life in travel and in residence in Indianapolis. In Peru he continued to attend the public schools until he matric ulated in Amherst College, from which he was graduated in 1871, after which he spent a year and a half in travel in European countries. During that time he gave special attention to the subject of languages, and upon his return he read law under the direction of Hon. R. P. Effinger of Peru. In the fall of 1873 he entered the Columbia Law School in New York, from which he was graduated in 1875. For the ensuing three years Mr. Brownell was in the office of Baker, Hurd, & Hendricks in Indianapolis, and the death of his father in 1878 necessitated his return to Peru. It was then that Mr. Brownell abandoned the practice of law and took up the various business interests of his deceased father. In 1882 he became vice-president of the Citizens' National Bank with which the elder Brownell had long been associated, and in 1883 he succeeded, Dr. C. Darwin as president of the bank, which position he still holds. Mr. Brownell has also been a director of the National Bank of Indianapolis for many years, and also of the Union Trust Company of that city, so that banking and matters of finance generally, occupy, the major part of his time and attention. He was one of the promoters and organizers of the Wabash Valley Trust Company, of which he has served as vice-president since its organization.

Mr. Brownell is interested in the manifesting activities of the city and has always taken an active part in the promotion of railroad interests that would res ult beneficially to Peru, his efforts having been influential in the acquisition of many manufacturing enterprises of the city.

In 1882 Mr. Brownell was married to Miss Augusta P. Erhardt, who was born in New York City and who came to Peru at an early age. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs Brownell, Carrie, who is the wife of the Rev. Edward P. Averill, former rector of Trinity church in Peru, and new rector of a church in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Emma L., who married Robert A. Watson, of Delphi, an honored and talented member of Indiana's brilliant corps of authors. - - History of Miami County, Indiana : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests (Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co., 1914,) pg. 469-70

married 23 Aug 1882 Miami county Indiana Augusta Pauline Erhardt Birth 26 Aug 1859 New York City, New York Death 2 Dec 1927 Fond du Lac, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, BURIAL Mount Hope Cemetery Peru, Miami County, Indiana, daughter of John Erhardt and Elizabeth Bezold Their children:

Carrie Brownell married Rev. Edward P. Averill

Emma L. Brownell married Robert A. Watson

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