Channing Webster Brandon

CHANNING WEBSTER BRANDON.

Channing Webster Brandon, president of the Columbus Mutual Life Insurance Company, was the organizer of that large concern, whose stock is held by over six hundred representative citizens throughout the State of Ohio, located in every county in the State and comprising over one hundred physicians, one hundred merchants and manufacturers, the same number of bankers and clergymen, numerous farmers, and men engaged in various other occupations. When this company was organized it was with the thought of benefiting the next generation and those coming later, as well as of giving the people safe insurance at lowest cost, for they do not pay enormous salaries to a few officers of the company. This company was organized to establish a co-operative commonwealth that would place the policy holders' interests first, carry out the highest ideals, practice the Golden Rule and furnish the most of the best insurance for the least money. Insurance men have year by year brought their business to a scientific basis, and all intelligent persons may know whether or not the policies offered them are prepared on a fair basis. Such a company as the one here described is of great benefit to those who avail themselves of the opportunity it offers. Mr. Brandon is responsible more than any other for the success of the enterprise and has given his best efforts in this connection.

Mr. Brandon was born December 11, 1858, at Marion, Ind., third child of Thomas A. and Susanna (McCullough) Brandon, both now deceased. The father was a clergyman and for some fifty years presided as pastor of various churches in Darke county. He was born near Versailles, Darke county, and died in 1896. The mother was born near Addison, Miami county, Ohio.

The Brandon family originally came from Ireland. The father of James M. Brandon was also named Alexander and was born in York county, Pennsylvania, March 13, 1748. He was a private in General Washington's army and was promoted to sergeant and received his pay in the depreciated paper money that was issued by the Continental Congress which went so far below par in its value that the by-word, "not worth a Continental," expressed the lowest possible value one could imagine. He was the son of an immigrant known as Scotch-Irishman, who located in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, in the first half of the Eighteenth century. It appears that they remained in Pennsylvania until after the close of the Revolutionary war and that Alexander had several brothers, one of whom was Jonathan. On Monday, April 19, 1773, Alexander Brandon married Elizabeth Mabinette, who was born on Sunday, June 11, 1749. (It seems that some of the descendants have her name Elizabeth Robinette, but our authority says this is a mistake and that Mabinette is correct.) Alexander and Jonathan Brandon seem to have moved to Preston county, West Vrginia, in 1786. Jonathan located where Brandonville, which was named for him, now stands. His house was the very first built there and later on one room was used as a store.

Alexander located on the north side of Sandy Creek between Bruceton and Hazleton. his farm being the one now owned by John Matlick. In West Virginia Alexander Brandon became the first colonel of the One Hundred and Fourth regiment of State militia and held that position until one year before his death, which took place on the anniversary of his birth, March 13, 1813. His wife, Elizabeth, passed away April 14, 1792. Of their four sons and six daughters all went to Ohio except William and Hannah. One of these was James M.

Brandon, the grandfather of Channtng Webster Brandon of this review.

Rev. Thomas A. Brandon was one of the early teachers of Darke county, where he became well known later for his work in the interests of the Christian church. He was drafted for military service during Civil war, when men were being secured for the purpose of stopping Morgan's raid, but it was necessary for him to serve only a few days. He was highly respected and held in high regard by all. He and his wife had four children.

In boyhood Mr. Channing W. Brandon attended several different schools, beginning his education at the age of five years in the public school at Montgomery, Hamilton county, and later attending the public schools of Stringtown, Lebanon, Troy, Yellow Springs, Williamsport, Bellefontaine, Dayton, Jamestown, Ohio, and Union City, Ind., where his father was preaching. At the age of sixteen years he left school and took a position with his brother in the grocery business in Bellefontaine, remaining there a year and a half. Later he taught school in Darke county, the first year three miles east of Union City, the second year seven miles north of that town. He returned to Bellefontaine and for two years was employed there as a bookkeeper, after which for three years he conducted a book and stationery business there on his own account, after which he entered the line of work in which he has since been engaged. He moved to Greenville on February 4, 1884, remained there until 1893, and during this time was working in the interests of the Union Central Life Insurance Company. He went to Dayton in the interests of the same company, remained there about ten years, and in June, 1903, located in Columbus. He began the organization of the Columbus Mutual Life Insurance Company in 1906 and by April, 1908, was writing insurance in the same, being president of this growing enterprise from the start. He has offices in the Wyandotte building and both Mr. Brandon and the company he represents stand well in business circles. He has always displayed great energy and executive ability in conducting his business affairs and has shown good business sense in his methods of procedure.

On September 18, 1877, Mr. Brandon married Miss Josephine S., daughter of William Archard, who has been county commissioner of Darke county. Her grandfather, David Mauzy, served as a member of the Ohio Legislature from Darke county and died at the Neill House, Columbus. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Brandon: William T. is married and has two children, Margaret J. and William Webster; Harry P. and Mary Josephine, unmarried; Archard, who is married and has no issue.

In politics Mr. Brandon is independent, believing it right to elect the man to office who is best fitted to serve the interests of the people, regardless of politics. He is a member of First Church of Christ, Scientist, and also of the Masonic Order, having joined the latter at Greenville in 1886. The family have a pleasant home at 118 Miami avenue, Columbus. They are well remembered in Greenville, where they lived several years, and have many friends there.

As printed in History of Darke County, Ohio (1914). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.