Othnal Minter Brassfield
First white settler of Wright County - contributed by John W. Brassfield
This is the way this pioneer of Wright county usually wrote his name.... either M. or Minter Brassfield.... but
his daughter informs us that his true name in full was Othnal Minter Brassfield. The title "Major" is
a misnomer, he never having served in any military capacity, other than accompanying a detachment of soldiers over
the prairies of Wright county to Ft.Dodge, in the early fifties; after that he was dubbed "Major". Minter
Brassfield, of Liberty township, who died many years ago, arrived in that township on August 12,1854. Mr. Brassfield,
William Stryker, of Troy township, and William S. Montgomery, of Liberty township, were the first of the pioneer
band who located in what is now Wright county. All came with families within a few weeks of one another. Mr. Brassfield
settled on a farm, where he spent the remainder of his days. He was a native of Claiborne county, Tennessee, where
he was born in 1811. His father, George Brassfield, and his wife, Mary, removed from Tennessee to Randolph county,
Missouri, where the father died. His wife, Mary, later came to Iowa, whit her her children had moved and lived
with them for a time, but finally returned to Missouri, where she died. George Brassfield and wife had nine children,
who grew to manhood and womanhood. Minter Brassfield was the oldest of the family. He had lived in Wright county
from its earliest settlement and saw it wonderfully transformed into a rich, well developed farming section before
his death. Died: Feb.1,1896 Goldfield,Wright County,Ia. Probate of Othnal Minter Brassfield, Names and addresses
of the heirs as far as known. Lucy Brassfield RYAN....Meacham,Oregon, The heirs of Lyday Brassfield GUILLIAMS,
deceased, names unknown. Living in Klamath Falls,Oregon. Emma STRATTON only heir of Sevilla Brassfield, deceased.
Washta, Cherokee Co., IA. Aaron R. Brassfield sold and transfered his share and interest to T.L.Knight of Goldfield,
IA.
A. P. Brassfield....Livermore, Iowa. Lucinda Brassfield HANN...Goldfield, Iowa.
The heirs of George Brassfield, deceased are as follows: Minter Brassfield, somewhere in British Columbia. William
Brassfield, somewhere in British Columbia. Cornelia Brassfield WHITMAN, Goldfield,Iowa. The heirs of Tolman Brassfield,
deceased are: Frank Brassfield, Boice City, Idaho, Jared Brassfield, Boice City, Idaho, Lillie Brassfield BROWN....Jessie,Idaho,
Almedia Brassfield CROSS...Jessie,Idaho. The above are the only heirs of the late O.M.Brassfield. signed ....O.C.McIntosh,
administrator Probate undated.
There was never a Jessie, Idaho that I can find. It was probably meant for Boise as that's where I have found this
family. Livermore, in Humboldt Co.,Iowa. Meacham, in Umatilla Co.,Oregon. In another small pamphlet printed in
1870. History and Business Directory of Wright Co. Ia. LIBERTY township-Major Minter Brassfield is the pioneer
settler of this township, and is acknowledged by all as the first settler in the county. It is very interesting
to sit and listen to the Major narrating some of his hunting expeditions on his first settling on the Boone, for
it was by this means the tables of all the early settlers were supplied wih meat. We spent a short time in the
Major's company, in our tour around the county, and must acknowldge that we were completely surprised to find a
man of such rough exterior, possessed with such free and fluent conversation and such profound knowledge. It was
in 1854 that the Major settled on the Boone (River), and the following year he built a saw and grist-mll, this
being the first in the county. LIBERTY (town). This town was laid out in 1855, by Major Brassfield and his brother
A.D. Brassfield (NOTE: Anson D. Brassfield m. Elizabeth. He was the first county treasurer and recorder of Wright
Co.,Iowa. His wife Elizabeth donated a half acre for a cemetery.) The latter gentleman building the first house
on the town site. In 1858 a spendid two-story building was erected for a court-house, for which purpose it was
used until 1865, when the county seat was moved to Clarion. The first marriage celebrated in Wright County was
that of Alexander Usher and Lucy Ann BRASSFIELD, who were married by Judge Dean on 27 Dec.1855. The removal of
the courty seat to Clarion, which took place in 1866, had a tendency to somewhat hurt the business of Liberty,
but being surrounded by a beautful and well settled country, it yet carries on a good trade. NOTE: Liberty, no
longer exists. Goldfield, became the main town just across the river from Liberty. The Major lived at the mouth
of the Boone River, before settling in Wright County.
-contributed by John W. Brassfield jbrass@foothill.net
son of Morgan E. Brassfield
son of Cora M. Lamson
daughter of Lucy Ann Brassfield
daughter of Othnal Minter Brassfield
a pic and a short bio of Major Othnal Minter Brassfield, my gg grandfather at:
http://www.foothill.net/~jbrass/genealogy/brassfield/pics/OthnalMinter.jpg
