Tyndall, John W. Standard history of Adams and Wells Counties, Indiana. Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company, 1918, pp. 528-9.

JAMES A. BROTHERTON. Widely known and highly respected, not only as a representative agriculturist of Wells County, but as a veteran of the Civil war, James A. Brotherton, of Liberty Township, owns and occupies an attractive and well-cultivated farm lying one mile south and one mile east of Liberty Center. A son of John Brotherton, he was born in Chester Township, Wells County/Indiana, October 23, 1842.

John Brotherton, a native of North Carolina, was taken by his parents to Ohio when young, and there grew up and was educated. Soon after his marriage he bought land in Darke County, that state, and for several seasons was employed as a tiller of the soil. Disposing of his Ohio property, he came to Indiana and bought 180 acres of land in Chester Township, Wells County, where he lived for fifteen years. Selling out then, he went to Wisconsin on a prospecting trip, and on the way home died, his death occurring at Fort Wayne, Indiana. He married, in Ohio, Mary West, who was born in Kentucky. She accompanied him to Wisconsin, and after his death she returned to Wells County and spent her last years in this locality.

In early manhood, James A. Brotherton, inspired by patriotic ardor, enlisted in Company I, Thirty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in which he served bravely for four years, five months and twenty days. Taking part in many battles, he was twice slightly wounded, first at Port Gibson and later at Champion Hill. On February 3, 1866, at Brownsville, Texas, he was mustered out of service, Returning home, Mr. Brotherton began his career as an agriculturist, and is now the owner of a well-tilled and productive farm of ninety-nine acres, well located in Liberty Township, as previously mentioned.

On December 27, 1868, Mr. Brotherton married Elizabeth Penrod, a native of Wells County, Indiana, and of the three children born of their union, none is now living. Politically Mr. Brotherton is a republican, and socially he is a member of Lew Daily Post No. 33, Grand Army of the Republic, an organization in which he is much interested.