Civil War Veteran. Info taken from Missouri death cert and obit.
On July 12, 1861, when twenty one years of age, he enlisted in the Union Army, from Adair County, MO, as a private in Company A, 14th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Thompson and Colonel John M. Palmer. Her served three years and three months. He was in the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, the siege of Corinth, and Vicksburg, the battle of Champion Hill, and was with Sherman in his raid on Meridian and on the famous march through Georgia. He was honorably discharged at Chattanooga, TN, on Aug. 24, 1864. Thomas's brothers were in the Confederate Army. For 57 years, according to Mrs. K. L. Urban, Thomas was out of contact with his brother, then there was a glorious, tear-filled family reunion, when most of them were in their 80's. On 27 Oct 1867, Thomas Alexander Brashear married Laura Lavanche Garson, born Aug. 29, 1849, Three Rivers, Michigan, daughter of Oren and Evaline "Wooley" Grason, who had immigrated to Adair County, MO, in 1862. Thomas and Laura began their married life in Buchanan County, MO, removed to Nodaway County, MO in 1887, and purchased the first lot sold in the town of Parnell, MO. For six years, Thomas was a butcher; then turned to farming and buying and shipping stock. On Jan. 19, 1898, he was appointed Postmaster of Parnell, under President McKinley. (From the book, "A Brashear(s) Family History", by Charles Brashear.)

The children of Thomas Alexander and Laura Lavanche Grason Brashear are:

1. Charles C. Brashear, born Nov. 22, 1868 and died Jan. 12, 1873, age 4.

2. Franklin B. Brashear, born Feb. 14, 1871 and died Nov. 12, 1895, age 14.

3. Lewis W. Brashear, born May 25, 1873 and died Dec. 19, 1876, age. 3.

4. Anna E. Brashear, born March 29, 1875, married George W. Korell, lived in Andrew County, MO.

5. Rosa A. Brashear, born Oct. 30, 1878, Married Charles C. Evans, of Parnell, MO.

6. Willie A Brashear, born June 21, 1881 and died 1884, age 1.

7. George W. Brashear, born Oct. 18, 1883 and died 1884, age 1.

8. Benjamin H. Brashear, born Nov. 17, 1888. Lived in Savannah, MO.

9. Cecil Mark Brashear, born Jan. 10, 1895, and died 1896, age 1.

Original obituary appears in Moberly Monitor-Index (Moberly, Missouri) 25 Feb 1931

Parnell, MO - Wednesday, Feb. 25, 1931 - (AP) - Funeral services were held on Thursday, Feb. 26, 1931, for Thomas A. Brashear, who built the first building here in 1887. He was a Grand Old Army of the Republic Civil War Veteran and served 17 years as postmaster here. Mr. Brashear died Monday, Feb. 23, 1931. He was 90 years of age at his demise and interment was in The Parnell Cemetery. (Original obituary was rewritten to conform to Findagrave Rules by Record Hunter.)