(VI) Romeyn W., son of Thomas Beach Brace, was born in Victor at the old homestead on Brace street, two miles south of the village, November 30, 1846. He was educated in the public schools of his native town, and as a boy and young man worked on his father’s farms, consisting of eighty and sixty-six acres respectively. In 1875 his father and he engaged in the hardware, stove and machinery business in the village of Victor and continued for two years, under the firm name of T. B. Brace & Son. In 1877 the hardware store was sold, but Mr. Brace has continued the other branch of the business to the present time. His store was on the north side of Main street until the fire, after which he located on the south side, and he is one of the most prominent merchants of the town, making a specialty of carriages and agricultural implements of all kinds. He also represents various manufacturers of machinery and has traveled extensively as salesman in western New York and other States. He is agent for the Hydraulic Press Manufacturing Company of Mount Gilead, Ohio, the Road Machinery Company, and other concerns, and for automobiles. In politics Mr. Brace is a Democrat and he has held various offices of trust and honor. As justice of the peace he was member of the town board and magistrate for four years and as town clerk he was in the town board six years. He was clerk of the board of education of the second district for eight years and of the first district four years. For seven years he has been a member of the board of trustees of the First Universalist Church of Victor and he is its president, and for twentyfive years he has been a teacher in the Sunday school and is now (1910) assistant superintendent. He is deacon and a most earnest and active member of the church, which all of his family have attended.
He married, December 11, 1867, Mary E. Alverson, born at Perry, New York, March 2, 1849, daughter of John Lewis and Eliza (Cornwell) Alverson. Her father was born in Eastern New York in 1814, and her mother was born in Dutchess county, New York; she died in 1902; of their eight children, three died in infancy, the others being James W., Thomas Cornwell, Charles T., Emma A. and Mary F. Alverson. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Brace: 1. Romeyn Thomas, born September 10, 1870, married, in 1892, Grace Gourlay; children: Norman G. and Margaret O. 2. Mary B., born December 25. 1872, married, December i i, 1892, Charles Longyear. 3. Leon W., born May 15, 1879, died December 28, 1906.
