Stephen R. Brayton, president of the Citizens National Bank of Poland in Herkimer county, former president of that village, an active and influential member of the local Chamber of Commerce and in other ways one of the leading men of affairs of that pleasant village, is a native son of Herkimer county and has spent his life there. He was born in the town of Newport, June 9, 1869, a son of Warren A. and Frances (Brayton) Brayton, both of whom also were natives of Herkimer county, born in the town of Newport, and whose last days were spent in Poland.
The late Warren A. Brayton was born on October 10, 1841, and was a son of Smith and Candace (Martin) Brayton, both of whom also were born in the town of Newport, members of old families there. Warren A. Brayton grew up to the life of the farm but later became engaged in commercial pursuits in the village of Poland, became one of the organizers of the Citizens National Bank of that place and at the time of his death was president of the same. He owned several farms in the vicinity of Poland and was a man of substance. He also took a proper part in local civic affairs and for some time served as a member of the board of supervisors of Herkimer county from the town of Newport. He died in Poland on September 14, 1909, and his widow survived him for something more than twelve years, her death occurring in the village of Newport, on October 6, 1921. They were the parents of four children, those besides Stephen R. of this review being: Nellie B., born on October 25, 1867, who married Ralph D. Willoughby (now deceased) of Poland; John W. Brayton, born on March 8, 1873, who married Lena Nugent of Newport and has long been a resident of Pasadena, California; and Ida D., born on January 14, 1878, wife of Dr. Willington H. Merryman of Poland. Dr. and Mrs. Merryman have a son, Warren Merryman.
Reared in Poland, Stephen R. Brayton supplemented the schooling received in the high school there by a course in Eastman's Business College and in 1890 became a bookkeeper in the Citizens National Bank of Poland, a sound financial institution with which he ever since has been connected and in the service of which, by successive promotions, he has risen until now he occupies the responsible position of president of the bank. Mr. Brayton is a republican and for several years rendered effective public service as president of the board of his home village. He is president of the Poland Free Library Association and is one of the active members of the local Chamber of Commerce, earnestly interested in and identified with all proper movements having to do with the advancement of the interests of that village and the community at large. He and his wife are members of the Baptist church and he has been for years a member of the board of trustees of that congregation. Mrs. Brayton (Jennie A. Judson) is a daughter of Sherman and Julia (Wade) Judson and also is a member of one of the old families of the Mohawk valley.