USA > Illinois > Livingston County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume I Pt 1 > Part 12
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62
GO
HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.
Black Hawk War (1832); in 1835 was elected to the circuit bench, and, in 18-11, was advanced to the Supreme bench, serving less than two years, when he resigned to accept a seat in the United States Senate, to which he was elected in 1843 as the successor of Richard M. Young, defeating Stephen A. Douglas in the first race of the latter for the office. While in the Senate (1843-49) he act ved as Chairman of the Committee on Public Lands, and was one of the first to suggest the construction of a transcontinental railway to the Pacific. He was also one of the originators and active promoters iu Congress of the Illinois Cen- tral Railroad enterprise. He was Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives in 1851; again became Circuit Judge in 1855 and returned to the Supreme bench in 1857 and served more than one term as Chief Justice, the last being in 1873-74. His home during most of his public life in Illinois was at Carlyle. His death occurred at Pinckneyville, June 28, 1878.
BRENTANO, Lorenzo, was born at Mannheim, in the Grand Duchy of Baden, Germany, Nov. 14, 1813; was educated at the Universities of Heidelberg and Freiburg, receiving the degree of LL.D., and attaining high honors, both profes- sional and political. He was successively & member of the Baden Chamber of Deputies and of the Frankfort Parliament, and always a Icader of the revolutionist party. In 1840 he became President of the Provisional Republican Gov- ernment of Baden, but was, before long, forced to find an asylum in the United States. Ile first settled in Kalamazoo County, Mich., as a farmer, but, in 1839, removed to Chicago, where he was admitted to the Illinois bar, but soon entered the field of journalism, becoming editor and part proprietor of "The Illinois Staats Zeitung." He held various public offices, being elected to the Legislature in 1862, serving five years as Presi- dent of the Chicago Board of Education, was a Republican Presidential Elector in 1868, and United States Consul at Dresden in 1872 (a gen- eral amnesty having been granted to the participants in the revolution of 1848), and Representative in Congress from 1877 to 1879. Died, in Chicago, Sept 17, 1891.
BRIDGEPORT, a town of Lawrence County, on the Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern Railroad, 14 miles west of Vincennes, Ind. It has a bank and one weekly paper. Population (1900), 487.
BRIDGEPORT, a former suburb (now a part of the city) of Chicago, located at the junction of the Illinois & Michiga Caual with the South Branch of the Chicago River. It is now the
center of the large slaughtering and packing industry.
BRIDGEPORT & SOUTH CHICAGO RAIL- WAY. (See Chicago & Northern Pacific Railroad.)
BRIGHTON, a village of Macoupin County, at the intersection of the Chicago & Alton and the Rock Island and St. Louis branch of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railways; . 1i mine 1 here; has a newspaper. Population (1850), 691; (1890), 697; (1900), 600.
BRIMFIELD, a town of Peoria County, on the Buda and Rushville branch of the Chicago, Bur- lington & Quincy Railway, 38 miles south of Buda; coal mining and farming are the chief industries. It has one weekly paper and a bank. Population (1880), 832; (1890), 719; (1900), 677.
BRISTOL, Frank Milton, clergyman, was born in Orleans County, N. Y., Jan. 4, 1851; came to Kankakee, Ill., in boyhood, and having lost his father at 12 years of age, spent the following years in various manual occupations until about nineteen years of age, when, having been con- verted, he determined to devote his life to the ministry. Through the aid of a benevolent lady, he was enabled to get two years' (1870-72) instruc- tion at the Northwestern University, at Evans- ton, afterwards supporting himself by preaching at various points, meanwhile continuing his studies at the University until 1877. After con- pleting his course he served as pastor of some of the most prominent Methodist churches in Chi- cago, his last charge in the State being at Evans- ton. In 1897 he was transferred to Washington City, becoming pastor of the Metropolitan M. E. Church, attended by President Mckinley. Dr. Bristol is an author of some repute and an orator of recognized ability.
BROADWELL, Norman MI., lawyer, was born in Morgan County, Ili., August 1, 1825; was edu- cated in the common schools and at MeKendree and Illinois Colleges, but compelled by failing health to leave college without graduating; spent some time in the book business, then began the study of medicine with a view to benefiting his own health, but finally abandoned this and, about 1850, commencel the study of law in the office of Lincoln & Ilerndon at Springfield. Having been admitted to the bar, he practiced for a time at Pekin, but, in 1854, returned to Springfield, where he spent the remainder of his life. In 1860 he was elected as a Democrat to the House of Representatives from Sangamon County, serving in the Twenty-second General Assembly. Other offices held by him included those of County Judge (1863-65) and Mayor of the city of Spring-
6]
HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.
field, to which last position he was twice elected (1867 and again in 1860). Judge Broadwell was one of the most genial of men, popular, high- minded and honorable in all his dealings. Died, in Springfield, Feb. 23, 1893.
BROOKS, John FIavel, educator, was born in Oneida County, New York, Dec. 3, 1801; graduated at Hamilton College, 1828; studied three yons in the theological departinent of Yale College; was ordained to the Presbyterian min- istry in 1831, and came to Illinois in the service of the American Home Missionary Society. After preaching at Collinsville, Belleville and other points, Mr. Brooks, who was a member of the celebrated "Yale Band," in 1837 assumed the principalship of a Teachers' Seminary at Waverly, Morgan County, but three years later removed to Springfield, where he established an academy for both sexes. Although finally compelled to abandon this, he continued teaching with some interruptions to within a few years of his death, which occurred in 1886. He was one of the Trus- tees of Illinois College from its foundation up to his death.
BROSS, William, journalist, was born in Sus- sex County, N. J., Nov. 14, 1813, and graduated with honers from Williams College in 1838, hav- ing previously developed his physical strength by much hard work upon the Delaware and Hudson Canal, and in the lumbering trade. For five years after graduating he was a teacher, and settled in Chicago in 1848. There he first engaged in bookselling, but later embarked in journalism. His first publication was "The Prairie Herald," a religious paper, which was discontinued after two years. In 1852, in connection with John L. Scripps, he founded "The Democratic Press," which was consolidated with "The Tribune" in 1858, Mr. Bross retaining his connection with the new concern. He was always an ardent free- soiler, and a firm believer in the great future of Chicago and the Northwest. Ile was an enthusi- astic Republican, and, in 1856 and 1860, served as an effective campaign orator. In 1864 he was the successful nominee of his party for Lieuten- ant-Governor. This was his only official position outside of a membership in the Chicago Common Council in 1855. As a presiding officer, he was dignified yet affable, and his impartiality was shown by the fact that no appeals were taken from his decisions. After quitting public life he devoted much time to literary pursuits, deliver- ing lectures in various parts of the country. Among his best known works are a brief "His- tory of Chicago," "History of Camp Douglas,"
and "Tom Quick." Died, in Chicago, Jan. 27, 1890.
BROWN, Henry, lawyer and historian, was born at Ilebron, Tolland County, Conn., May 15, 1789-the son of a commissary in the army of General Greene of Revolutionary fame; gradu ated at Yale College, and, when of age, removed to New York, later studying law at Albany, Canandaigua and Datavia, and being admitted to the bar about 1813, when he settled down in practice at Cooperstown; in 1816 was appointed Judge of Herkimer County, remaining on the bench until about 1824. Ile then resumed prac tice at Cooperstown, continning until 1836, when he removed to Chicago. The following year he was elected a Justice of the Peace, serving two years, and, in 1812, became Prosecuting Attorney of Cook County. During this period he was engaged in writing a "History of Illinois," which was published in New York in 1844 This was regarded at the time as the most voluminous and best digested work on Illinois history that had as yet been published. In 1816, on assuming the Presidency of the Chicago Lyceum, he delivered an inaugural entitled "Chicago, Present and Future," which is still preserved as a striking prediction of Chicago's future greatness. Origi- nally a Democrat, he became a Freesoiler in 1818. Died of cholera, in Chicago, May 16, 1849.
BROWN, James B., journalist, was born in Gilmanton, Belkuap County, N. HI., Sept. 1, 1833-his father being a member of the Legisla- ture and Selectman for his town. The son was educated at Gilmanton Academy, after which he studied medicine for a time, but did not gradu- ate. In 1857 he removed West, first settling at Dunleith, Jo Daviess County, III., where he became Principal of the public schools; in 1861 was elected County Superintendent of Schools for Jo Daviess County, removing to Galena two years later and assuning the editorship of "The Gazette" of that city. Mr. Brown also served as Postmaster of Galena for several years. Died, Feb. 13, 1896.
BROWN, James N., agriculturist and stock- man, was born in Fayette County, Ky., Oct. 1, 1806; came to Sangamon County, Ill., in 1833, locating at Island Grove, where he engaged extensively in farming and stock-raising. le served as Representative in the General Assem- blies of 1840, '42, '46, and '52, and in the last was instrumental in securing the incorporation of the Illinois State Agricultural Society, of which he was chosen the first President, being re-elected in 1854. He was one of the most enterprising grow-
62
HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.
ers of blooded cattle in the State and did much to introduce them in Central Illinois; was also an earnest and influential advocate of scientific education for the agricultural classes and an efficient colaborer with Prof. J. B. Turner, of Jacksonville, in securing the enactment hy Con- gress, in 1862, of the law granting lands for the endowment of Industrial Colleges, out of which grew the Illinoi. State University and institu- tions of like character in other States. Died, Nov. 16, 1868.
BROWN, William, lawyer and jurist, was born June 1, 1819, in Cumberland, England, his par- ents emigrating to this country when he was eight years old, and settling in Western New York. He was admitted to the bar at Rochester, in October, 1845, and at once removed to Rock- ford, Ill., where he commenced practice. In 1852 he was elected State's Attorney for the Four- teenth Judicial Circuit, and, in 1857, was chosen Mayor of Rockford. In 1870 he was elected to the bench of the Circuit Court as successor to Judge Sheldon, later was promoted to the Su- preme Court, and was re-elected successively in 1878, in '79 and '85. Died, at Rockford, Jan. 15, 1891.
BROWN, William H., lawyer and financier, was born in Connecticut, Dee. 20, 1796; spent his boyhood at Aulmirn, N. Y., studied law, and, in 1818, eame to Illinois with Samuel D. Lock- wood (afterwards a Justice of the State Supreme Court), descending the Ohio River to Shawnee- town in a flat-boat. Mr. Brown visited Kaskas- kia and was soon after appointed Clerk of the United States District Court by Judge Nathaniel Pope, removing, in 1820, to Vandalia, the new State capital, where he remained until 1835. He then removed to Chicago to accept the position of Cashier of the Chicago branch of the State Bank of Illinois, which he continued to fill for many years. He served the city as School Agent for thirteen years (1810-53), managing the city's school fund through a critical period with great discretion and success. He was one of the group of early patriots who successfully resisted the attempt to plaut slavery in Illinois in 1823-24; was also one of the projectors of the Chicago & Galena Union Railroad, was President of the Chicago Historical Society for seven years and connected with many other local enterprises. He was an ardent personal friend of President Lincoln and served as Representative in the Twenty-second General Assembly (1860-62). While making a tour of Europe he died of paraly- sis at Amsterdam, June 17, 1867.
BROWN COUNTY, situated in the western part of the State, with an area of 300 square iniles, and a population (1890) of 11,951 ; was cut off' from Schuyler and made a separate county in May, 1839, being named in honor of Gen. Jacob Brown. Among the pioneer settlers were the Vandeventers and Hambaughs, John and David Six, William McDaniel, Jeremiah Walker, Willis O'Neil, Harry Lester, John Ausmus and Robert II. Curry. The county-seat is Mount Sterling, a town of no little attractiveness. Other prosperous villages are Mound Station and Ripley. The chief occupation of the people is farming, although there is some manufacturing of lumber and a few potteries along the Ilinois River. Population (1900), 11,537.
BROWNE, Francis Fisher, editor and author, was born in South Halifax, Vt., Dec. 1, 1843, the son of William Goldsmith Browne, who was a teacher, editor and author of the song "\ Hun- dred Years to Come." In childhood he was brought by his parents to Western Massachusetts, where he attended the public schools and Icarned the printing trade in his father's newspaper office at Chicopee, Mass. Leaving school in 1962. he enlisted in the Forty-sixth Regiment Massa- elsetts Volunteers, in which he served one year, chiefly in North Carolina and in the Army of the Potomac. On the discharge of his regi- ment he engaged in the study of law at Roches. ter, N. Y., entering the law department of the University of Michigan in 1866, but abandoning his intenton of entering the legal profession. removed to Chicago in 1867, where he engaged in journalistic and literary pursuits. Between 1869 and '74 he was editor of "The Lakeside Monthly," when he became literary editor of "The Alliance." but. in 1880, ne established and assumed the editorship of "The Dial," a purely literary pub lication which has gained a high reputation, and of which he has remained in control continuously ever since, meanwhile serving as the literary adviser, for many years, of the well-known pub lishing house of MeClurg & Co. Besides his journalistic work, Mr. Browne has contributed to the magazines and literary anthologies a num- ber of short lyries, and is the author of "The Everyday Life of Abraham Lincoln" (1546), and a volume of poems entitled, "Volunteer Grain" (1893). Tle also compiled and edited "Gollen Poems by British and American Authors" (185]); "The Golden Treasury of Poetry and Prose" (1856), and the "Laurel Crowned"series of stand- ard poetry (1891-92). Mr. Browne was Chairman of the Committee of the Congre sof Authors in
63
HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.
the World's Congress Auxiliary held in con- Dertion with The Columbian Exposition in
HROWNE, Thomas C., early jurist, was born in Kentucky, studied law there and, coming to shawnertown in 1812, served in the lower branch of the Second Territorial Legislature (1814-16) and in the Council (1816-18), being the first law- 3. fuenter that body. In 1815 he was appointed Innecuting Attorney and, on the admission of Illinois as a State, was promoted to the Supreme lunch, being re-elected by joint ballot of the legislature in 1825, and serving continuously until the reorganization of the Supreme Court under the Constitution of 1848, a period of over thirty years, Judge Browne's judicial character and abilities have been differently estimated. Though lacking in industry as a student, he is represented by the late Judge John D. Caton, who knew him personally, as a close thinker and a good judge of men. While seldom, if ever, hastomed to argue questions in the conference regn or write out his opinions, he had a capacity for expressing himself in short, pungent sen torres, which indicated that he was a man of con Herable ability and Lad clear and distinct views . f his own. An attempt was made to impeach Lan before the Legislature of 1843 "for want of pacity to discharge the duties of his office," tat it failed by an almost marimons vote. Ile was a Whig in politics, but had some strong suji- Peters among Democrats. In 1822 Judge Browne was one of the four candidates for Governor -- in Our final returns standing third on the list and, by fis idling the vote of the advocates of a pro-slavery : lause in the State Constitution, contributing to the election of Governor Coles and the defeat of th. pro-slavery party. (See Coles, Edbirard, and She ary and Slave Laus. ) In the latter part of his oficial term Judge Browne resided at Ga- lera, but, in 1853, removed with his son-in-law, ex Congressman Joseph P. Hoge, to San Fran- ci-v. Cal., where he died a few years later- probably about 1856 or 1858.
BROWNING, Orville Hickman, lawyer, United States Senator and Attorney-General, was born In Harrison County, Ky., in 1910. After receiv- ... a classical education at Angusta in his native Sono. hir removed to Quincy, Il., and was stnitted to the bar in 1831. In 1832 he served !. !!... Black Hawk War, and from 1826 to 1513, " as a member of the Legislature, serving in both Hum. A personal friend and political adherent "! Abraham Lincoln, he aided in the organization u! the Republican party at the memorable
Bloomington Convention of 195 A ... d. hpoate to the Chicago Convention in 1800, he aided in securing Mr. Lincoln's nomination, and was a conspicuous supporter of the Government in the Civil War. In 1861 he was appointed by Gios- ernor Yates United States Senator to fill Senator Douglas' unexpired term, serving until 1863. In 1866 he became Secretary of the Interior by ap- pointment of President Johnson, also for a time discharging the duties of Attorney-General. Returning to Illinois, he was elected a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1869-70, which was his last participation in public affairs, his time thereafter being devoted to his profession. Tle died at his home in Quincy, Ill., August 10, 1881.
BRYAN, Silas Lillard, legislator and jurist, born in Culpepper County, Va Nov. 4, 1822; was left an orphan at an early age, and came west in 1840, living for a time with a brother near Troy, Mo. The following year he came to Marion County, III., where he attended school and worked on a farm; in 1815 entered MeKendree College, graduating in 1849, and two years later was admitted to the lar, supporting himself meanwhile by teaching. Ho settled at Salem, Til .. and, in 1852, was elected as a Democrat to the State Senate, in which boly he served for eight years, being re-elected in 1856. In 1861 he was elected to the bench of the Second Judicial Circuit, and again chosen in 1567, his second term expiring in 1873. While serving as Judge, he was also elected a Delegate to the Constitu- tional Convention of 1869-70. He was an unsne. cessful candidate for Congress on the Greeley ticket in 1872. Died at Salem, March 30, 1850,- William Jennings (Bryan), son of the preceding, was born at Salem, H1., March 19, 1860. The early life of young Bryan was spent on his father's farm, but at the age of ten years he began to attend the public school in town; later spent two years in Whipple Academy, the preparatory department of Illinois College at Jacksonville, and, in 1881. graduated from the college proper as the valedictorian of his class. Then be devoted two years to the study of hw in the Union Law School at Chicago, meanwhile acting as clerk and studying in the law office of ex-Senator Lyman Trumbull. Having graduated in law in 1883. he soon entered upon the practice of his profession at Jacksonville as the partner of Judge E. P. Kirby, a well-known lawyer and prominent Republican of that city. Four years later (1457) found him a citizen of Lincoln, Neb., which has since been his home. He took a prominent part.
64
HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.
in the politics of Nebraska, stumping the State for the Democratic nominees in 1888 and '89, and in 1890 received the Democratie nomination for Congress in a district which had been regarded as strongly Republican, and was elected by a large majority. Again, in 1892, he was elected by a redneed majority, but two years later declined a renomination, though proclaiming lincolf : free. ilver candidate for the United States Senate, meanwhile officiating as editor of "The Omaha World-Herald." In July, 1896, he received the nomination for President from the Democratie National Convention at Chicago, on a platform declaring for the "free and unlimited coinage of silver" at the ratio of sixteen of silver (in weight) to one of gold, and a few weeks later was nominated by the "Populists" at St. Louis for the same office-being the youngest man ever put in nomination for the Presidency in the his- tory of the Government. He conducted an active personal campaign, speaking in nearly every Northern and Middle Western State, but was defeated by his Republican opponent, Maj. William McKinley. Mr. Bryan is an easy and fluent speaker, possessing a voice of unusual compass and power, and is recognized, even by his political opponents, as a man of pure personal character. .
BRYAN, Thomas Barbour, lawyer and real estate operator, was born at Alexandria, Va., Dec. 22, 1828, being descended on the maternal side from the noted Barbour family of that State; graduated in law at Harvard, and, at the age of twenty-one, settled in Cincinnati. In 1852 he came to Chicago, where he acquired ex- tensive real estate interests and built Bryan Hall, which became a popular place for en- tertainments. Being a gifted speaker, as well as a zealous Unionist, Mr. Bryan was chosen to deliver the address of welcome to Senator Douglas, when that statesman returned to Chicago a few weeks before his death in .1861. During the progress of the war he devoted his time and his means most generously to fitting out soldiers for the field and caring for the sick and wounded. Ilis services as President of the great Sanitary Fair in Chicago (1565), where some $300,000 were cleared for disabled soldiers, were especially conspicuous. At this time he became the purchaser (at $3,000) of the original copy of President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, which had been donated to the cause. He also rendered valuable service after the fire of 1871, though a heavy sufferer from that event, and was a lending factor in securing the location of the
Workl's Columbian Exposition in Chioro ir 1890, later becoming Vice President of the Board of Directors and making a visit to Europe in the interest of the Fair. After the war Mr. Bryan resided in Washington for some time, and, by appointment of President Hayes, served as Com- missioner of the District of Columbia. Possessing refined literary and artistic tastes, he has done much for tho encouragement of literature and art in Chicago. His home is in the suburban village of Elmhurst .- Charles Page (Bryan), son of the preceding, lawyer and foreign minister, was born in Chicago, Oct. 2, 1855, and educated at the University of Virginia and Columbia Law School; was admitted to practice in 1878, and the following year removed to Colorado, where he remained four years, while there serving in both Houses of the State Legislature. In 1883 he returned to Chicago and became a member of the First Regiment of the Illinois National Guard, serving upon the staff of both Governor Oglesby and Governor Fifer; in 1890, was elected to the State Legislature from Cook County, being re- elected in 1892, and in 1894; was also the first Commissioner to visit Europe in the interest of the World's Columbian Exposition, on his return serving as Secretary of the Exposition Conmis- sioners in 1891-92. Iu the latter part of 1897 he was appointed by President Mckinley Minister to China, but before being confirmed, early in 1898, was assigned to the United States mission to the Republic of Brazil, where he now is, Hon. E. H. Conger of lowa, who had previously been appointed to the Brazilian mission, being trans- ferred to Pekin.
BRYANT, John Howard, pioneer, brother of William Cullen Bryant, the poct. was born in Cummington, Mass., July 22, 1807, educated at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N. Y, ; removed to Illinois in 1831, and held vari- ous offices in Bureau County, including that of Representative in the General Assembly, to which he was elected in 1842, and again in 1858. A practical and enterprising farmer, he was identi- fied with the Illinois State Agricultural Society in its early history, as also with the movement which resulted in the establishment of industrial colleges in the various States. He was one of the founders of the Republican party and a warm personal friend of President Lincoln, being a member of the first Republican State Convention at Bloomington in 1856, and serving as Collector of Internal Revenue by appointment of Mr. Lin- eolo in 1862-61. In 1822 Mr. Bryant joined in the Liberal Republican movement at Cincinnati, two
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.