Complex sentence: Following in the footsteps of his father, Birney became a freemason upon his return to Danville and a member of Danville's town council, making him a "member" of the town's social elite.
Split into simpler sentences: Following in the footsteps of his father, Birney became a freemason upon his return to Danville. He also became a member of Danville's town council, making him a "member" of the town's social elite.