Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1865-09-14
JOHN BROUGH.
| BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
[rrom the Cincinnati Gazette ]


= The telegraph has announced the painful
intelligence of the death Of Hon. John
Brough, Governor of the State of Ohio
He has so long occupied a prominent posi-
ton before the public, and his efforts while
Governor toward the suppression of the re-
bellion were so conspicuous, and SO honor
able, as to demand detailed account of his
life. Fi -" M
Els BIRTH AND EDUCATION.
John Brough was born at Marietta, on
the 18th September. 1911. His father,
John Breugh an Englishman by birth,
came to this country in 1906, in the same
ship with Blennerhassett, with whom he af-
teward remained on the most friendly rela-
ton until his unfortunate connection with
the Burr conspiracy. Mr. Brough's mother
was a native Of Pennsylvania, and was
woman of great force of character, and it
was from her that John inherited the strong
mental characteristics for which he was SO
remarkable. He was the eldest Of three
sons, but second in family of five children.
His two sisters still survive him.
The Governor received good common
school education, but his father died in
1922, leaving him, as we'll as the other
members of the family, to depend upon
their own exertions for support. John went
into the printing Office of Royal Prentiss Of
Marietta, setting type but few months,
when he entered the Ohio University at
Athens, where he pursued semitic course
with the addition Of Latin. While here he
worked nights and mornings at his trade
and attended 20 his studies during the day.
o. During this time he is said to have put
up as muchltype every week as a hand con
stantly employed, and kept at, the head Of
every department of study in the college.
He was feet of foot and the best ball play
er at college. In short he displayed the
great energy of character which has made
him so prominent public man. He ac-
auirsd good English and classical educa-
ton.
He studied law in the same manner-with
whom we are unable to learn.
ENTERS THE EDITORIAL PROFESSION.
In 1882 he went to Parkersburg, Va,
where for several months he edited the Ga
zette of that place. He then moved to
Marietta, where he published and edited the
Washington County Republican, a Demo
cratic paper In 1888 he removed to Ian
caster, and purchased the Ohio Eagle, which
he continued to edit with marked ability
until 1888, spending almost every winter in
Columbus, during which time he acted as
Clerk to the Upper House Of the General
Assembly.
.., EXPOSES CORRUPTION.
1t was during this time that he exhibited
great capacity for financial affairs, and he
was taken into the confidence of the old and
well tried leaders of both political parties.
He saw through the corruption Of the Au-
ditor's office, and the tendency Of the denim
ant party toward reputation, securing the
information which enabled him to deneunce
the whole system SO effectually when a
member of the House of Representatives
in 1889.
,-.1.,l ELECTED AUDITOR.
This bold, honorable and manly course
made him, State Auditor in 1889, although
fiercely opposed and threatened by Medary
and Bill Allen, who could not understand
how man could take ground againstthe cor
rupt measures of his own party, even where
the public interests were at stake. But the
best and purest members of the Legislature
of the Whig party voted for John Brough,
and he was elected. Ever afterward Me-
dary and Allen were his bitter, malignant
and uncompromising enemies. Brough con-
tinued to act as Auditor for six years, in
that time perfectly yrevoutionizing the man.
ner Of doing business in that office, and
DultQlDg up an tufidul6 TcpulhtlOu iut CA
ecutive ability and probity of character.
| WHAT HE EFFECTED.
The annual reports Of Auditor Brough
are among the most interesting historical
papers Of the State. They disclose the
confusion and irrespensibility of the bust
mess transactions OF the departments, and
the fearful mismanagement, if not corrup
ton, of the finances. Soon after taking
posssssio9of, bis office, Brough set teiwerk
| to correct the general system OF plundel
practlced in several counties OF the State BY
dishonest and inefficient officials, which wa
encouraged by the system OF special legis
lation then in vogue. He soon had 300 .00l
acres Of canal lands which had been dodg
ing taxation replaced on the duplicate, ant
recommended to the Legislature that tn,
owners be required to pay the taxes for tn
years they had eluded the officers of tn
law. He recommended the rssurvey Of tn
/ Virginia military lands, showing that 10
l single instance in one county, that a iresui
vey of warrant of &, 900 acres had pre-
fdueed nearly $4,000 acres. He showed tha
ip the oountisss of Highland and Fayett
alone, mot less than 80, 900 acres Of Ian
4 were not upon the duplicates which Of righ
4 should be there. He denounced the loos
character of segislation upon the subject 3
school md nipisteriaf leased lands.
striking illustration was offered, which ma
net be uniuterssting to Cinoinnatians.- :