The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1872-02-03
Hon. @. H. Brewster.
[From the Monroe Intelligencer.

1t is well-known to our readers that
we are not in the habit of praising our
friends or censuring our enemies un-
less for cause, butwhen we see pub
lie man striving year. after year in the
cause of equal rights and honest gov
ernment, and gaining strength at
every step, because he puts in prac-
tice the principles he advocates, we
feel that we are justified in approving
his course.
We propose to give to our readers a
brief sketch of the life of the man
whose name heads this article.
O. H. Brewster, the newly elected
Speaker of the House of Representa-
tives, was born in Chitaque county,
New York, in the year 1882, and at
the age of six years was taken by his
parents to the State of Illinois, where
he remained, with the exception of a
few years spent in the Rocky Noun
tains, until the commencement of the
late war. Immediately after the first
battle was fought, he left his family
at his residence, in Montgomery coun-
ty, went to Springfield and enlisted as
a private in Company X, 33d Illinois
Infantry, was wounded twice during
his service, and so completely disabled
that it was found necessary to give
him discharge.
On his return home, he was elected
1st Lieutenant, and Immediately after
advanced to the rank of Major of a
regiment, which was held i'll readiness
by the Governor of Illinois, to be used
in case of invasion or disturbance at
home. This position he held until
the close of the war, when he deter
mined, according to desire he had
long felt,, to make his home in the
| South.
He, accordingly, came 20 Louisiana
in the fall of 1865, and engaged in
planting the following year, on the
Culbertson place, Walnut bayou,
Madison parish, in connection with
his brother-in law, Jerome Taylor,
Esq.
Our planters remember well how
disastrous the year proved to the
planting interest, and it left Mr.
Brewster. like thousands of others
with scarcely a dollar to call his own
But while struggling with the incle.
ment season, the children on that and
the adjoining plantations We're not
forgotten. One of his first acts was
to secure the services of a first-class
teacher and open a free school-tht
first ever established in that parisl
for colored children.
Finding himself unable to secure
supplies and pay the rent demanded
for another year, he concluded to re
move to Texas, but while waiting il
New Orleans for boat, he became ac
qnainted with one of the most esteem
ed citizens of Morehouse parish, Rober
Waltman, Esq, and was induced by
him to take charge of his plantation
located five miles from Bastrop, where
he removed with his family early il
the year 1867. The umtimely deatl
of Mr.. Waltman, only few month
after, terminated the engagement, ant
Mr.. Brewster, then, took up his resi-
dence in Ouachita parish.
Reduced to extreme poverty, bu
not discouraged, he went to work witt
determination, well-known to man,
of our citizens. The thought of tax
ing part in politics had never enteret
his mind, and his only ambition wa
to secure comfortable home and hv
ing for himself and family.
The first election under our presen
Constitution came on, one of tn
candidates for Representative wa
killed in Morehouse parish, and, OF
the morning of the election, Mr.. Brew
ster's name was placed upon the tick
ct, and men were voting for him, il
all parts of the parish, before he wa
even made aware of:the fact. Whel
informed what had been done he posi-
lively declined, giving as a reaso1
that an older citizen more able thai
himself should have the honor, and
was with the greatest reluctance tina
he allowed his name~to remain upol
the ticket. After calling to mind th
fact, that the Democratic party wa
running colored man who was un
able to read OF. write Henry Burns)
he concluded to let the work of hi
friends remain, and was, consequently
!, elected by an overwhelming majori
ty.
Soon after taking his seat, he wa
appointed chairman of an importan
committee, and has ever since bee
most active member in the cause @
honesty and justice. Holding to th
good old principle, that legislator
should represent the whole people, h
has constantly used his influence TO
the good of all, without regard t
friends or foes, race or party.