The Dawson journal., 1883-10-18

Brlsben, a penitentiary convict t.
day. He was " sent up from Bour
bon for fifteen years for forgery
and had ten years yet to serve
Our readers are familiar with tho
history Of this case, and the bn.
m9no action Of His Excellenc,
VIII be generally commended. -
Frankfort (Ky.) Yoeman.
l Tread this little paragraph and
my mind went back six years.
knew John Brisben, and / AID
knew his twin brother, Joseph
was familiar with the details of
the action that placed John Rris-
ben in a felon's cell, and now.
when the sad affair is brought
back to mind so wildly, I must
write 1t out, for never before have
met, In prose or poetry, in real
or IN romance, a greater hero than
PLAIN, matter-of-fact John Bris-
ben.
The brlsbens came Of good
stock. ] think the great-erand-
father Of my hero einigrated to
Kentucky when Kenton's Station.
between the present city OF Mayg-
vile and the historic old town Of
Washington, was the principal
settlement on the dark and bloody
ground" He came from Upper
Pennsylvania and located about five
miles from the Ohio river, on
Limestone creek. He was an in
dustrious, strong-l mbed, lion
hearted old fellow, and in few
years his surroundings were of
the most comfortable description
One Of his sons, Edwin Brisben.
once represented Kentucky in the
Federal Congress. I think he
was the grandfa her Of John and
Joseph Brisben. Their fathers
name was Samuel and he died
when they were little children.
leaving his widow an excellent
blue grass farm and a snug little
fortune in stocks, bonds and mort
cages. The widow remained single
until her death. Mrs. Samuel
Brisben was a good woman and
she idolized her twin boys. Like
most twins, the brothers resem-
bic each other in a striking man
ner, and even intimate acquaint-
aneas could not tell them apart
But although the physical resem-
biance was so strong there was
great dissimilarity in the disposi-
lions Of the twins. Joseph was
suriy and morose, sometimes cum
ming and reyengful He was with
nj q dreamer and an enthusiast; a
man well learned in books, a bril-
.'ant, frothy taller when he chose
- be sociable (which was seldom }
a splendid horseman, and a good
shot. John Brisben, on the con
eEary, was cheerful and bright
oaarebl al forgjv.ug. FTt
was q man OF high moral princi-
je. inteu y practical and meth
jCa' cared Hstla for b0 Ks, and.
ts.a ush he al bat lit.ie, was g
teuli0 companion He was &
aaar hor5emau, and I don'5 think
la ever shot q gun in his life. Ha
aw nothing Of the poetry Of life
nj as for sport, he enjoyed bjta-
Elf only when at hard work. He
loved his brother, and wheu they
were boys together suffered pun
ishment many times, and uncom-
pIainingly TINT "Jodie" might 60
cot free. His life was, therefore
one constant sacrifice, but the OBJ
ject Of this loving alteration made
but shabby returns for this un-
selfish devotion.
They were % years old when
their mother died very suddenly.
Joseph made a great pretense of
grief, and was SO hysterical at the
grave that he had to be led away.
John, on the contrary, never
demonstratiyo, took the great aillic-
ton with his customary coolnees.
He said but little and shed no
tears.
The property left to the boys
was considerable. The day they
were q years old, the trustees
met and made their settlement.
There was the bluegrass farm,
valued at $4,000, and 100000 in
we'll invested securities which
could be turned into money
Joseph demanded a division.
"4ou can take the farm John,
he said. Il was never cut out for
a farmer. Give me $4,000 IN
money for my share"
So that sort Of division was
made. John continued on at the
homestead, working in his plain,
methodical way, and slowly add
ing to his share of the money what
he could raise out Of the profits of
the farm Joseph with his newly
acquired wealth, set up an estab-
lishment at the nearest town and
began a life Of pleasure Of the
grosser sort. His brother gave
him no advice, for he knew it was
useless. Joseph spent his money
with great prodigality and before
he knew it he was beggar. In
the meantime Johns S25,0go had