The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-08-22
FOR HIS BROTHERS SAKE.
BY COL. G.. W. SYMONDS.

lnc pONClEOi fiibohSN oOh'
Brisben, a penltentiary convict, to-
day. He was sent up from Bourbon
for fifteen years for forgery, and had
ten years yet to serve. Our readers
are familiar with the history of this
case, and the humane action of his
Excelloncy will be generally com
mended. ."-FranlJort (Ky.) Yeonan
read this little paragraph and
my mind went back six years. |
knew John Brisben, and | also knew
his twin brother Joseph. | was IA
miliar with the details of the action
that placed John Brisben in felon's
cell, and now when the sad affair is
brought back to mind so vividly /
must write it out, for never before
have | met, in prose or poetry, in
real life or romance, a greater hero
than plain, matter of fact John Bris-
ben.
The Brisbens came of good stock.
/ think the great grandfather of my
hero emigrated to Kentucky when
Kenten's Station, between the pres
ent city of Maysville and the histor-
ic old town cf Washington was the
principal on the dark and bloody"
He came from upper Pennsylva-
MIA and located about five miles
from the Ohio river, on Limestone
creek.
He was an industrious, strong
limbed, 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. / think he was
the grandfather of John and Joseph
Brisben.
Their fathers name was Samuel,
and he died when they were little
children, leaving his widow an ex-
cellent blue grass farm and a snug
little fortune in stocks, bonds and
mortgages. The widow remained
widow until her death. Mrs. Samuel
Brlsben was good woman and she
idolized her twin boys. Like most
twins the brothers resembled each
other in a striking manner, and even
intimate acquaintance could not
tell them apart. But although the
physical resemblance was so strong
there was great dissimilarity in the
dispositions of the twins. Joseph
was surly and morose, sometimes
cunning and revengeful. He was a
dreamer and an enthusiast; a man
Kell learned in books, a brilliant,
frothy talker when he chose to be
sociable, which was seldom, splen-
did horseman and most excellent
shot.
John Brisben, on the contrary,
was cheerful and bright, honorable
and forgiving. He was man of
high moral principles, intensely
practical and methodical, cared little
for books, and although he said but
little, was a splendid companion.
He was a poor horseman, and /
don't think he ever shot gun off
in his life. He saw nothidn of the
poetry of lite, and as for sport, he
enjoyed himself only when hard at
work. He loved his brother, and
when they were boys towether, suf-
fered punishment many times, and
uncomplaininglv, that 'Jodie' might
90 scot free.
His life was therefore one constant
sacrifice, but the object of this low
ing alteration made but shabby re-
turns for this unselfish devotion.
They were twenty years old when
their mother died very suddenly.
Joseph made great pretense of
grief, and was SO hysterical at the
grave that he had to be led away by
friends.
John, on the contrary, never dem
took the great affliction
with his customary GOODNESS. He
said but little and shed no tears at
all.
The property left to the boys was
considerable. The day they were
twenty-one years old the trustees
met and made settlement. There
was the blue grass farm valued at
and 100000 in well invest
ed securities which could be turned
into money.
Joseph demanded a division.
"You can take the farm, jack" he
said. 81 was never cut out for
farmer. Giye me SIS, 600 in money
for my share"
So this sort OF division was
made. John continued on at the
homestead, working in his plain,
methodical way, and slowly adding
to his share of the money what he
could raise out of the profits Of the
farm.