Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-02-28
John G. Breslin.


Forty years ago few men were more
prominent in Ohio politics than the
subject Of this sketch, who has just died
in Huntington, West Virginia. Learn
ing the printers trade under the tutel-
age of that nestor OF democratic writ
ers, Sam Medary, in the Office OF the
Columbus MdtesHlen, young Breslin
went to Tifiin in the early Forties and
assumed charge of the Van BIreIlite, a
democratic paper established by Hon.
Henry Cronise, grandfather of Miss
Mabel Cronise, of this city. Shortly after
going to Tiffin, Mr.. Breslin changed
the name of the journal TO the Id
Uertiser, and thus il is that he Is said TO
have founded that sturdy cid paper
which exists to-day as a leading demo-
cratic organ of Ohio. Mr.. Breslin was
a vigorous writer, an energetic, ambi-
tious gentleman, popular with every
body, and strongly like his preceptor,
Mr.. Medary. From lS4S to 1852 he
represented Seneca county in the legis-
lature, and was speaker Of the House
during the forty-eighth general assem-
bly,. In 1851 he was elected treasurer
of state, and was reelected in 1853,
serving until January, 1856, when he
was succeeded by his brother-in-laT,
VIM. III. Gibson, also of Titfin.
The law of Ohio governing the hand
ling of public funds was lax in those
days. The temptation to speculate was
rife, and in quick succession disaster
overlook five treasures of state. Their
names were Bliss, Breslin, Gibson,
Stone and Dorsey. Stone committed
suicide.
Mr.. Breslin operated in western lands
and lost large sums of money. His
friend and speculative partner, Mr..
Gibson, undertook to swing the finan-
cial affairs of the Tiffin and Fort Wayne
Railroad, then building and which,
twenty-five years after, became a part
of the Nickle Plate Road. The two gen.
tlemen became involved, and as Bres-
Inns term of Office drew near its close
it was evident the borrowed state funds
could not be replaced. Mr.. Gibson then
secured the nomination for treasurer Of
state on the republican ticket, in 1866,
and was elected. He and Breslin en-
deavored to make good the deficiency,
which amounted to nearly three-quar-
ters of million of dollars, but were ex-
posed by Salmon p. Chase. who was
then governor of Ohio. Mr.. Gibson re-
signed his office in June, 1857, and Bres-
! lin fled to Canada. Gibson was arrested.
and after much delay was tried upon
the charge of embezzling state funds,
aud was convicted. A new trial was
granted, but before the case was taken
up the war broke out and the defend
ant was granted permission to enlist
and, after the war, should he survive,
stand trial. He led the gallant Forty
ninth o. V. I. to the front and became
one of the bravest officers in the whole
commanded brigade, and was repeat
edly recommended for promotion, but
the malignant hatred of Mr.. Chase fol-
lowed him even to the carnage of battle
and promotion never came until after
the war, when he was brevetteda a brig
adler general.
The war closed, the state prospered,
and in the latter part of the Sixties the
legislature of Ohio passed q law dis
charging both Gibson and Breslin from
financial obligation to the state for the
defalcation, and the criminal cases
were nollied. Mr.. Breslin returned to
this county in 1872 and went to Tiffin
for short visit with old friends. He
was man of generous impulses, keen
ly sensitive of his humilIatation and
shame, and in silence wept tears of re.
morse. He loved his profession, and ia
the writer of this article remarked in
Tiffin the summer of his return, that
"the one longing of my life is to have
my dear old Advertiser back again and
be once more newspaper editor" but
added he, "that can never be, for they
will hound me to death for what ]
have done, and which God knows / did
meaning neither the state nor mar
harm."
Shortly alter returning home he weni
to Huntington, West Virginia, where
he became agent Of the Chesapeake d
Ohio Railroad Co., and in which city
he died. He regularly corresponded
with few friends In northwestern
Ohio and was kindly remembered by
them through all the years of separa
tion. Now that he is gone, they who
are left will think of him; think we'll ot
him for his good points, and will covel
the rest with charity, even as the char
ity of the state was so magnanimously
extended. He was human; humanity
good and humanity bad, but he meant
we'll. Toledo Bee.