The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1896-07-16
WILLIAM J. BRYAN.
A General Sketch Of the Nominees Per-
sonal and Political Career.

william Jennings Bryan, the Democratic
candidate for president. was born March 10,
1850. in Salem, I'll. He was taught under his
mothers care until he was 10 years old, when
he went TO the public school nj Salem, which
he attended for five yeBrs. At the age OF 10
he went the Whipple academy In Jackson
vile. ILL.,, which Is the preparatory depart
ment OF the Illinois college. located at the
same place. He spent two years In the
academy and four years in the college, TAX
ing classical course. He represented the
college In the interstate oratUrical contest In
1850 and was class orator and valedictorian
Ia 1891. lie then went to the Union College
OF Law in Chicago, and while in attendance
there was In the Office Of Lyman Trumbull.
lie left the law school June Is, 1893, and
went TO Jacksonville to practice law, remain
ing at Jacksonville till October, 1887, when
he removed to Lincoln, Neb.. going into
partnership with A. II. Talbot.a classmate OF
the law school. Ho had taken part in
political campaign since 1880 and made "a
number OF speeches. lie took part in the
campaign Of 1883 in Nebraska and was nomi-
mated by the First district for Congress in
1890 He was elected by the majority Of
6,7l3, although the district had gone Repub-
lican by 3 400 when Secretary Morton had
been defeated In 1888 and was though to be
certainly Republican.
lie supported Springer for speaker in the
Fifty-second congress, from whose distrir t
In Illinois he came originally. This led to
his being pnt on the ways and means com
mittee In congress, OF which Springer was
chairman. and on March IT, 1892 he made "a
tarifI speech that was the sensation Of the
day and was literally distributed as cam
paign literature. He was reelected in 1892
In spite OF the fact that the legislature had
redistricted the state IND his district on the
previous election had given the Republican
ticket about g., 900 majority, and was re-elec-
ted bv li0 votes. In the Fifth-third congress
he helped to frame the Wilson btll, being a
member OF the ways and means committee.
and took an especially active part In the In
come tax provisions.
Mr. Bryan IL man Of small means. He Is
II Presbyterian, having joined the Cumber-
land Presbyterian church at the age OF IA.
lie Is now u member Of the First Presbyteri-
al church Of Lincoln. His father was Silas
l.. Bryan, who was "a circuit judge Mt the
time Of his sons birth. and served In that
capacity from 1860 to 1872 on the bench VI
Illinois. Judge Bryan moved on farbl !
short distance from Salem when his sonI VIZ
q years old, and from that time until he',wk
% years old, Bryan spent his summers o.
the farm. In 1872 lhs father ran Tor congress
on the Greeley ticket, and was defeated by
! 250 votes.
His family came from Virginia. Bis father
was born In Culpepper county, in that state
ana died In Salem, H.. In 1850. His mother
whose name was Maria Elizabeth Jennings
was born In Marion county. Illinois. and died
| In Salem week ago last Saturday, after q
| protractcd illness.
The speech OF W. j. Bryan, was one Of tht
remarkable incidents Of the convention. /,
suddenly brought him into prominence as 4
| formidable candidate for the nomination.
The ovation which he received lasted nearly
| 10 minutes. and when II subs,ded Mr.. BryaI
began speech that set the convention wild
and will 90 down In history as one Of th'
most brilliant political orations ever deliver
| ed in a convention.