The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1896-07-11
mK nrMocnAr1c LnAprn.
Life ketch of Hon. william j. Bryan, the
Presidential Nominee.

Lilc kctCh OF Hon. william y. Bryan, the
Presidential Nominee.
Mr3ryau was born March 10, 1850, In Salem,
Ills iu WINS taught under his mothers care
untihp was 10 years old, when he went 20 the
publ school at Salon, which he attended for
five ars. At the age of Is he went to the
Whipic academy in Jacksonville, Ills, which
Is tn preparatory department of the Illinois
collc' located at the same place Hc spent
two 9ars in the academy and four years in the
colloa taking a classical course. He repre-
sent,. hi4 college in the Interstate oraturiral
contat In 1880, and was class orator and vale
dictoian in 1851 He then went 10 the Union
CollCe of Law in Chicago, and while In attend
anco there was in the Office Of Lyman Trum-
bull
Hceft the law school Juno IL, 1888, and went
to Jacksonville to practice low, remaining there
till Ctober, 1851 when he removed TO Lincoln,
Neb. going into partnership with A. r. Talbot
a clasmate Of the law school He had taken
part n political campaigns since 1880, and made
a number Of speeches. He took part IN the
campaign Of 1883 in Nebraska and was nomi-
natet 10 represent the First district in congress
in 1870. He was elected by the majority Of 6,7l8,
although the district had gone Republican by
AGO when Secretary Morton had been de
featd In 1883, and was thought to be certainly
Republican. He supported Springer for speaker
In the Fifty-second congress-, from whose dis
trict In illinois he came originally. This led to
his being put on tho ways and means commit
tee n congress, Of which Springer was chgir
speech that was the sensation OF the day and
was literally distributed rs campaign litera-
ture, He was reelected In lS92, In spite Of the
fact that the legislature had redistrcted the
state, and his district in the previous election
had given the Republican ticket about 600
majority
In the lfty-third congress Mr.. Bryan helped
20 frame the Wilson bill, being member Of
the ways and means committee and took an
especially active part in the income tax pro
visions. At the close of the debate on the in
come tax in congress, replying TO Bourxe
Cochran, Aug. II, lS93 at the special session
delivered three hourss speech against the re-
peal Of the Sherman law, this speech being
more largely circulated than the tariff speech
had been. He also spoke In favor of the bill to
coin the seigniurage and spoke against Carlise's
currency policy, rs also against Cleveland S
gold contract with the Rothschilds.
In 1894 he became a candidate for the United
! States senate, and announced that no would
not be n candidate for the lower house of CON
| gress. He was nominated for United States
! senator in the Democratic convention, and the
! Populist candidate in his district was indorsed
| by the Democrats for the house of representa-
! tives The ensuing state legislature being Re
| publican, John M. Thurston, was sent 20 the
! senate and the Republican candidate in his
/ former congressional district, j. b. Strudo, was
/ elected by 5000 majority. During all three of
/ the campaigns he challenged the opposing can
/ didato TO a debate, and several discussions We're
| held.
After his retirement from congress he took
up the practice of law in Lincoln again, but the
4 silver campaign opening he found TINT the calls
| upon him for speeches and campaign work Were
| 50 frequent that he was forced TO give up his
| practice In September, 1894, he became the
| editor-in-chief of the Omaha World-Herald
| and had control Of its editorial policy on stat,
and national questions.
Mr.. Bryan Is u man of small means He was
married oct. l, 1854, to Mary Baird, of Perry
his, who attended the female academy in
Jacksonville when he was In the other school at
the same place, and who graduated the sam,
week that he did and was also the valedictoriar
of her class. She studied law and was admitted
to the bar, without any idea Of practicing, but
simply 10 be more thoroughly companionabl,
to him. She is year or two younger than he
Three children have been born to Them Ruth
10 years old; William J., Jr., about 7, ant
Grace ..
Mr. Bryan is u Presbyterian, having ioinet
the Cumberland Presbyterian church at tn,
age OF H. He il now a member of the Firs
Presbyterian church Of Lincoln His fathe
was Silas L. Bryan, who was "A circuit judge a
the time Of his sons birth, and served in tina
capacity from 1850 TO 1872 on the bench Of Iii
uois Judge Bryan moved on a farm IA shor
distance from salem WhGn ms son was year
old, and from that time until he was % year
old Bryan spent his summers on the farm, Il
1872 his father ran for congress on the Creole
ticket and was defeated by 2lO votes. His fam
lily comes from Virginia His father was bor
in Culpepper county in that state and died il
Salem, HIS, in 1850. His mother, whose nam
was Maria Elizabeth Jennings, was born i
Marion county, Illinois, and died in Salem,
week ago last Saturday, after a protracted il
| ness.
In appearance Mr. Bryan is impressive, hi
face indicating intellectually and power a
well as good nature. There is a notable al
seuce of the boyish look seen in the picture
and Autographs of him which have been circJ
lated. He is affable and kindly in manner, ca
lily approachable, and does not lack dignity, 1
appearance he is an illustration of the fac
, that some men ore never accorded Justice by
picture, which in his case does not prepare on
for the expression Of keenness shown in hi
face