The Irish standard., 1900-07-21
BRYAN IS OF OLD STOCK. <
Ancestry OF the Next President 1.
Purely Democratic.

Bryan, was born in Culpepper county,
Virginia, at the base of the Blue Ridge
mountains. He came to Illinois when
youth of Is, settling finally at Salem,
on the edge OF Egypt Here he made a
permanent home, became distinguished
in public life, married and reared a
family, OF whom William Jennings
Bryan was the fourth out of nine sons
and daughters.
The self-made characteristics OF the
elder Bryan have always been pride
to his distinguished son. Silas l..
Bryan, like Lincoln, was railsplitter
and a midnight student OF the law and
Of public history. He preempted a Sec
ton OF land near Salem and by his in
dividual aforementioned wilderness
into one of the finest country places in
the state. He read with avidity, took
a curse of instruction and graduated at
McKendree college in 184o. He was
then Fl. During his college course he
did all kinds of work to pay his expenses
and tuition. He graduated with hon
ors and three years later was admitted
to the bar
The elder Bryan was a Jeffersonian
democrat of the old school, His Vir-
ginian ancestry and early training had
instilled into his mind an aggressive
democratic faith which the culture of
later years strengthened. He became
a power in political debate and was
elected to the state senate in 1882 the
same year in which he was admitted to
the bar. He served two terms, declin-
ing a second nomination. Later he
was elected Judge Of the second judicial
district OF Illinois and served for twelve
years. In 1852 Silas Bryan married
Mariah +. Jennings, who was born in
Marion county, near Salem, in 1894.
Judge Bryan's young bride was from
distinguished family in Marion county.
The house where William Jennings
Bryan was born March 10, 1860, is on
Broadway, Salem. The house was
originally built OF logs, hcwn by the
elder Bryan's own hands. Weather
boards were added aftcrward and the
building now has a modern appearance
The elder Bryan had not finished the
house when sent to the senate, but did
so on his return. A few years later he
began work on substantial brick farm
house about mile east of Salem. This
was the pride Of Judge Bryan's life.
Surrounded by GOO acres of splendid
land, the brick mansion stands 500 feet
back from the road and is approached
by private driveway, lined with six
rows OF naples. Judge Bryan set apart
space for deer park and at the time
OF his death had a fine herd.
1t was on this farm that young
Billy Bryan spent the years Vi his
boyhood. He has little early recollcc-
ton OF the house in which he was born.
having left there when about S years old
and moved to the farm. All of the
Bryan children had the advantage OF a
liberal education. Up,to the time lie
was 10 years old William studied at
home under the tutelage of his father
and mother. He then entered the "old
college OF Salem, remained there
year and aiterward attended public
school. AT the age OF IS he had fin
ished with the Salem schools and went
to Jacksonville, where he attended COL
lege for six years.
At this period of young Bryan's lie
it is said his first ambition was to be-
come baptist preacher He grew out
OF that inclination and early decided on
the profession of law He first en-
tered Whppe academy at Jacksonville
and at once took great interest in public
speaking. His first year showed him
very low in declamatory contest; Junior
year, first prize in oratory. He also
represented Illinois college at Galesburg
i'll the state contest of 1880. taking sec
ond prize with an Grafton on Justice.
His chief sport when a boy was rabbit
hunting and Jumping He is said to be
still fond of both. After his gradua-
ton he won prize for standing jump,
covering IL feet 4 inches.
During vacation season young Bryan
used to return to the old farm and work
with his father and hired help in the
fields or around the big barn. Some
seasons he hired out" to neighboring
farmers, and earned spending money,
which came handy at college. 1t is
related that on one occasion after work
ing all day in harvest field young
Bryan, half exhausted, lay in the shade
OF tree near the farmhouse waiting
for supper. The old farmer happened
along. He looked at the tired young
man moment:
while you are resting. Billy" said
the agriculturist, you might chop a
little wood"
81 made up my mind them" said Mr.
Bryan, that the life OF the hired man
was not so cnviable one as some
novelist had pictured it."
At college young Bryan labored early
and late and mastered Greek and Latin
roots. His college companions re.
member him as hard worker, modest,