New-York tribune., 1907-11-30
OBITUARY.
x.Iuneg yAMgs 3. eRApwsLL.

Chicago. Nov 29-Ex-Judse James B. Bradwell
one of Chicagos most distinguished pioneers. died
to-day at the home of his daughter. Mrs. F. A
Helner in this city. Until weeks ago he had
continued 10 take an active interest in the man
agement OF THE Chicago Legal News OF which
he publisher. He a law partner Of John
l. Beveridge when Mr. Beveridge was elected Gov
ernor of Illinois
Judge Bradwel served as president Of the Union
League Club. president of the Chicago Bar As
sociation president of the Illinois Bar Association.
president of the Chicago Press Club, and president
OF the convention held in Cleveland which re-
suited IN the formation OF the American Woman
Suffrage Society.
James B Bradweu was born in Loughborough,
England. April Is 1928. and was brought TO this
country by his parents in the following year. After
spending four years in Utica n. Y, Thomas Brad
well, the father took his family TO Illinois settling
first in Jacksonville and later IN Wheeling Cook
County. about twenty-five miles from Chicago.
The son was brought UP on typical frontier farm
OF those days getting his education in log cabin
schoolhouses. At the age of fourteen he went TO
Chicago, and supported himself by carpentering
and other manual labor while attending Wilson's
Academy. then in basement at Clark and Wash
ington streets. From there he went to Knox Col
lege. Galesburg. H. but the necessity of earning
his living compelled MIN 70 leave before completing
his course
He soon began TO study law in Chicago, and in
1852 he married Miss Myra Colby, of Schaumberg
Township Two years later he admitted to the
bar, and nine years thereafter elected judge OF
the Cook County Court serving two terms OF four
years. He was member Of the Legislature from
1873 to 1877.
Shortly after his marriage his wife took Up the
study of law. with a view to helping her husband
in his practice. She passed the necessary exam
nations. and was the first woman in the United
States TO apply for admission to the bar Her ap-
plicaton was refused by the Supreme Court OF Illi
nois. and she sued out a writ of against the
State of Illinois in the Supreme Court of the United
ST. tes The decision adverse to her but IN
1871 the state court voluntarily receded from its
position and gave her certificate Of admission TO
tho bar her original application.
In 1870 Mrs. Bradwell founded The Chicago
Legal News" and conducted It under a special
charter from the state. After the death OF Mrs.
Bradwell in 1894. the publication was continued by
her husband, with the assistance of his daughter
Mrs. Bessie Bradwen Hemer,
During the Civil War Judge Bradwel carried on
a unique work for the Union by of his
Home Defence Association" which consisted Of
himself and a heavy official seal They were
potent however. in driving hundreds Of Southern
syrnpathizers. or 'Copperheads,' receipt OF i'm
posing looking letters, 10 Judge Bradwelrs office
and there taking the oath Of allegiance 10 the
Union. He also took leading part in the organ
ization and conduct Of the Sanitary Fair in Chi
cago and was a founder and thereafter a director
OF the Chicago Soldiers Home. His partnership
with Governor Beveridge formed immediately
after his retirement from the bench In 1853 Judge
PradweII was prominently identified with the move
ment for equal rights 10 He also
greatly interested in photography. inventing
process for making halftone cuts He was Re
publican in politics and a thirty-thrd degree