Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1922-07-21
Jacob N. BIenaman Dies In
The Swanson HEADQUARTERS

Jacob n Brenaman, Secreta ~ of
the Democratic State Central Com
mittee for the past fifteen years,
and one Of the best known men in pub
lie life in Virginia, was found dead Sum
day morning in Murphy's Hotel, Rich
mond. Coroner Whitfield decided that
his death was due to heart trouble,
from which he had long been sufferer
That he had premonition that death
was not far off is indicated by the fact
that he recently visited Hollywood
Cemetery with a view of selecting a
lot for himself.
Mr., Brenaman was found dead by
Joseph Rye, a clerk in the Swanson
hea dquarters When Mr.. Rye arose
at $50 A. NJ. he was found dead
Death had evidently come peacefully
while he slept, MIR, Brenaman had
been Deputy Insurance Commissioner
OF Virginia since 1906 when the bureau
was created. He was born at Mt. Scion
in Augusta County on January 10, 1854
He remained on his fathers farm until
he was sixteen years old. Later he
engaged in the real estate and insurance
business In 1887 he was elected Chair
man OF the Democratic County Com.
mittee Of Shenandoah holding HE
position for several years.
SERVICE tn HOUSE
He was appointed clerk Of The Finance
Committee Of The Virginia House Of
Delegates II 1855, serving II that eapa:
city Until 1900, eAeePt during the con
stltHtianal convention Of 1852, when he
was Assistant Secretary Of the eenVen.
ton, Ia 1910, he was appointed Dele
gate by Governor Mann TO 60 to WASH
ington and notify Claude A. Swanson
of his appointment to fill the unexpired
term Of the late John w Daniel in the
United States Senate. In the same year
he was appointed as Delegate to the
international Tax Convention held in
Milwaukee. In 1895 he was Democratic
nominee in Shenandoah County for the
House Of Delegates, but was defeated
in the general election by an indepen-
dent Democrat, who was endorsed by
the Republicans. He was secretary of
the Democratic state Conventions in
1908, 1912, 1916 and 1920.
In 1903, he wrote the history of Va.
Conventions, covering field which
had hitherto never been touched In
1902 he elaborated with John Garland
Pollard in revising the code of 1887 SO
that the Legislature might be better
able to adjust the law to the new con-
This work was completed in
the remarkably brief period of three
weeks. There was one thing in Mr..
career of which he was
orouder than anything else. This con-
sisted of his achievement in building
1ew bridge over the Shenandoah river
in 1901, when the condemning of the
I'D bridge cut off the town of New
Market and large number of farmers
It Shenandoah and Rockingham County
rom the B. &: 0. Railroad. Largely
through his individual efforts and in I
tative he succeeded in raising sufficient
unds to erect magnificent single
pan bridge after both counties baked
t replacing the old bridge. He was
FAMED chairman of the building com
nittee, and his name was engraved on Ii
he bridge. II
Mr.. Brenaman was never married. IL
'esides his brother living in Richmond,
e is survived by another brother, S.H.
'renaman, of Moscow, Va, and three
listers, Mrs. R. M. Houss, Mount Scion
[rs. c. T. Caldwell and Mrs. C. C.I.
eed, both of Moscow. h