Ohio History Journal

BIRTHPLACE OF JOHN BROUGH.     EDGAR ERVIN. [The following article clears up the disputed question concerning the birthplace of John Brough, one of Ohio's famous war governors. It also presents many interesting events in the life of the governor. Mr. Edgar Ervin, the writer, is the present member of the Ohio House of Repre- sentatives from Meigs county. Mr. Ervin was educated in the country schools, subsequently receiving special training for public life in the Capitol School of Oratory (Columbus), Lakeside Summer School, King's School of Oratory (Pittsburg), and the College of Law, Ohio State University. He was admitted to the bar by the Supreme Court of Ohio in June, 1906, while serving as a member of the 77th General Assembly. - EDITOR.] The wrecking of the old jail just opposite the Court House in Marietta, brings to mind several historic facts of no mean importance. This building was a little more than fifty years old,

having been erected in 1848 on the site of the pioneer Court House which was the first Hall of Justice in the Northwest Territory. The building  was forty-five  feet in length, thirty-nine feet in breadth and two stories high. The walls were three feet thick and were made of double tiers of yellow poplar logs. The front room in the upper story was the court room. It was 40 by 30 feet and lighted by seven win- dows. The two lower rooms were occupied by the jailor and his fam- ily. The jail was in the rear part of

the building, which was very strongly built and from which, it is stated, no prisoner ever escaped. The jury room was in the rear of the second story over the jail. A cupola surmounted the roof in which was hung the same bell that was hung in the (105)

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106      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

succeeding Court House and which has been in use till the

occupancy of the present new Court House.

The theory that John Brough was born in the primitive

Court House has been disputed for the reason that, coupled with

the above statement, the assertion is generally made that his father

was Sheriff at the time. We quote from a Marietta newspaper

issued Friday, June 12, 1863:

"Mr. Brough (John) was born in 1811 in Marietta, in the

old Court House and jail, the dwelling-house part of which was

occupied by his father, John Brough, Esq., who was at the time

Sheriff of the county. The father was a native of England, and

died in 1823, on the 'Cleona' farm just above the mouth of Duck

Creek."

In the issue of Friday, Sept. 11, 1863, appear nearly the

same statements:

"John Brough was born in 1811, in the dwelling-house part

of the old jail, John Brough, Esq., being Sheriff at the time.

His father was a native of England, and died in 1823, on the

'Cleona' farm, and within a short time 'Jack' went to learn the

printer's trade with the late Roal Prentiss in the office of the

American Friend, then being only about twelve years of age."

From the "History of Marietta," by Thos. J. Summers, we

note the names of Sheriffs since 1788:

1788, September, to 1802, Ebenezer Sproat.

1802, September, to 180₃, William Skinner.

1803, September, to 1810, John Clark.

1810, September, to 1812, William Skinner.

1812, September, to 1814, Timothy Buell.

It is readily seen that John Brough's father was never

Sheriff of Washington county. Then what about the authen-

ticity of the article?

If wrong in one particular, then is it wrong in all? Of

course, one will readily admit that it was possible for the elder

Brough to occupy the dwelling-house part of the old Court

House, and yet not be Sheriff. But why should he ever live

in the building, since the records show that he neither was

Sheriff nor Deputy Sheriff at the time of the birth of John

Brough, Jr.?

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Birthplace of John Brough.           107 In searching the old records in the office of the Clerk of Courts, we find the following order on page 184: "Journal of Common Pleas Court of Washington County,

December 17, 1810. Ordered that license be granted to John Brough (Senior) to keep a tavern in the Court House. (Signed) PAUL FEARING, Presiding Judge."

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108      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

 

On page 253 of the same, volume, under date of Dec. 14,

1811, we find where the license is renewed:

"Ordered that the license be issued to John Brough to keep

tavern under the Court House."  This is self explanatory and it

becomes an established fact that John Brough, the "War Gov-

ernor," was born in the old pioneer Court House, and this

place will doubtless soon be marked with a monument erected by

the Ohio Historical Society.

 

JOHN BROUGH.

There came to Ohio the family of John Brough, Sr., from

Maryland, who settled in the valley of the Little Muskingum in

Washington county. It was here that John Brough, the eminent

war governor of Ohio was born in 1811. Brough was a born

executive; strong in physique, resolute of countenance, he pos-

sessed that thorough-goingness and accurate execution which

characterized his administration as governor of Ohio. His type

was that representative of a strong and determined will, and it is

in this particular that he distinguished himself in early life in

College at Athens, in the field of journalism and in the governor's

chair.

Brough attended the Marietta schools, and in early life,

like Ben Franklin, was apprenticed as a printer. It was his ex-

perience in the print shop that gave him such a comprehensive

view of human nature and many facts here acquired by his ab-

sorbent mind, gave him a stock of information which stood

copious draughts during his future career.  He was not a

theorist; his clear logic, apt perception, and open and frank dis-

position, moved him to apply promptly and well his new acquisi-

tion of knowledge. While a student at the University his work

was characterized by zealous effort and diligent research. He

worked in the office of the Mirror during his leisure hours and

thus defrayed his expenses. He was a great athlete, and while

at Athens, tradition has it that he accomplished his greatest feat

by kicking a football over the main building.

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Birthplace of John  Brough.            109

 

 

AS A JOURNALIST.

Brough's executive ability coupled with his natural instinct

for the printing business, made him an ideal newspaper man of

his day. At twenty years of age we find him editing the Western

Republican at Marietta. His maiden issue appeared on the birth-

day of General Jackson in 1831, Jackson being his political idol

at that time. After two years he, with his brother, bought the

Ohio Eagle at Lancaster. This paper made him     a political

leader of the state. He entered politics, but retained his con-

nection with the Eagle, and reported for the Ohio Statesman at

Columbus until 1841, when the Brough brothers bought the

Cincinnati Advertiser and changed its name to the Enquirer.

The paper continued in his hands until 1848. Brough was much

censured by the press at this period; he was criticised politically,

attacked personally, and abused maliciously, but he always

claimed to act on the defensive, and never apologized for the

keenness of sarcasm often resorted to in these conflicts. A hu-

morous incident is told concerning a brief article which ap-

peared in the Louisville Courier-Journal, then edited by G. D.

Prentice, while Brough was editing the Enquirer. Prentice was

having some fun by thus describing his immense avoirdupois:

 

"If flesh is grass as people say

Then Jackie Brough's a load of hay."

Brough, having in mind the numerous criticisms of the

press replied, "That he supposed he was hay judging from the

number of asses that were nibbling at him."

 

PLACE IN HISTORY.

Brough made his formal entry into politics in 1835, when

he was elected Clerk of the Ohio Senate. Robert Lucas was

then governor. Thomas Ewing represented the state in the

national senate, while in the house of representatives at Wash-

ington, Thomas Corwin was becoming popular. Andrew Jack-

son as president had begun his war on the U. S. Bank, while

Thomas Benton, Martin Van Buren, W. H. Harrison, Daniel

Webster, John Calhoun and Henry Clay were among the leaders

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110       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.   in national politics. On the slavery question Brough was con- servative. This was the period when the Abolitionists referred to the national constitution as a "league with hell and a covenant with  death."  Brough's position  is clearly  outlined in  his speeches. During the progress of the war, Brough made a stir- ring speech at Marietta, calling on all loyal citizens regardless of party affiliations, to uphold the administration of Lincoln and suppress the war, concluding as follows: "This country, my friends, is the last hope of freeman throughout the world.  It is the field upon which civilization has

flourished and science began to accomplish its great purpose. The nations and people of the old world are marking its prog- ress from day to day as it enfranchises man from every servitude. And are you going to give it up? Young men can you afford to give your posterity a heritage worse than that which your fathers gave to you?   If you can, you are faithless, not only to your own manhood, but to your God. You are bound to have one country, one flag and one destiny. And what country shall this be? What but the country you had before the rebellion raised its

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Birthplace of John Brough.             111

 

parricidal hand to strike it down. That country with the incubus

of slavery wiped away; a country that, like a weary man who has

lain down by the roadside to rest, has risen again, and is marching

on to its great destiny. What flag, but that which smiles on our

peaceful assemblage today. Stand by it then, let it be the flag

of the Union restored, reared aloft to float forever.  Or, when it

falls, if fall it must, let there be nothing around it but crumbling

walls and nothing above it but the Angel that shall speak the end

of time and the beginning of eternity."

 

BROUGH AND VALLANDIGHAM.

Brough, as candidate, managed his own campaign, and de-

livered many speeches in his telling sledgehammer style. Val-

landigham, his opponent, having been arrested and sent within

the Confederate lines, was forced to rely on his friends to look

after his interests.  The campaign was fierce; men, women and

children attending the public meetings and indulging in heated

discussions, and many times in personal combat. All felt relieved

when the campaign closed. An interesting incident is related

concerning Vallandigham while being conducted through the

Confederate lines. The escort had been traveling almost day

and night, and after having spent the greater part of the previous

night on the march worn and weary, the party stopped for a few

hours sleep.  Vallandigham was called at daybreak and told

that day was appearing and that they must resume their journey,

at which he raised himself on his elbow and said in a dramatic

manner:

"Night's candles are burnt out and jocund day

Stands tiptoe on misty mountain tops."

Here he hesitated; the next line describes the wrathful

feelings of the soldiers for him and comes consecutively in the

poem:

"I must be gone and live or stay and die."

Brough was elected governor by the greatest majority ever

given a candidate at that time and during his official career ex-

hibited many of the highest qualities of statesmanship.

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