****************************************************************************
File contributed to the Fulton County ILGenWeb Project
Copyright 2008, all rights reserved.

These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format 
without the written consent of the author at http://fulton.ilgenweb.net.

****************************************************************************

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County
Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, 1890

****************************************************************************

The Biography of Lewis C. BREEDEN 

Pages 337-338, transcribed in full by Danni Hopkins 

[Surnames: BREEDEN, HANDEE, STONER, WERTMAN] 

    
LEWIS C. BREEDEN is prominent in the social, literary and political life of this county as editor of the Lewiston [sic, Lewistown] News, a journal ably conducted in the interests of the Democratic party; and as Secretary of the County Central Democratic Committee. He is a native of the county, born in Woodland Township, October 14, 1861. His paternal grandfather, Lewis Breeden, was a native of Virginia, and from there during some period of his life he went to Indiana, and thence came to Illinois in 1848, and located among the pioneers of Pike County. He now resides in the village of Summum, in this county, and is seventy-eight years old. His life-record has been such as to secure him respect and esteem from all who know him. His wife, who is the stay and comfort of his declining years, was a native of the State of New York, and her maiden name was Anna Handee. 
    
John H. Breeden, the father of our subject, was born in the pioneer home of his parents in Indiana. He was young when he accompanied them to Pike County, this State, and there he was reared on a farm. He was a studious lad, eagerly taking advantage of every opportunity for securing an education, and while yet in his teens taught school. He was ambitious to become a doctor, and at the age of twenty-two commenced the study of medicine and became a student of Rush Medical College, of Chicago. At the close of his medical education he established himself in Summum, and has been in active practice there since, and is one of the leading physicians of the county, standing deservedly high in his profession. 
    
The maiden name of the mother of our subject was Sarah Stoner. She was born in Ohio, and is a daughter of Joseph Stoner. The wedded life of herself and Dr. Breeden has been one of mutual happiness and contentment, and has been blessed to them by the birth of three children, whom they have carefully educated and trained to useful and honorable lives, whose names are as follows: Harvey O., Lewis C. and Dollie. Harvey is pastor of the Central Christian Church at Des Moines, Iowa. 
    
The subject of this brief biographical review is liberally educated. He pursued a course of study at Abingdon College, and then entered Butler University at Irvington, Ind., one of the finest institutions of learning in the West, and was a student there for four years. He inherited scholarly estates and applied himself closely to his books, and was graduated with honor in the class of 1884. He was well equipped for any career that he might choose to follow, and as he had a decided inclination towards journalism, he bought the office and appurtenances of the Lewistown News, and has since devoted himself to the management of the paper in connection with job printing. The paper is well conducted, is a bright, newsy, original sheet, and has a good circulation that is by no means confined to party lines, for though our subject is true to the principles of the Democratic party, he is by no means unrestrictingly aggressive, and is not offensive in his defense of party issues. He is one of the rising young men of the county, with a promising future before him. He possesses pleasant social qualities and is popular among his associates. He is a prominent member of the Kenneth Lodge, No. 140, Knights of Pythias. 
    
February 2, 1888, Mr. Breeden and Miss Susie Wertman, a native of Lewistown Township, and a daughter of John and Sarah Wertman, were united in marriage. The home that they have established in Lewistown is pleasant and attractive, and is the center of a charming hospitality.