| WashingtonBrockman |
WASHINGTON BROCKMAN is one of the leadingbusiness men of Mount Sterling, where he was born September 13, 1844. Hisfather, James, was born in Kentucky, and was there reared and educated.He turned his attention to the study of medicine when young. He graduatedfrom Lexington Medical College, and in 1836 or 1837 he came to Illinois,locating in Mount Sterling, where he began his practice. It was at thistime that he had a very narrow escape from being drowned by being caughtin the high water at Meredosia. His practice extended into Pike and Morgancounties, where he had to go on horseback. He continued practicing until18–, when he was elected Circuit Clerk, which position he held until hisdeath. His wife’s name was Sophia Price, of Scott county, Kentucky, thedaughter of one of the pioneers of Brown county. Dr. Brockman was a Democrat;served as school commissioner of Brown county; was a member of the SecondState Constitutional Convention; was one of the charter members of HardinLodge, No. 44, A. F. and A. M., and was buried with Masonic honors.Washington was an infant when his motherdied, and but eight years when his father died. His step-mother was leftin limited circumstances with four children to care for, and consequentlyat thirteen years of age he went to live with an uncle. He remained withhim about a year, and then went to live with another uncle, who owned aflour mill. For several years he worked in the mill, in a blacksmith shopand on a farm, and was also in a drug store in Mount Sterling. In September1861, he enlisted in Company K, Tenth Illinois Cavalry, and went to Missouri.His company was one of the four detached from the regiment and sent tojoin General Curtis after the Pea Ridge fight. They marched to Helena,Arkansas, and then participated in the capture of Vicksburg, after whichhe was granted a furlough of twenty days, which was extended to twentydays more, and then his health being poor he was assigned to duty in thedrug department. He remained there by order of the physicians until thespring of 1864, when he was ordered to take charge of a company of theVeteran Reserve Corps. He was honorably discharged in December, 1864, ashis term had expired, and he returned home and soon secured a positionin the post office for thirty days, and then was clerk in the enrollingdepartment of the Provost Marshal’s office, remaining there until afterthe war, when the office was discontinued. He went to Macomb, Illinois,to secure a job, but not being successful he returned and bought a bookand stationery store. In less than a year be sold out, and was employedat various kinds of work for a few months, and then purchased one-halfinterest in another book and stationery store; later he bought the interestof his partner and conducted the business alone. He carries a full lineof books, stationery, wall paper, sporting goods and other goods of likenature. In 1886 he opened a buggy repository and farm implement businessand conducted it successfully for six years, but in 1892, owing to poorhealth, he was obliged to sell that branch of the business.
He was married, in 1865, to Estella J. Leeped,of Mount Sterling, daughter of Johnson and Catherine (Dawson) Leeped. Mr.and Mrs. Brockman have four living children: George Leon, Clarence Eugene,Ernest Edgar and Percy Washington. Mr. Brockman organized the Isaac McNeilPost, of which he is a member, No. 289, G. A. R. He is also a member ofUnity Lodge, No. 310, I. O. O. F. He is a charter member of the Mount SterlingLodge, No. — A. O. U. W.; and of the Crescent Lodge, I. O. M. A.; alsoa Fellow-craft member of Hardin Lodge, No. 44, A. F. and A. M. He and hiswife are greatly respected by their host of friends. He is one of the directorsof the Mount Sterling Building and Loan Association, and is vice-presidentof the Mount Sterling Electric Light and Power company, which he helpedto organize.
Politically he is a strong Republican, havingcast his first ballot in 1864 for ”honest Old Abe ” Lincoln, and fromthis party he has never departed, believing that the principles of saidparty are just and true.
Biographical Review of Cass, Schuylerand Brown Counties, Illinois, Biographical Review Publishing Co., Chicago,1892, pages 131-132.
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