JUDGE JOHN D. BRECKENRIDGE. Many successful lawyers have entered the profession comparatively late in life, after varied experience in other affairs, and it is a well recognized fact that those who take up legal studies with matured character and experience often attain front positions in the profession. An illustration of this fact is the career of Judge John D. Breckenridge of Fulton County, who in his early life was a farmer, a carpenter, a merchant, and only during his service as circuit clerk of Fulton County began the study of law.
John D. Breckenridge was born in a log cabin on a farm in Waterford Township in Fulton County, Illinois, April 12, 1859, a son of John W. and Adaline (Preyir) Breckenridge, Jr. The Breckenridge ancestors were from Scotland, and the family is said to have been founded by five brothers who emigrated to this country, some of them settling in Canada. John W. Breckenridge, Sr., the grandfather, was a cousin of the noted John C. Breckenridge of Kentucky, who in 1860 was a candidate of one branch of the democratic party for the office of president. John W. Breckenridge, Jr., came to Illinois in 1837, settled in Will County, and moved to Fulton County in 1845. During the Civil war he served as a member of Company B in the Eighty-fifth Illinois Infantry.
COURTS AND LAWYERS OF ILLINOIS 629
Judge Breckenridge acquired his preliminary education in the district schools near the home farm, and all his early life was spent in the wholesome environment of a farm and hard work. He divided his time for several years between farming and the carpenter's trade, and on reaching his majority turned his attention to mercantile lines. In 1 880-81 he conducted a store at Sepo in Fulton County, and from 1882 to 1884 was a merchant at Bybee. He also served as postmaster at both places. Mr. Breckenridge in 1884 became clerk in a retail store at Lewistown, and four years later went on the road selling goods for a wholesale grocery house of Peoria. His experience as a traveling salesman continued until 1892. In that year, having maintained his citizenship in Fulton County, where he had a large acquaintance and enjoyed the thorough confidence of the people, he was elected to the office of circuit clerk. The duties of the office necessarily brought him in close contact with the legal profession, and he took up the study of law at home and pursued it with such energy and persistence that at the end of three years he was admitted to the bar on June 14, 1895, and was admitted to practice in the federal courts at Peoria in April, 1897. While gaining a legal education he had no assistance from anyone, and the fact that he qualified himself for the bar, while ably discharging the duties of a public office, is an incentive and inspiration for young men who comparatively late in life determine the true direction of their careers. On retiring from the office of circuit clerk on December i, 1896, Mr. Breckenridge took up the active practice of the law, and soon had a profitable business at Lewistown. In November, 1906, he was elected to the office of county judge, and entered upon his duties on December ist. He has also served as police magistrate at Lewistown, having been elected May i, 1897. Judge Breckenridge's record in his present judicial office has been one of unquestioned ability, fairness, and thorough competence, and he is regarded as the most popular official of the county.
Judge Breckenridge is a democrat, is affiliated with Lewistown Lodge No. 104, A. F. & A. M.; Havana Chapter, R. A. M.; Damascus Commandery No. 42, K. T., with the Mystic Shrine at Peoria, and with the Knights of Pythias at Lewistown. He has long been a church worker in the Christian Church, and has served as elder and superintendent of the Sunday School. Mr. Breckenridge was married March 20, 1879, to Miss Ella A. Bradley of Lewistown. They are the parents of ten children: John L.; Robert R.; Mary, wife of Charles Bosworth; George W.; Frances, wife of William Bradley; Grace, wife of Ralph Hall of Joliet; Elizabeth, wife of Allen Daily of Joliet; Paul, Mildred and Jessie, at home.
John D. Breckenridge was born in a log cabin on a farm in Waterford Township in Fulton County, Illinois, April 12, 1859, a son of John W. and Adaline (Preyir) Breckenridge, Jr. The Breckenridge ancestors were from Scotland, and the family is said to have been founded by five brothers who emigrated to this country, some of them settling in Canada. John W. Breckenridge, Sr., the grandfather, was a cousin of the noted John C. Breckenridge of Kentucky, who in 1860 was a candidate of one branch of the democratic party for the office of president. John W. Breckenridge, Jr., came to Illinois in 1837, settled in Will County, and moved to Fulton County in 1845. During the Civil war he served as a member of Company B in the Eighty-fifth Illinois Infantry.
COURTS AND LAWYERS OF ILLINOIS 629
Judge Breckenridge acquired his preliminary education in the district schools near the home farm, and all his early life was spent in the wholesome environment of a farm and hard work. He divided his time for several years between farming and the carpenter's trade, and on reaching his majority turned his attention to mercantile lines. In 1 880-81 he conducted a store at Sepo in Fulton County, and from 1882 to 1884 was a merchant at Bybee. He also served as postmaster at both places. Mr. Breckenridge in 1884 became clerk in a retail store at Lewistown, and four years later went on the road selling goods for a wholesale grocery house of Peoria. His experience as a traveling salesman continued until 1892. In that year, having maintained his citizenship in Fulton County, where he had a large acquaintance and enjoyed the thorough confidence of the people, he was elected to the office of circuit clerk. The duties of the office necessarily brought him in close contact with the legal profession, and he took up the study of law at home and pursued it with such energy and persistence that at the end of three years he was admitted to the bar on June 14, 1895, and was admitted to practice in the federal courts at Peoria in April, 1897. While gaining a legal education he had no assistance from anyone, and the fact that he qualified himself for the bar, while ably discharging the duties of a public office, is an incentive and inspiration for young men who comparatively late in life determine the true direction of their careers. On retiring from the office of circuit clerk on December i, 1896, Mr. Breckenridge took up the active practice of the law, and soon had a profitable business at Lewistown. In November, 1906, he was elected to the office of county judge, and entered upon his duties on December ist. He has also served as police magistrate at Lewistown, having been elected May i, 1897. Judge Breckenridge's record in his present judicial office has been one of unquestioned ability, fairness, and thorough competence, and he is regarded as the most popular official of the county.
Judge Breckenridge is a democrat, is affiliated with Lewistown Lodge No. 104, A. F. & A. M.; Havana Chapter, R. A. M.; Damascus Commandery No. 42, K. T., with the Mystic Shrine at Peoria, and with the Knights of Pythias at Lewistown. He has long been a church worker in the Christian Church, and has served as elder and superintendent of the Sunday School. Mr. Breckenridge was married March 20, 1879, to Miss Ella A. Bradley of Lewistown. They are the parents of ten children: John L.; Robert R.; Mary, wife of Charles Bosworth; George W.; Frances, wife of William Bradley; Grace, wife of Ralph Hall of Joliet; Elizabeth, wife of Allen Daily of Joliet; Paul, Mildred and Jessie, at home.
JUDGE JOHN D. BRECKENRIDGE. Many successful lawyers have entered the profession comparatively late in life, after varied experience in other affairs, and it is a well recognized fact that those who take up legal studies with matured character and experience often attain front positions in the profession. An illustration of this fact is the career of Judge John D. Breckenridge of Fulton County, who in his early life was a farmer, a carpenter, a merchant, and only during his service as circuit clerk of Fulton County began the study of law.
John D. Breckenridge was born in a log cabin on a farm in Waterford Township in Fulton County, Illinois, April 12, 1859, a son of John W. and Adaline (Preyir) Breckenridge, Jr. The Breckenridge ancestors were from Scotland, and the family is said to have been founded by five brothers who emigrated to this country, some of them settling in Canada. John W. Breckenridge, Sr., the grandfather, was a cousin of the noted John C. Breckenridge of Kentucky, who in 1860 was a candidate of one branch of the democratic party for the office of president. John W. Breckenridge, Jr., came to Illinois in 1837, settled in Will County, and moved to Fulton County in 1845. During the Civil war he served as a member of Company B in the Eighty-fifth Illinois Infantry.
COURTS AND LAWYERS OF ILLINOIS 629
Judge Breckenridge acquired his preliminary education in the district schools near the home farm, and all his early life was spent in the wholesome environment of a farm and hard work. He divided his time for several years between farming and the carpenter's trade, and on reaching his majority turned his attention to mercantile lines. In 1 880-81 he conducted a store at Sepo in Fulton County, and from 1882 to 1884 was a merchant at Bybee. He also served as postmaster at both places. Mr. Breckenridge in 1884 became clerk in a retail store at Lewistown, and four years later went on the road selling goods for a wholesale grocery house of Peoria. His experience as a traveling salesman continued until 1892. In that year, having maintained his citizenship in Fulton County, where he had a large acquaintance and enjoyed the thorough confidence of the people, he was elected to the office of circuit clerk. The duties of the office necessarily brought him in close contact with the legal profession, and he took up the study of law at home and pursued it with such energy and persistence that at the end of three years he was admitted to the bar on June 14, 1895, and was admitted to practice in the federal courts at Peoria in April, 1897. While gaining a legal education he had no assistance from anyone, and the fact that he qualified himself for the bar, while ably discharging the duties of a public office, is an incentive and inspiration for young men who comparatively late in life determine the true direction of their careers. On retiring from the office of circuit clerk on December i, 1896, Mr. Breckenridge took up the active practice of the law, and soon had a profitable business at Lewistown. In November, 1906, he was elected to the office of county judge, and entered upon his duties on December ist. He has also served as police magistrate at Lewistown, having been elected May i, 1897. Judge Breckenridge's record in his present judicial office has been one of unquestioned ability, fairness, and thorough competence, and he is regarded as the most popular official of the county.
Judge Breckenridge is a democrat, is affiliated with Lewistown Lodge No. 104, A. F. & A. M.; Havana Chapter, R. A. M.; Damascus Commandery No. 42, K. T., with the Mystic Shrine at Peoria, and with the Knights of Pythias at Lewistown. He has long been a church worker in the Christian Church, and has served as elder and superintendent of the Sunday School. Mr. Breckenridge was married March 20, 1879, to Miss Ella A. Bradley of Lewistown. They are the parents of ten children: John L.; Robert R.; Mary, wife of Charles Bosworth; George W.; Frances, wife of William Bradley; Grace, wife of Ralph Hall of Joliet; Elizabeth, wife of Allen Daily of Joliet; Paul, Mildred and Jessie, at home.
John D. Breckenridge was born in a log cabin on a farm in Waterford Township in Fulton County, Illinois, April 12, 1859, a son of John W. and Adaline (Preyir) Breckenridge, Jr. The Breckenridge ancestors were from Scotland, and the family is said to have been founded by five brothers who emigrated to this country, some of them settling in Canada. John W. Breckenridge, Sr., the grandfather, was a cousin of the noted John C. Breckenridge of Kentucky, who in 1860 was a candidate of one branch of the democratic party for the office of president. John W. Breckenridge, Jr., came to Illinois in 1837, settled in Will County, and moved to Fulton County in 1845. During the Civil war he served as a member of Company B in the Eighty-fifth Illinois Infantry.
COURTS AND LAWYERS OF ILLINOIS 629
Judge Breckenridge acquired his preliminary education in the district schools near the home farm, and all his early life was spent in the wholesome environment of a farm and hard work. He divided his time for several years between farming and the carpenter's trade, and on reaching his majority turned his attention to mercantile lines. In 1 880-81 he conducted a store at Sepo in Fulton County, and from 1882 to 1884 was a merchant at Bybee. He also served as postmaster at both places. Mr. Breckenridge in 1884 became clerk in a retail store at Lewistown, and four years later went on the road selling goods for a wholesale grocery house of Peoria. His experience as a traveling salesman continued until 1892. In that year, having maintained his citizenship in Fulton County, where he had a large acquaintance and enjoyed the thorough confidence of the people, he was elected to the office of circuit clerk. The duties of the office necessarily brought him in close contact with the legal profession, and he took up the study of law at home and pursued it with such energy and persistence that at the end of three years he was admitted to the bar on June 14, 1895, and was admitted to practice in the federal courts at Peoria in April, 1897. While gaining a legal education he had no assistance from anyone, and the fact that he qualified himself for the bar, while ably discharging the duties of a public office, is an incentive and inspiration for young men who comparatively late in life determine the true direction of their careers. On retiring from the office of circuit clerk on December i, 1896, Mr. Breckenridge took up the active practice of the law, and soon had a profitable business at Lewistown. In November, 1906, he was elected to the office of county judge, and entered upon his duties on December ist. He has also served as police magistrate at Lewistown, having been elected May i, 1897. Judge Breckenridge's record in his present judicial office has been one of unquestioned ability, fairness, and thorough competence, and he is regarded as the most popular official of the county.
Judge Breckenridge is a democrat, is affiliated with Lewistown Lodge No. 104, A. F. & A. M.; Havana Chapter, R. A. M.; Damascus Commandery No. 42, K. T., with the Mystic Shrine at Peoria, and with the Knights of Pythias at Lewistown. He has long been a church worker in the Christian Church, and has served as elder and superintendent of the Sunday School. Mr. Breckenridge was married March 20, 1879, to Miss Ella A. Bradley of Lewistown. They are the parents of ten children: John L.; Robert R.; Mary, wife of Charles Bosworth; George W.; Frances, wife of William Bradley; Grace, wife of Ralph Hall of Joliet; Elizabeth, wife of Allen Daily of Joliet; Paul, Mildred and Jessie, at home.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
