Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County,
Illinois: containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of
prominent and representative citizens of the county: together with
portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States,
and governors of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890;
page 337-338; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
Lewis C. Breeden is prominent in the social, literary and
political life of this county as editor of the Lewiston {Lewistown} 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.
