Clayton - Person Sheet
Clayton - Person Sheet
NameBRONSTON, Charles Jacob 
Birth Date29 Jul 1848
Birth PlaceRichmond, Madison County, Kentucky
OccupationAttorney
Death Date14 Apr 1909 Age: 60
Death PlaceLexington, Fayette County, Kentucky
Misc. Notes
Charles Jacob Bronston was the son of Thomas Springer "Tom" Bronston Jr (1817–1890) & Sallie Ann Bronston Bronston (1823–1849). Tom and Sallie were paternal first cousins: he the son of Jacob Bronston of Lexington, and she the daughter of Thomas Springer Bronston Sr of Richmond, KY, Jacob's younger brother.
Sallie died of cholera a few days after Charlie's 1st birthday after declining to flee to the mountains with the rest of her family.
Charlie's father married 3 times and had 12 children in all. His first two wives died shortly after giving him sons. Henrietta A Baker, his 3rd wife (m: 1852) was the only mother CJ remembered.
In 1862 Charlie's father, Tom, was imprisoned as a civilian in 'Camp Chase' a Union prison camp in OH, for aiding the Confederacy. Tom wrote to Charlie - the family still has one stirring letter.
Charlie was married on 28 May 1874 to Susan Wallace "Susie Hughes" (1854–1891), daughter of William T Hughes (1832–1874) & Sallie K Cooper (1833–1914), who lived on the farm now known as Elmendorf. Susie's father was murdered two weeks after the wedding, by his own uncle.
Charlie and Susie were the parents of 9 children, 6 of whom lived to adulthood. See them linked here and listed under Susan Hughes Bronston.
Charles Jacob Bronston, a lawyer and statesman familiarly known about Lexington as the 'Red Fox', was notorious for his flaming red hair, hair-trigger temper, and exemplary sense of justice.
~ A very young portrait of Bronston hangs in the Fayette County Courthouse in Lexington.
~ The photograph attached to this memorial was taken for the 1890-1891 Kentucky Constitutional Convention.
~ The cartoon shown was published in the Pittsburgh Press in 1899 and told the melodramatic tale of a standoff between Red Fox Bronston and Col Jack Chinn.
A brief summary of Bronston's Distinguished Career:
~ 1869 Kentucky University at Lexington, graduated with valedictorian honors.
~ 1869-1870 University of Virginia, Law Department.
~ Began the practice of Law in Richmond, Kentucky.
~ Law partner of Hon. James B. McCreary, later Governor of Kentucky
~ Professor in the Law School of the Central University of Kentucky (now Center College)
~ 1879-1895 Commonwealth's Attorney for the 10th Judicial District (Madison, Fayette, Clark, Bourbon, Scott, Woodford and Jessamine Counties)
~ 1890-1891 Member of the Constitutional Convention of the State.
~ 1892 Delegate to the National Convention of the Democratic Party from the 7th Congressional District.
~ 1896-1900 Kentucky State Senator
~ 1901 the degree of Doctor of Laws was conferred on him by Kentucky University at Lexington
~ President of the Blue Grass Rapid Transit Company
~ President of the Southern Mutual Investment Company
~ Instrumental in acquiring funding from Andrew Carnegie to build the Lexington Library (see the KY historical marker in Gratz Park)
Bronston was married in 1898 to Miss Belle Wisdom (1864-1945) of Paducah, whose father Benj. Henry Wisdom was said to be the richest man in Kentucky.
This marriage did not go smoothly - Belle was only a dacade older than CJ's eldest children and they were expelled from the family home. The couple was in the middle of a contentious divorce when he died. At her death, Belle left her oil fields near Houston, Texas to Midway College in Midway, KY.
Sallie died of cholera a few days after Charlie's 1st birthday after declining to flee to the mountains with the rest of her family.
Charlie's father married 3 times and had 12 children in all. His first two wives died shortly after giving him sons. Henrietta A Baker, his 3rd wife (m: 1852) was the only mother CJ remembered.
In 1862 Charlie's father, Tom, was imprisoned as a civilian in 'Camp Chase' a Union prison camp in OH, for aiding the Confederacy. Tom wrote to Charlie - the family still has one stirring letter.
Charlie was married on 28 May 1874 to Susan Wallace "Susie Hughes" (1854–1891), daughter of William T Hughes (1832–1874) & Sallie K Cooper (1833–1914), who lived on the farm now known as Elmendorf. Susie's father was murdered two weeks after the wedding, by his own uncle.
Charlie and Susie were the parents of 9 children, 6 of whom lived to adulthood. See them linked here and listed under Susan Hughes Bronston.
Charles Jacob Bronston, a lawyer and statesman familiarly known about Lexington as the 'Red Fox', was notorious for his flaming red hair, hair-trigger temper, and exemplary sense of justice.
~ A very young portrait of Bronston hangs in the Fayette County Courthouse in Lexington.
~ The photograph attached to this memorial was taken for the 1890-1891 Kentucky Constitutional Convention.
~ The cartoon shown was published in the Pittsburgh Press in 1899 and told the melodramatic tale of a standoff between Red Fox Bronston and Col Jack Chinn.
A brief summary of Bronston's Distinguished Career:
~ 1869 Kentucky University at Lexington, graduated with valedictorian honors.
~ 1869-1870 University of Virginia, Law Department.
~ Began the practice of Law in Richmond, Kentucky.
~ Law partner of Hon. James B. McCreary, later Governor of Kentucky
~ Professor in the Law School of the Central University of Kentucky (now Center College)
~ 1879-1895 Commonwealth's Attorney for the 10th Judicial District (Madison, Fayette, Clark, Bourbon, Scott, Woodford and Jessamine Counties)
~ 1890-1891 Member of the Constitutional Convention of the State.
~ 1892 Delegate to the National Convention of the Democratic Party from the 7th Congressional District.
~ 1896-1900 Kentucky State Senator
~ 1901 the degree of Doctor of Laws was conferred on him by Kentucky University at Lexington
~ President of the Blue Grass Rapid Transit Company
~ President of the Southern Mutual Investment Company
~ Instrumental in acquiring funding from Andrew Carnegie to build the Lexington Library (see the KY historical marker in Gratz Park)
Bronston was married in 1898 to Miss Belle Wisdom (1864-1945) of Paducah, whose father Benj. Henry Wisdom was said to be the richest man in Kentucky.
This marriage did not go smoothly - Belle was only a dacade older than CJ's eldest children and they were expelled from the family home. The couple was in the middle of a contentious divorce when he died. At her death, Belle left her oil fields near Houston, Texas to Midway College in Midway, KY.
Spouses
1WISDOM, Belle Saffarrans , GG Grandaunt
, GG GrandauntBirth Date25 Dec 1864
Birth PlaceNew York, New York
OccupationPhilanthropist and Political Activist
Death Date4 Sep 1945 Age: 80
Death PlaceHouston, Harris County, Texas
FatherWISDOM, Benjamin Henry (1819-1896)
MotherSAFFARRANS, Martha Belle (1831-1883)
Misc. Notes
On June 1, 1932, Belle Wisdom created three scholarships (for herself, John Buford Wisdom and Marie Minor Wisdom) at Translyvania University (established 1780) of Lexington, Kentucky to be given to students from McCracken, Todd and Leslie Counties. (Information provided by the Financial Aid Office of Translyvania University to Lee Griffin of Stayton, Oregon)
The Bourbon News
Paris, Kentucky
May 28, 1909
“Divorce Decree Made Public
It was made public Tuesday by the entering of the decree that a divorce was granted to Mrs Belle Wisdom Bronston in the Circuit Court at Lexington, Kentucky, on April 12 (1909) two days before the sudden death of Mr Bronston The decree simply grants the divorce and restores Mrs Bonstons maiden name of Miss Belle Wisdom Miss Belle Wisdom as she will be hereafter known will in all probability home in Lexington where she has many devoted friends and large property interests.”
"Mrs Wisdom" did not take to CJ's older children and made them all move out of his home. Then she abandoned CJ taking his money and her vast resources to donate to Midway Womens' College - where there is a dormitory named in her honor.” -Susan Taylor Bronston Hughes
From an article in the March 24, 1950, edition of the Amarillo Daily News
Belle attended the Paducah Female College then later transferred to the Sayre Female Institute in Lexington, a Presbyterian school, which at the time was the oldest boarding school for girls west of the Allegany Mountains.
After graduation Belle continued to live in Lexington where she joined the Broadway Christian Church of which the Reverend Mark Collins from Adelaide, Australia, was minister. The Reverend Collins became a member of the board of trustees of Midway College and it is this connection that greatly influenced Belle Wisdom’s future endowments. During this time Belle became involved in helping young people secure an education.
Upon her father’s death in 1896 Belle moved to Houston, Texas, where she had inherited sulfur lands. She made her home at the Sam Houston Hotel for thirty years.
During her lifetime Belle made numerous trips to inspect her properties in the Panhandle of Texas, often visiting her cousin, Mrs. Henry Harding, in Amarillo.
Over a period of 17 years Belle Wisdom made gifts totaling $19,000 to Midway College. On one such bequest she attached a note to her check stating “I believe the best way to which I can follow the behests of our Master is to establish and endow in perpetuity, with the income from oil properties in Texas, the largest orphan asylum in the world. This home for the friendless children shall forever enjoy a large portion of the income from my estate…”
Miss Wisdom was a victim of arthritis for a number of years before her death. Although she was confined to her suite she continued to follow reports of her favorite charity. She also kept clippings of the charitable bequests made of persons of wealth. She made her will in June 1945, three months before her death.
The Bourbon News
Paris, Kentucky
May 28, 1909
“Divorce Decree Made Public
It was made public Tuesday by the entering of the decree that a divorce was granted to Mrs Belle Wisdom Bronston in the Circuit Court at Lexington, Kentucky, on April 12 (1909) two days before the sudden death of Mr Bronston The decree simply grants the divorce and restores Mrs Bonstons maiden name of Miss Belle Wisdom Miss Belle Wisdom as she will be hereafter known will in all probability home in Lexington where she has many devoted friends and large property interests.”
"Mrs Wisdom" did not take to CJ's older children and made them all move out of his home. Then she abandoned CJ taking his money and her vast resources to donate to Midway Womens' College - where there is a dormitory named in her honor.” -Susan Taylor Bronston Hughes
From an article in the March 24, 1950, edition of the Amarillo Daily News
Belle attended the Paducah Female College then later transferred to the Sayre Female Institute in Lexington, a Presbyterian school, which at the time was the oldest boarding school for girls west of the Allegany Mountains.
After graduation Belle continued to live in Lexington where she joined the Broadway Christian Church of which the Reverend Mark Collins from Adelaide, Australia, was minister. The Reverend Collins became a member of the board of trustees of Midway College and it is this connection that greatly influenced Belle Wisdom’s future endowments. During this time Belle became involved in helping young people secure an education.
Upon her father’s death in 1896 Belle moved to Houston, Texas, where she had inherited sulfur lands. She made her home at the Sam Houston Hotel for thirty years.
During her lifetime Belle made numerous trips to inspect her properties in the Panhandle of Texas, often visiting her cousin, Mrs. Henry Harding, in Amarillo.
Over a period of 17 years Belle Wisdom made gifts totaling $19,000 to Midway College. On one such bequest she attached a note to her check stating “I believe the best way to which I can follow the behests of our Master is to establish and endow in perpetuity, with the income from oil properties in Texas, the largest orphan asylum in the world. This home for the friendless children shall forever enjoy a large portion of the income from my estate…”
Miss Wisdom was a victim of arthritis for a number of years before her death. Although she was confined to her suite she continued to follow reports of her favorite charity. She also kept clippings of the charitable bequests made of persons of wealth. She made her will in June 1945, three months before her death.
Marr Dateabt 1897
Div Date12 Apr 1909