Governor of Idaho

Autograph Document Signed

(1813-95) Born in Buffalo, New York, at the age of 17 he was an apprentice to a printer and 5 years later he became editor of the Buffalo Bulletin. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in New York in 1836. Moving west in the 1840's, he became city attorney in Monroe, Michigan, a newspaper editor in Illinois and Kentucky, and then settled in Springfield, Illinois where he practiced law with Jesse B. Thomas, Jr. He became friends with Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas, was in charge of the Baptist Publishing Society, and was also active in the temperance movement. In 1844, Brayman gained statewide prominence by accepting a commission from Governor Ford to revise the Illinois legal code. Two years later he was commissioned as a special prosecutor to deal with incidents occurring during the Illinois Mormon War. In the 1850's he was general solicitor for the Illinois Central Railroad. Brayman was commissioned major of the 19th Illinois Infantry on August 19, 1861, and was promoted to colonel of the regiment on April 19, 1862, after having fought gallantly in the battles of Belmont, Fort Donelson and Shiloh. He was appointed brigadier general to rank from September 24, 1862, and commanded the post at Bolivar, Tenn., until June 1863. Thereafter, he commanded Camp Dennison, Ohio, and during the last year of the war, the post of Natchez, Mississippi. Brevetted major general for gallant and meritorious Civil War services, he retired to private life. He lived in Missouri and Arkansas for a time in connection with some railroad interests. He then became editor of the Illinois State Journal. He was Governor of the Idaho Territory, serving 1876-80.

Autograph Document Signed: 5 3/4 x 9, tipped to a slightly larger album page. This is an imprinted form that was filled out by Mason Brayman in ink. It's purpose was to provide biographical information about Brayman. He signs his full name within the body of the text. He also writes his father's name down, (Daniel Brayman), under the parents section of the form, so Brayman has written his last name twice on this document. Very fine.