Grundy-Vermilion County IL Archives Biographies.....Bristow, Samuel A May 9, 1871 - 
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Author: Past & Present of Vermilion Co IL 1903

Samuel A. Bristow, one of the most successful and prominent young lawyers of 
Danville, was born in Fithian, Vermilion county, May 9, 1871. On the paternal 
side his ancestors were among the French Hugeunots, who came to America in 
search of religious freedom and settled in Virginia, but the branch of the 
family to whom our subjects belongs subsequently removed to Kentucky. Among 
the most prominent and illustrious members of this family was his great-uncle, 
Benjamin Bristow, who served as secretary of the treasury in President Grant's 
cabinet. For years he was also attorney general for the New York & Hudson 
River Railroad Company, and it was through his influence that Samuel A. 
Bristow took up the study of law, being offered a position in his office, but 
shortly before our subject's admission to the bar his uncle died. Pearson 
Bristow, his father's brother, is now second assistant postmaster general and 
was one of the number that unearthed the Neely-Rathbone frauds in Cuba.

Alva C. Bristow, the father of Samuel A., was born in Ohio, and was a son of 
William Bristow, one of the '49ers, who accumulated considerable wealth in 
California, but was killed and robbed on his way home. His wife, who bore the 
maiden name of Abigail Smith, belonged to an old and prominent family of 
Kentucky. Being left an orphan when young, Alva C. Bristow spent his early 
life with relatives, and with an uncle, George Smith, he came to Vermilion 
county, Illinois, in 1858, another uncle, Dr. S. S. Smith, having previously 
located here. The latter was one of the pioneer physicians of the county. Here 
Mr. Bristow started a newspaper called the Independent, which he published 
until 1860, when he returned to Kentucky and made his home with his 
grandmother until the country became involved in civil war. He then ran away 
and enlisted at Mazon, Illinois, in Company F, Fifty-fifth Illinois Volunteer 
Infantry. He was with Sherman on his campaign and during the battle of Atlanta 
was shot in the arm. At the close of the war he joined the regular army as a 
sergeant and was stationed at Cairo, Illinois, for some time, remaining in the 
service until 1869, when he returned to Vermilion county and located at 
Fithian, where he engaged in merchandising until 1872. During that year he 
became a resident of Danville and was connected with the Beethoven Organ 
Company until 1879, when he embarked in business on his own account as a 
dealer in wall paper and paints, continuing in that line for twenty years. 
Later he was engaged in the insurance business in Danville until 1901, when he 
received the appointment of usher at the Illinois state penitentiary at Joliet 
and is now holding that position. In 1866 he was married at Mt. Vernon, 
Illinois, to Miss America McLean, a native of Adams county, Kentucky. By this 
union were born three children, two sons and one daughter, but our subject is 
the only one now living. Religiously the father is a member of the Christian 
church, and fraternally is connected with the Bankers' Union and the Grand 
Army of the Republic. The Republican party always finds in him a stanch 
supporter of its principles and as a public-spirited and enterprising citizen 
he has never withheld his aid from any object which he believed would advance 
the moral, social or material welfare of the community in which, he lives.

Samuel A. Bristow of this review began his education in the ward schools of 
Danville and for two years attended the high school of this city. Later he was 
a student at Garfield University of Wichita, Kansas, for the same length of 
time and also attended the State University of Arkansas for two years. His law 
studies were prosecuted in the law department of the Northwestern University, 
where he was graduated in June, 1896. After leaving that institution he held a 
position in the circuit clerk's office at Danville until the following 
December. In November previous he was admitted to the bar and on the 1st of 
December opened an office at No. 16 East Main street, where he remained two 
years. Subsequently he had an office in the courthouse and from there removed 
to his present location at No. 14 East Main street. Success has attended his 
efforts and he has been connected with some of the most important litigation 
tried in this county, including the Watson case, which was carried through the 
appellate and supreme courts, the decision of the lower court being affirmed 
in each.

On the 15th of December, 1897, at Lafayette, Indiana, Mr. Bristow was united 
in marriage to Miss Emma Ruth Humbert, who was born near that city, at West 
Point, in August, 1873. Her parents, George and Laura (McNeill) Humbert, were 
natives of Ohio and Illinois, respectively, and were married in Lafayette, 
Indiana. Near that city the father was engaged in fanning until his retirement 
from active life in 1900, since which time he has made his home in Lafayette, 
being one of the wealthy and highly respected citizens of that place. In 
politics he is a Democrat and has held a number of township and county 
offices. Socially he is a member of the Odd Fellows society, and is also a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He has two children: Emma R., wife 
of our subject; and Harry, a resident of Lafayette.

Since boyhood Mr. Bristow has been practically identified with political 
affairs and has taken a very influential and prominent part in local 
elections, his support being given the men and measures of the Republican 
party. He is still actively connected with political work in Vermilion county, 
and is now serving as city collector of Danville. He is a prominent member of 
the Danville Club and of Danville Lodge, No. 332, B. P. O. E., and is one of 
the most popular young men of the city, a recognized leader in both social and 
political circles.

Source: "Past and Present of Vermilion County, Illinois", Chicago: The S.J. 
Clarke Publishing Company, 1903, Pages 790, 793-794

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