BIO: Ben L. Bruner, b. 1872, Grayson Co., KY - Hart Co., KY ---------------------------- Date: 25 Feb 1999 From: BLTDEFORD@aol.com ---------------------------- History of Kentucky and Kentuckians Page 657 & 358 a full sized photo of Ben L. Bruner is also on a page. Ben L. Bruner, Secretary of State, to which he was elected on the Republican ticket, November 5, 1907; for a term of four years, is a native son of Kentucky and a man of typically American antecedents, his forbears having served in every American war of importance. The career of this statesman and physician should prove an inspiration to every youth to whom fortune has been chary in the bestowal of her favors, for he is a self made man of the beast type, having risen unaided from position of a street car driver to his present office. He was born at Clarkson , Grayson Co., January 16,1872, and is the son of the Hon. Peter S. Bruner, who was likewise a native Grayson County, born within it's present limits on the day preceding Christmas, 1838. Peter S. Bruner was the son of Peter and Rachael (Evans) Bruner, the former of whom saw the light of day at Danville, in 1792. he was a soldier in the way of 1812. His Father, Dr. Bruner's greatgrandfather, whose name was John Bruner was a native of Pennsylvania, of Dutch ancestry, and was a Soldier of the Revolutionary War. Hon. Peter S. Bruner, like those of his family who had gone before him, came speedily to the aid of his country at the breaking out of the Civil war , and served as a soldier in the union ranks throughout it;s progress. He enlisted as a private in company 1, Third Kentucky Calvary, rose to the rank of second lieutenant of his company, and at the close of the war was breveted first lieutenant for conspicuous service. He was elected a member of the house of representatives from Grayson county as a republican and served during the "long legislature" of 1891-3, with credit and distinction. The mother of Dr. Bruner bore the maiden name of Mary Rogers. She was born in Leitchfield, Grayson County, Kentucky, and her father was the hon. Ben L. Rogers (in whose honor the subject is named) who was a county judge and a son of Jacob Rogers, a Native of Virginia and a Kentucky pioneer. Thus he is descended not only from Revolutionary stock, but from old Kentucky families on both paternal and maternal sides, and in his veins course a mixture of German, English, Welsh, and Scotch-Irish blood. Ben L. Bruner was reared on his father's farm, as has been the lot of so many prominent men as to make it almost the rule, and in his youth experienced what the average farmer's son experienced in farm work, ---saw logging, plowing and engaging in other strenuous occupation. He first attended the common schools, then first attended Millerstown Academy, then Leitchfield Seminary and finally, graduated from Sweetwater College, Sweetwater Tennessee, when twenty- one years of age. For a time he led a diversified existence, trying his hand as a pedagogue, clerking in a mereantile establishment and finally becoming a traveling commercial salesman. By reason of having at one time served in this capacity he later became a member of the Travelers Protective Association of America, in which he has been prominent for years, having been a delegate to many national conventions of the association. In 1893, shortly before the attainments of his majority, Dr Bruner paid adieux to home scenes and went to Louisville where he drove a street car, and in his fashion worked his way through medical college. In 1897 he graduated from the hospital Medical College, medical department of Central University and the following year, at the inception of the Spanish-American war, he heeded the inherited thrill of patriotism in his breast and enlisted as a private in Company M, Third Kentucky Regiment, and was immediately promoted to the office of first lieutenant and assistant surgeon of the Fourth Regiment, Kentucky Infantry, United Sates Volunteers. He remained in the army service one year. and receiving an honorable discharge, returned to Kentucky. Dr. Bruner now located at Hardyville, in Hart County, where he hung out his shingle and practiced his profession for five years. In 1904 he remove to Louisville, and has ever since that time resided in Kentucky's largest city. His first political office was bestowed upon him while he was in Hart co. being nominated by the Republicans as candidate fir the legislature and being elected as representative from that county in the year 1902. In 1907 he became the Republican nominee for secretary of state, to which office he was elected on November 7th of that year, for a term of four years beginning January 1, 1908. As secretary of state, Dr. Burner has rendered felling service in behalf of the commonwealth, and in splendid manner has improved the administration of affairs in that office. Among his most momentous accomplishments has been the strengthening of affairs relative to corporations and the banking department. He was the First State official to move into quarters in the new capitol, removing from the old building some seven weeks in advance of any other state official. From every early period in life Dr. Bruner has been active in political affairs. As early as sixteen he made campaign speeches and engaged in joint debate with leaders in of the Democratic party. Not alone to Kentucky have his political efforts been confined, for being a forceful and effective campaign speaker his services have been called into requisition in other States. Liberal and generous as he has always been, and yet a man of earnest conviction, he has won favor with the populace and has a political following perhaps second to no other leader in the republican party in Kentucky. Noted for untiring energy and indefatigable determination, he does not know the word "fail." and with characteristic pluck he has forged his way to the front in life. Dr. Bruner is a popular and much desired lodge man and his fraternal afflictions extend to the Masonic order, in which he holds the Thirty-second degree, and is a Knight Templar and a member of the Mystic Shrine. In his profession he hold membership in the Hart County Kentucky State Medical Societies, and in the American Medical Association. He is President of the Transylvania Casualty Insurance Company of Louisville On April 30, 1891, Dr. Bruner joined the ranks of the Benedicts, wedding Miss Anna Blanche Burner the daughter of the Rev. Issac W. Bruner, a prominent minister of the Baptist Church, and they have had five children: Walter Lewis, Mary Rogers, Mabyl Blanche , Ben L. Jr. (deceased) and Issac Simeon **************** USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation. Commercial entities must ask for and receive permission from submitter before downloading.