Nevada Genealogy Trails Nye County Hon. Wilson Brougher Biography

HON. WILSON BROUGHER. No compendium such as the province of this work defines in its essential limitations will serve to offer fit memorial to the life and accomplishments of the honored subject of this sketch — a man who is remarkable in the breadth of his wisdom, in his indomitable perseverance, his strong individuality, and yet one whose entire life has not one esoteric phase, being an open scroll, inviting the closest scrutiny. Truly, his have been "massive deeds and great" in one sense, and yet his entire life accomplishment but represents the result of the fit utilization of the innate talent which is his, and the directing of his efforts in those lines where mature judgment and rare discrimination lead the way. There are in Hon. Wilson Brougher a weight of character, a native sagacity, a far-seeing judgment and a fidelity of purpose that command the respect of all. A man of indefatigable enterprise and fertility of resource, he has carved his name deeply on the record of the political and business history of the state, which owes much of its advancement to his efforts.

Mr. Brougher has for twenty-eight years been a resident of Nevada. He is a native of Pennsylvania, his birth having occurred in Adams county on the 19th of July, 1854, and is of Pennsylvania Dutch ancestry. His parents, William and Susan (Snyder) Brougher, were also natives of Pennsylvania, whence they removed to Iowa and are now residents of Nebraska. William Brougher has been an active farmer, having cleared and developed several farms, meeting with well deserved success in his undertaking. In his political views he has been a life-long Republican, and his family are Lutherans in religious faith. To him and his wife were born five children, of whom three are yet living. The mother, however, departed this life in 1868, and William Brougher is now in* his seventy-seventh year. H. C. Brougher, one of the sons, is a prominent mining man in Tonopah, Nevada.Hon.

Wilson Brougher was educated in the public schools of Iowa, pursuing his studies through the three months of winter, while in the summer seasons he worked upon his fathers' farm, early becoming familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. He was twenty-one years of age when he arrived in Nevada, having come to the west to make his own way in the world. He had no capital, but possessed resolution and determination, and today is numbered among the distinguished and wealthy men of the state, having attained to this proud position by reason of his marked ability and sterling worth of character. He began to earn his living here by cutting wood and burning charcoal in Nye county. Later he turned his attention to merchandising, and in 1876 he was called from private life to public office, being elected sheriff of Nye county on the Republican ticket. He served for one term so acceptably that he was re-elected, and at the close of his second term he was nominated and elected auditor and recorder of the county. No higher testimonial of his capability in that position can be given than the statement of the fact that he was elected to the office for six consecutive terms, serving for twelve years. He then resigned that position to accept the nomination for state senator from the district formed by Ormsby county. He made a thorough canvass of the county and was elected by a majority of one hundred and seventeen votes. In the senate he belonged to the minority party, but nevertheless was active and influential in affairs pertaining to the welfare of the state. He gave his closest attention to the public interests and has left the impress of his individuality upon the legislation of Nevada. At the time of the first rich discovery at Tonopah it was Mr. Brougher's good fortune to become one of the first owners of the Mizpah, Bureau, Valley View. Desert Queen, Sand Grass and Red Plume claims, these being eight of the original claims in a group, and he is now the possessor of one-eighth interest in these. He is also interested in the Belmont, and the property is now being developed. The mines are attracting a great deal of attention because of the richness of their ore, and in two years Tonopah has grown to be a town of between four and five thousand inhabitants. It has been through the development of its mining interests that Mr. Brougher has gained his capital, becoming one of the wealthy men of this state. In July, 1902, he purchased the Arlington Hotel at Carson City, and this is now the leading hotel of the city and one of the best hostelries of the state. It is located in the center of the business district, has sixty sleeping rooms and is splendidly equipped throughout, no pains being spared to add to the comfort of the guests. This hotel is the headquarters of the leading men of the state, of the state officers and of the state legislators when the general assembly is in session.

In 1885 Senator Brougher was united in marriage to Miss Julia Cannon, a native of Illinois and a daughter of Edward and Julia Amelia (Manvill) Cannon. To them have been born four children, three daughters and a son: Ida S., Alice J., Nellie M. and William Henry. Senator Brougher is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the blue lodge and chapter, and Royal Arch degree. He also belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

He is a business man of marked integrity and ability, and has a wide and favorable acquaintance throughout the state. Starting out in life for himself with limited educational privileges and with no financial assistance, he became imbued with a laudable ambition to win success and prominence, and has steadily advanced in these walks of life demanding intellectuality, business ability and fidelity, and today commands the respect and esteem not only of his community but the state. Over the record of his public career and his private life there falls no shadow of wrong, for he has ever been most loyal to the duties of friendship and of citizenship, and his history well deserves a place in the annals of his adopted state.