History of Brownsville, (Berks County) Pennsylvania United States of America

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Biographies:

Neal Henry Gillespie, educator, was born in Brownsville, Pa., in 1832. He was a student in the first class graduated at the University of Notre Dame and the first to receive the A.B. and A.M. degrees from that institution. He entered the novitiate of the congregation of the Holy Cross in 1851; taught mathematics in the university, and in 1854 went to Rome where he completed his theological studies and was ordained a priest June 24, 1856. He was vice-president and director of studies at Notre Dame, 1856-59; president of the College of St. Mary of the Lake, Chicago, Ill., 1859-63; in Paris by direction of the order, 1863-66, and was spiritual director of several religious and literary societies connected with the University of Notre Dame and editor of the Ave Maria, 1866-74. He was a brother of Eliza Maria Gillespie (Mother Mary of St. Angela). He died at St. Mary of the Woods near Terre Haute, Ind., Nov. 12, 1874.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Samuel James Renwick McMillan, senator, was born in Brownsville, Pa., Feb. 22, 1826. He was graduated from Duquesne college, Pittsburg, Pa., in 1846, studied law in the office of Edwin M. Stanton, Pitteburg, 1848-49, was admitted to the bar in 1849, and practised in Pittsburg, 1849-52, and in Stillwater, Minn. Ter., 1852-56. He removed to St. Paul, Minn. Ter., in 1856, and was chosen the first judge of the first judicial circuit upon the formation of the judicial department of the state government, May 24, 1858, and served to July 1, 1864. He was associate justice of the supreme court of the state, 1864-74, and chief justice from April 7, 1874, to March 10, 1875. He was a Republican U.S. senator from Minnesota, 1875-87, where he served as chairman of the committee on claims and succeeded Senator Conkling as chairman of the committee on commerce. In 1890 he was appointed by the general assembly of the Presbyterian church, on the committee of revision of Confession of Faith. He received the degree LL.D. from the Western University of Pennsylvania in 1891. He is the author of Presbyterian and Republican Government. He died in St. Paul, Minn., Oct. 8, 1897.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor