Wheeling Daily Intelligencer September 18, 1888
Another Old and Honored Citizen Goes to His Eternal Reward.
The Hon. Sobieski Brady died about 11 o'clock last night at his residence on Virginia street, Island, in the seventy-third year of his age, after a lingering illness, the result of a complication of disorders incident to old age. It has been known for some time past that Mr. Brady's life was fast drawing to a close and his family and many friends were not unprepared for the end. This announcement of his death, therefore, will not be a surprise, but it will be read with genuine sorrow by all who knew him, and especially by a large portion of the older residents of Wheeling, who remember Mr. Brady as he was in the prime of life, when he was one of the most prominent and highly honored citizens Wheeling ever had.
It is a sad and singular coincidence that two prominent citizens such as Col. Henry Hubbard and the Hon. Sobieski Brady should die within a few hours of each other, and this coincidence is carried out still further by the fact that they were both born in 1816 in the State of Pennsylvania. Mr. Brady was the son of the Rev. Joseph Brady, at one time a popular and distinguished divine in the Presbyterian church, who died while Mr. Brady was still very young. Thus deprived of poternal [sic] care and guidance, the course of life and subsequent successes of the deceased may be wholly ascribed to his own superior talents and better discretion, or, in other words, the worthy type of a self-made and influential member of society.
With only the advantage of a plain education, as early as 1832 he received the appointment of Teller in the Carlisle (pa.) bank, and in 1835 became corresponding clerk in the Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank at Philadelphia. In these capacities he early showed great ability as a financier, and at the time he arrived at his majority, in 1837, he was found officiating as cashier in the old Merchants and Mechanics' Bank of this city, in which Eastern capitalists were then very largely interested, and the appointment by them of Mr. Brady to the position of cashier was cordially approved with the highest compliments of the late Chief Justice Gibson, Judge Reed, Judge Watts and many other influential gentlemen.
The position of cashier in the Merchants' & Mechanics' Mr. Brady filled successfully for many years, up to the time, in fact, that the institution was succeeded by the Merchants' National Bank, when he resigned and for a time, up to the close of 1876, indulged in the quiet of a retired life. On January 31, 1876, he received at the hands of Governor Jacob, the appointment as State Treasurer, vice Treasurer Burdett, removed. This important office he filled efficiently till the close of the term in 1877. With the induction into the Governor's chair that year of the late Hon. Henry M. Mathews, Mr. Brady received from that official the appointment of Secretary of State, which office he ably occupied till the expiration of Governor Mathews' term.
Mr. Brady always took an active interest in the prosperity of Wheeling, and the many valuable services he has rendered this community as a private citizen, as a councilman, and as mayor for several consecutive terms, although they have been in part recognized in the past, are deserving of further recognition now. For nearly a quarter of a century he served the city as councilman or mayor, his services being freely accorded at all times.
January 31, 1850, the Council passed a resolution that bore some evidence of the high regard in which he was held by those best capable of measuring his services. It was as follows:
"Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed by Council to present to S. Brady, Esq., a silver pitcher, with suitable inscriptions, as a testimonial of the consideration which the Council place upon eleven years consecutive and gratuitous service as Councilman and Mayor of the city."
The pitcher was purchased and presented, and a massive and handsome souvenir it was. It has always been carefully treasured by the honored recipient.
Mr. Brady was always exceedingly close and careful in his application to the duties of any position to which he was called. He was of a retiring disposition, yet withal, most courteous and gentlemanly in his intercourse with all who approached him. A rare compliment of executive intelligence marked his course in all of the important positions he filled. After his retirement from the Secretary of State's office he did not choose to leave the quiet of a well earned rest in a happy home. For the past four years he has been steadily failing.
He was married in August, 1838, to Mary E. S., daughter of the Hon. Alexander Caldwell, Judge of the District Court of the United States. They had fifteen children, of whom eight are still living. His wife also survives him. The family will have the warm sympathy of a large circle in their bereavement. The funeral will take place tomorrow, and is sure to be largely attended.