Shoe Column: Williams Jennings Bryan and Helen

By Tim “Shoe” Sullivan

I’m gonna hit you with some dates here. Hopefully, you can follow along.

William Jennings Bryan was born in 1860, right before the Civil War. He died in 1925. Bryan was an American lawyer, orator, and politician. He was the Democratic Party’s nominee for President of the United States three times: 1896, 1900, and 1908.

Bryan lost to the Republicans’ nominee William McKinley in 1896 and 1900. McKinley was assassinated in 1901, and Vice President Teddy Roosevelt took over.

Bryan was defeated in 1908 by William Taft. He didn’t seem to have much success running against anyone named “William.”

Prior to running for president, William Jennings Bryan served in the House of Representatives from 1891 to 1895 as a Nebraska lawmaker. Bryan also served as the Secretary of State under Woodrow Wilson in 1913.

When Bryan ran for president in 1896, he was all for silver coins. He attacked the gold standard. In 1896, he became the youngest major party presidential nominee in United States history.

During his impressive life, William Jennings Bryan was one of the most famous people in America. 1925 was the year of the trial that swept the nation… the infamous Scope’s “Monkey” Trial. It was all about teaching evolution. Bryan was the lead attorney who argued for the prosecution. He opposed “Darwinism” on religious grounds. Clarence Darrow represented the high school teacher Scopes and won the trial.

So now you know a little background about William Jennings Bryan.

Meanwhile, while Bryan was first running for president, a very intelligent man named Gustav Hein lived in Amherst Junction, Wisconsin. It’s been said that Gustav once lived at 440 Water St. in Stevens Point.

Gustav had a wonderful daughter named Helen who was away attending school at St. Mary’s Institute in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. (St. Mary’s was the first four-year Catholic College for women in Wisconsin).

Helen and most of her classmates were all for Bryan and “the Silverites.” She was very sad to hear that Bryan lost to McKinley and wrote a letter telling him she wasn’t happy with the election result. She was an outstanding letter writer.

Helen sent her letter from St. Mary’s to Gustav in Amherst Junction. Gustav mailed it to Bryan in Nebraska.

William Jennings Bryan was impressed with Helen’s thoughtful letter and wrote a letter to Helen’s father Gustav informing him as such.

To recap: Bryan, former Secretary of State… famous American attorney… House of Representatives… three times Democratic Presidential nominee…

And Helen Hein? She was my grandmother.