Legacy and Family
Breese was remembered as a philanthropist who gave his earnings to every church denomination and many worthy causes, accumulating little personal wealth. He encouraged young people studying law enormously, and was noted as being a man who has "a tear for pity, and a hand open as day to melting charity". Breese was a celebrated statesman and scholar in which Illinois's prosperity and judiciary reflects his tireless labor, where his inflexible justice prevented corruption from ever reaching the court he sat on.
The Illinois State Historical Society is home to "The Sidney Breese Papers", which consist of the letters and papers belonging to Breese, including personal letters from U.S. Senator Stephen A. Douglas, U.S. President Martin Van Buren, Lincoln's Secretary of War Simon Cameron, Illinois Governor John Reynolds, U.S. Ambassador to Spain Gustav Körner, and U.S. Secretary of State Lewis Cass, among many others.
In 1823, Sidney married Eliza Morrison, daughter of wealth merchant William Morrison. They had fourteen children, including:
- S.L. Breese-Commander in the U.S. Navy during the Civil War
- James Breese-Second Lieutenant in the Marine Guard during the Civil War
Breese is buried in the Carlyle Cemetery in Carlyle, IL.
Read more about this topic: Sidney Breese
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