The Life and Times of Benjamin Helm Bristow

"Mr. Bristow’s family was among the founders of Kentucky and helped form the Republican Party in Kentucky. He served as a Union officer in the Civil War, was elected to the Kentucky House, appointed Kentucky US District- Attorney responsible for prosecuting Federal crimes during reconstruction. Appointed the first US Solicitor-General of the Supreme Court later served as Treasury Secretary under President Grant wherein he prosecuted the "Whiskey Ring" and the refinancing of the Civil War debt.

In eighteen seventy six he was nominated for president, later relocated to New York City and organized the American Bar Association. His cases established legal principles including ignorance of the law was no defense, established the life of a patent and protection of creditors in preferential debts under receivership. Mr. Bristow was a consultant to three presidents and an expert on corporate law. Upon his death, tributes to his life graced the pages of newspapers throughout the US and the World acknowledging his place in history as a leader of his generation, not easily replaced."

-- Ted Rockwell Tosh