Shortly after the birth of Albert Gallatin Brodhead, his parents removed to Lehman Township, five miles below Dingman's Ferry. As a lad he assisted his father in farm work in the spring months and in harvesting in the summer, attending the district schools in winter. At the very early age of twelve years (in 1827) he went to Conyngham, Luzerne county, with his uncle, A. G. Gallatin, in whose store he served as a clerk, and during his four years' employment gave much of his spare time to study, thus compensating for the very inadequate schooling which had been afforded him. He was at the same time building better than he knew, laying the foundations of his brilliant future in habits of industry and fidelity. In 1831, at the age of sixteen, he went to Chestnut Hill, Northampton county (now Monroe), and for two years served the firm of Brodhead & Brown. Notwithstanding his extreme youth he had developed a genuine talent for business which, with his entire trustworthiness, so won the confidence of his employers that he was entrusted with the most important duties, frequently making trips to Easton and Philadelphia as buyer and seller for the firm, and discharging his missions with a sagacity far beyond his years. In 1834 he returned to the employ of his uncle in Conyngham, to whom he proved a valuable assistant. After three years, with W. H. Cool as a partner, he engaged in a mercantile business at Beaver Meadow, and Cool & Brodhead prospered for several years. Retiring from the firm, Mr. Brohead removed to Mauch Chunk (in 1841), and at once entered upon the larger work whose consummation was of widespread usefulness and crowned his career with honor.

For seven years he was clerk for Judge Asa Packer, and their intercourse thus begun ripened into a deep personal regard and mutual confidence. For a short time afterward he served as bookkeeper with Fatzinger & Salkeld, who conducted a store and foundry, and in 1850 resigned and took up larger responsibilities. Mr. Brodhead was appointed to the superintendency of the Beaver Meadow Railroad and Coal Company, and he occupied this position until the properties were merged into those of the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company in 1864. During these fourteen years he was an all-important factor in the development of the interests with which he had thus become identified. Upon the amalgamation of these with the great Lehigh Valley Railroad, he became division superintendent of that corporation, and acted in that capacity until his death. During this entire period of twenty-seven years he gave close personal attention not only to his immediate duties, but was ever alert to detect and create opportunities for further developing the lines of which he had charge, and the industrial interests dependent thereupon. He was regarded as one of the most capable and enterprising railway officers in the entire country. During his time the processes of building and operating railroads were revolutionized more completely than was aught else in the commercial world. He became not only immediately familiar with every promising innovation, but he really in many instances anticipated it, and brought into instant play every new method or invention pertaining to transportation. While a careful and vigilant executive officer and entirely loyal to the directors and stockholders, he was also eminently just and sympathetic with the thousands of workmen of all grades under him, and was looked upon by them as their friend.

The public services of Judge Brodhead were of signal usefulness. When he took up his residence in Mauch Chunk, it was situated in Northampton County, and he was a prime factor in procuring the creation of the new county of Carbon. A Democrat in politics, he came to fill a foremost place in the ranks of his party, not only in the state but in the nation, and taking part in every important political event for a full half century. In 1857 he was elected treasurer of Carbon county, and administered the affairs of the office with that sagacity and scrupulousness which was ever one of his principal characteristics. Later he was called to the bench as associate county judge, and he adorned the place for a term of five years. He was elected state senator from the district comprising the counties of Carbon, Monroe, Pike and Wayne, in 1869, and the confidence and esteem in which he was held by his colleagues is evidenced by the fact that when opportunity came and the Democrats had a majority (though only of one) in the senate they elected Judge Brodhead speaker. He was honored throughout the state for his honesty and integrity in public affairs, and it was frequently said of him that no man who ever sat in either house of the legislature of Pennsylvania ever made for himself a cleaner or more honorable record than did Judge Brodhead.

Thereafter Judge Brodhead declined to become a candidate, but he at the same time maintained a zealous interest in political affairs, his effort being actuated by the conviction that ideal citizenship demanded an active participation therein. He was an ardent admirer of President Cleveland, and between the two subsisted the warmest personal relations, growing out of mutual esteem and community of thought with reference to governmental affairs. He was on equally friendly terms with Governor Pattison, who frequently sought his advice. Less than one year before his death, and during the political campaign of 1900, Judge Brodhead threw himself into the canvass with all the ardor of his nature, and performed herculean labor. When Governor Pattison visited Mauch Chunk, Judge Brodhead took a leading part in the reception tendered to him, and to him was primarily due the great success of that notable event. He was ardently desirous of witnessing the inauguration of Governor Pattison, but died with his wish ungratified, shortly before the occasion for which he had looked with such expectancy. His last appearance in political affairs was in the latter part of the campaign before mentioned, when he acted as one of three conferees selected by Senator Craig to harmonize differences and select a congressional candidate. The decision was contrary to what he had hoped for, but he was too fair-minded and liberal a man to withhold his acquiescence, and labored for the success of the chosen candidate as earnestly as though he had been the one he first desired — a leading man and a personal friend from his own county.

From the day of his coming to Mauch Chunk, through all the fifty years following, and down to the day of his death, Judge Brodhead was one of the foremost citizens of the city, and his activity was felt in every phase of the life of the community. He aided in the organization of the Mauch Chunk Gas Company, was one of its first directors, and for many years prior to his death was president of the board. He was interested in all the financial institutions, and was long vice president of the Linderman National Bank. From early life he was a consistent member of the Presbyterian church, and labored earnestly for the promotion of the usefulness of that body. For more than thirty years he was an elder, and for twenty-five years was superintendent of the Sunday school. For many years he represented his church in the sessions of the presbytery, and was a valuable member. He enjoyed the esteem and confidence of many leading men in the denomination, clerical as well as lay, who regarded him as one of the best informed among them with reference to church history and polity, and he was frequently called in to arbitrate difficulties and harmonize differences, his decisions being habitually and cheerfully accepted by all parties. He was prominent in Masonic circles, and was for many years affiliated with Carbon Lodge, No. 242. He was among the founders of Mauch Chunk Lodge, No. 76. I. O. O. F., in 1842, was its first noble grand, and was held in honor by the fraternity throughout the state.

Judge and Mrs. Brodhead celebrated their golden wedding anniversary on July 3. 1888, and the event was one of the most notable in the history of the entire Lehigh Valley region. There were present all the children and grandchildren of the pair, and nearly seven hundred friends from all parts of the country came to present their congratulations. The host and hostess entered into the spirit of the occasion with all the zest and enthusiasm that did the youngest, and showed by their warmth of feeling that they deeply appreciated the loving and reverential attentions bestowed upon them. Another particularly joyous event was the celebration of the seventy-fifth anniversary of the birthday of Judge Brodhead, on August 15th preceding his death. He gave a dinner at the West End Hotel in Long Branch, New Jersey, where he and his family were spending the summer. Among the guests were men prominent in the largest industrial, financial and commercial enterprises of the Lehigh Valley. Referring to the event. Colonel McClure said in his paper (the Philadelphia Times): "Judge Brodhead is one of the men of ability and integrity of the Keystone State who have helped make its laws and enforce them, and who has sat in legislative councils in assisting in developing its material resources. Long and useful as has been his career, he is as bright and active today at seventy-five as most men in the meridian of life. A striking illustration of the fact that it is not English statesmen and judges alone who show well preserved faculties after seventy." The death of Judge Brodhead occurred shortly before noon on Sunday, January 18, 1891, at his home in Mauch Chunk. Despite his advanced years he had enjoyed excellent health until a year previous, when he suffered a severe attack of la grippe. He seemingly recovered, but did not regain his accustomed vigor. On the advice of his physician (Dr. Horn) he went to Atlantic City, and after remaining there for a time returned home and resumed his duties as superintendent of the Beaver Meadow Division of the Lehigh Valley Railroad, during the summer he and his family passed some time at Long Branch. He was then evidently failing in health, although he would not admit so much. He subsequently contracted a slight cold, but persisted in his daily visits to his office. January 6 he was obliged to return to his home, took to his bed the next day, and never rose therefrom. He suffered little, and to the last retained his faculties. He recognized all about him as death was approaching, and spoke words of consolation to his sorrowing wife and children, gave final directions for the closing of his earthly affairs, and impressed upon his son and daughters the care and attention they should bestow upon their mother, also expressing his unbounded confidence in their affection and loyalty to her. By a singular coincidence his death occurred on the same day of the month as did those of his father and mother — the former on January 18. 1872. and the latter on January 18, 1883.

The funeral of the distinguished man took place on Wednesday. January 21st, from the family residence, and was attended by practically the entire population of Mauch Chunk, besides many men of prominence from various portions of the state, special trains being needed to bring many of the mourning friends. The services were touching in their fervor and simplicity, and were conducted by two deeply attached personal friends of the deceased — his pastor, the Rev. W. P. Stevenson, and the Rev. Edsall Ferrier. The tributes to the lamented dead were many and of deep significance. The session of the church testified to his sincerity as a Christian and his worth as an officer during a period of more than thirty years, and the Sunday school voiced similar sentiments. The Mauch Chunk Times gave expression to the sense of the community at large in the following earnest phrases:
"The memory of the deceased will always be kept green in the hearts of all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance. The people of Mauch Chunk and Carbon County particularly will remember him as a man of manifold good qualities. He was charitable to a fault, and his magnanimity knew no bounds. There are many families in this county who have reason to sincerely mourn the death of this good citizen. While he despised ostentatious display, nevertheless his good deeds were so numerous that they could not be counted. He never let his left hand know what his right was doing, and in this way he accomplished deeds of charity which are only known to those who were benefited by them. He was always ready to lend a helping hand to the poor and oppressed, and he did this not with the blaring of trumpets, but rather as a modest, retiring and sincere Christian, assisting those in need with kind words of encouragement and hope, at the same time remembering them in a substantial way. During his long term of service as superintendent of a railway, many cases came before him which he disposed of with a degree of magnanimity which challenged admiration. He was respected by everybody, and the memory of this good man will long be kept in the hearts and minds of our people. Judge Brodhead was a devoted husband and father, and while the town loses an upright, honest and public-spirited citizen, his family suffers an irreparable loss. He was exceedingly domestic in his habits, and was never so happy as when seated at his own fireside, surrounded by his loved ones. The sympathy of the entire community goes to the afflicted widow and sorrowing children in this their hour of trial. It is a comfort and Christian consolation to them to know that the paternal head of the family served his Creator well on this earth for a longer period than the allotted time of man, and have every reason to hope that he is now enjoying with the Eternal Father that happiness which is promised the pure in heart."