The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-03-05
Monday. March 5. 1877.
NEWSPAPERS AND NEWSPAPER
MEN IN ROCK ISLAND
COUNTY.
BY. b, DANFoRTB, JR.
No. 4.
(Concluded)
No. 4.
(Concluded)
FRANCIS r. BENNETT.
BY J. b, DANFoRTB, JR.

and removed to Canada, near Montreal,
where Frank was born, Nov. q, 1925. In
1926 his parents returned to Brattleboro;
in 1882 they removed to Montrose, Pa,
and in May, 1887, TO Davenport, Iowa.
He was then II years of age and had, up
to that time, been kept regularly at school
and probably had an average education OF
boys of that age at that time. He attended
school no more of any consequence but
went to learn the printing business in lS4l
in the Office Of the Davenport Gazette,
SANDERS & Davis, publishers and gradual
edin May lS45. The first place he worked
as journynan was the same year in the
Office of H. G. Reynolds, in Rock Island, on
the Upper MSSisSippidn, and in the fall Of
lS47 the Northeastern Advertiser came
into his possession. The name of the
paper was then changed to Rock Island
Advertiser. In 1851 A. G.. Bracket be.
came associated with Bennett, which con-
nection was dissolved the following year
by his accepting the appointment Of First
Lieut.. in the regular army.
in the fall of 1858 the advertiser Office
was sold TO Raymond Il Wharton, and Ben
nett went to farming. in company with his
father, in the western part of Scott county
Iowa. In 1857 he removed to Princeton,
in the same county, and engaged in
merchandising, and in the fall of 1859 re-
moved to Lyons, Iowa, and engaged IN the
same business. In the spring of 1861 he
sold his stock of goods. In June of the
same year his wife died at the age of So
The following year he visited Colorado, re-
turning in the fall; was again married in Jan
1868 and in the spring following returned
with his family to Denver, Colorado, where
he engaged in the lumber business. He
returned to Lyons, Iowa in November 1867
and engaged in various pursuits until 1877:
when he returned to the old business again
in the Adrocate office, in Lyons. Thus
after an atsence from the business OF
nearly 20years he got back into the bust
ness probably never again to leave
it permanently.
In 1874 he bought an interest in the
Delmar Journal, then called the Clipper
Journal, and afterwards bought the Ofic
en- tire, which paper he is now conducting
COL. BRACKET.
Albert G., Bracket, formerly associated
with Mr. Bennett as editor of the Roc
Island Adyertiser now Lieut. Col Second
Cavalry, L. s. A was born at Cherry Valley
Otsego county, New York, February IA
1929, In June lS47, he was lst Lieut.
10 the Attn Regiment of Indiana Nolur
teers, raised to serve 10 the war wit
Mexico, Willis A. German, Colonel, at
tached to General Jo Lanes Brigade
After engaging 10 various battles at Huam
ontla, Seige Of Pueba and Atlixco he wa
honorably mustered out in August lS4S
and came TO Rock Island in the fall {
1S49,
In September 1851 he was senior ed
tor of the Rock Island AdvsrtiSer" an
while in this capacity published serie
of sketches about the early history an
settlement OF Rock IslaGd and vicinity
which have recently been republisf
cd in THE ARGUS.
The advertiser then being the onl
paper published at Rock Island it ha
much patronage from the adjoining cour
ties of Henry, Mercer and Whitesid
where it exerted a considerable degree
influence. This paper, aided by the tv
papers then published at Dayenpor
Iowa, the Gazette, and the Banner, an
by the peru (IlsJ Democrat" streuuousI
urged the importance of building th
Chicago and Rock Island railroad" ii
building of which was then opposed |
many influential citizens of Illinois.
The AdrertiSer was jealous advocat
of the election Of Gen. Scott to the pres
dency, but in October, previous to IL
election, Col Bracket sold his interest i
the establishment to Mr.. L. r. Bennett
who then became sole owner.
In 1854 Col. Bracket wrote a bocl
called 'Lane's Brigade 10 Mexico" pul
lished at CINCINNATI, Ohio. The yet
following, in March 1855, be was appOin
ed by Franklin Pierce, president Of ii
United States, captain of cavalry in Ii
United States army. After raising |
recruits from Rock Island a company
regulars for the End Regiment U.
cavalry, he proceeded to Texas to guar
the country from the hostile incursons
Indians and Mexicans. For this duty /
received the special commentator
General Scott. Remaining there son
four years, until the breaking out of Il
war between the states, with much diff
Guilty he escaped from Texas after the su
render by General TwigRs to the confe
crates of his whole command, which il
cluded the regiment then commanded
Lieut., Col, Robert E, Lee, in whiC
regiment Col. Bracket was then ca
tain. Making his way to Florida, then'
to Cuba and New York, he proceeded
Washington. After recruiting his compar
at Carlisle Barracks, Penn, he marcht
to Washington aud was with the fir
troops that crossed the Potomac into vi
ginia. They were at the battle of Blac
burns Ford on the Friday preceding Il
battle Of Bulls Run, and at the battle
Bulls Run, July 81, 1861, acted throul
the whole day as escort to Gener
Mcdowell, and for'their vigorous action