St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-08-02
PEN PICTURES.
The Early Days of st. Paul, With Brief
Biographies and Anecdotes of
Old Settlers.
Some Notable Events In the History
OF Maj. Brackett--James Dillon,
the Blacksmith.
Charles Rauch and the Wooden Ham
--Charles Weide and
Real Estate.
lCopyrighted by T. NJ. Newson.l

A. L. BRACKET.
There is probably no man in the North
west who has been through 50 many peril
Gus adventures, and who has endured so
many hardships, and who has come out so
completely unframed, and who is even now
well prepared to vigorously fight the bat
ties of life than Maj. \. b. Bracket, our
present United States deputy marshal. His
history Is one continuous series of stirring
events; in the mountains among the miners,
in the army among the bullets, on the
plains amid the war-whoopS, in the dens
among the robbers, fitting here and
there and everywhere, surrounded
with danger, and yet be is as bold and Wig
orOus to-day as he was twenty years ago.
A man of line physical proportions, very
reticent, full of energy and courage, he
moves down upon his victim like tornado
and before one is aware of it he has him in
his power. Very few men can fill the pO-
sitiOn of deputy United States marshal so
acceptably as Maj. Bracket. and very few
men made better cavalry officers in the
army than the subject of my sketch.
WHEN AND WHERE BORN.
he was born among the Granite hills Of
New Hampshire in 1926, and educated at
the common schools OF that state, when at
the age of fifteen years he removed 10
Boston and engaged in the grocery business
and in 1S4S sailed for California and entered
largely into mining and remained in the
mines four years; in 1852 took up another
enterprise in which he continued up to
1854, and then returned to Boston. and two
years later, or in 1856, came to st. Paul.
In connection with c. W. GriygS he
opened a store on Third street, and
was in business here one year. when he
was appointed deputy sheriff by Tullis;
served out his term, and was reGppOinted
deputy by Deacon Caldwell and Robertson
and then deputy United States marshal by
William y. Gere. and in turn by Marshal
Buck. In 1861 he entered the army and
was made captain of one of three cavalry
companies which We're raised in this state to
90 South. On arriving at their place Of
destination these several companies were
consolidated and called the CurtisS Horse
regiment, and of this regiment he
was appointed major by Gov. Ramsey
in 1862. Finally an order came from the
secretary of war that the regiment must
bear the name of some state. and il was
called the Fifth Iowa cavalry, and this ac-
counts for the fact that as three companies
of Minnesota cavalrymen were merged in
as a part of this regiment. and as Bracket
was major of said regiment, he did duty
with his own soldiers while apparently
hsiling from another state. He served in
the army three years. and then re-enlisted
and entered the service at the head
OF Brackets battalion, and was with
Sully on the plains; mustered out in 1866.
He engaged in business i'm Minneapolis for
one year, or up to 1871, when he was APP
pointed United States deputy under Mar
chn1 Eafnn. alzn nndar MarSh1lS
strong, McLaren and Denny, and is now in
that position, having been in this Office some
twenty-four years.
A COMPLIMENT.
Gen. Sully, in his report, says. "a very
large body of Indians collected on my right
for charge. directed Bracket to rout
them. This he did calamity. driving them
in circle of about three miles to the base
of the mountains and beyond my line of
skirmishers, killing many of them. The In
dams, seeing his position, collected in large
numbers about him. but lie repealed them,
assisted by some well-directed shots from
Jones battery"
SWORD PRESENTATION.
Just before Mai. Brackets battalion left
st. Paul for Sioux City, some of his friends
here met and presented him with beauti-
full sword, costing $500. OF course the
recipient was overcome with feelings Of
gratitude for the act, and expressed
himself i'm fitting terms. This was q teS-
timonial for real merit, bravery. friendship,
and the faithful discharge of duty.
THAT $4,000 LIBEL SUIT.
About twenty-five years ago, when edit
ing the Times, my local editor charged
Mr.. Bracket with neglect of duty while
/ acting rs deputy under Sheriff Robertson,
/ and in return he sued me for $4,000
damages. The case. however, was with
drawn and never came to trial, and no al
fusion has been made TO the matter by
either of Us from that time to this. 1t was
an episode OF the early times, having no
particular significance and is only now
/ alluded TO as 4 matter of history. No bet
ter friends could possibly exist to-day than
/ Mai. Bracket and the writer.
POOR AUNT MILE!
When down South in the performance of
| his duty, Mai. Bracket was forced to take
several contrabands into his camp, and
| among them an old negro woman called
Aunt Millie." He treated her kindly, and
/ she became cook at headquarters. and was
with him in all his skirmishes and battles.
/ On his way through the South, Aunt Mile,
wearing a Union soldiers coat. reached her
| old home and met some of her old friends,
who tried to persuade her to remain with
/ them. but she exclaimed: mo, Use gwine
with MaSsa Lincoln's army of de Lord. s"
and continued with Maj. Bracket until he
reached ST. Paul. when the major, being or
/ dered to join Gen. Sully, left Aunt Mil
lie with George \. Bracket of Minneap-
| oils. who. when she died in March, 1885,
aged over 100 years, had her buried in
his own family burial lot, and the major
attended the funeral.
PERSONAL.
Mai. Bracket is a large man, with great
energy of character quiet in his movements
and very decided and emphatic in his acts.
With all this, he is mild and lenient. He
is a man of wonderful industry, has been
and is now always on the go, and. as sol
dier, he was prompt, brave and full Of &C
tivity. He is as well known throughout
the Northwest as any man in it. for there is
scarcely village or hamlet he has not Wis
tied in pursuit Of some criminal. He is a
man of large heart and sym
pathies, and, socially, very much
liked. One OF his striking peculiarities is
the manner in which he responds to you in
conversation. He brings his right hand
rapidly across his goatee, and nOdding his
head, says: 'Yes-yeS-juSt, so. Yes
No!-You don't say SOY -e-s-y-e-s!-
Well declare-Y-e- Maj. Brackets
success in capturing prisoner is brought
about by his firmness and his kindness. and
while his duty has called him into many
dangerous places, yet have never heard OF
his being shot or in any way injured. He
is quiet. pleasant man, good officer and
good citizen.
CHARLES RAUCH.
In early days Apollo hall. situated neal
where Indexes dry goods store now is, on
Third street, close to Wabasha- was the