Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1890-08-01
II
Wild roves the Indian girl, bright Alvaretta,
Where sweeps the waters o. the blue Juuiata. -

"EhP9Y
wild roves the Indian girl, bright Alvaretta,
Where sweeps the waters o fthe blue Juniata." y.
Judge VIII Bratton was born in Mif1in
county, Pa, on the banks of the poetical
named mountain stream, 1.-THE blue Juni-
ata," in 1887. His great grandfather set
tied there before the revolutionary war;,
and to this day his descendants occupy the
old homestead and the settlement is known
throughout the states as Bratton's Corners.
He vas raised on a farm and passed
through all the experiences that farmer
boys Of his day in the mountain districts
of that we'll watered and heavily timbered
state had to undergo. He had just reached
manhood when the civil war broke out. In
August, 1861, he enlisted for three years in
the Forty. ninth Pennsylvania infantry,
and it being ascertained chat he had a mu-
steal taste and training he was assigned to
the band. Under General Mcclellan this
regiment passed through the Peninsular
campaign. In the second days fight at
Gaines Mill he, with a number of others,
was captured and was escorted to Belle
Island, from there to Libby prison, where
he was Quartered for six weeks-ample
time to undergo a severe test of his fasting
ability and powers of endurance. He was
exchanged January %, 1852. He dryly
says: II went in weighing 100 to ITO
pounds and anne out hungry at 10
pounds" He re-enlisted in March, 1864, as
a private III Battery G, 18th Pennsylvania
heavy artillery. Last winter while acting
as clerk at the capitol during the session
of the legislature Mr. BrattOn ascertained
that Representative Tyler of Fargo was il
the 10Th, and our first pioneer settler,
VIM. Mercer, of Painted Woods, also be-
longed to the 49th regiment. In the battle
at Petersburg he was wounded in the face.
In a bayonet charge on Fort Gillmore-the
ll2th was then serving as infantry-he
was severely wounded in the arm by a
piece OF she'll. Oar forces were repulsed
here, and he was taken prisoner-taken to
Libby prison where the surgeon ampu-
tated his arm, and with others who could
no longer be feared by reason Of their
wound and lost limbs he
was paroled and forwarded
to Annapolis, Md. The wound contracted
gangrene. He was sent to the Phlladel-
phia hospital; was transferred from this to
the South Philadelphia hospital. While
there the benevolent citizens of the city,
who were ever doing good for the sick and
wounded, organized a school for the dis
abled-it was at Eleventh and Christian
streets. Here, with OtherS-sOme who lost
an arm, or legs, or were crippled for life
they We're given every needed facility for
education. Of this opportunity Mr.. Brat
ton availed himself, ana to his study here
he attributes the foundation of his educa.
ton. He attended commercial school, and
when he felt fully fitted to cope with the
world he returned home. Here he was
soon recognized and honored by election to
the second and third terms. This was in
a district of 1000 voters, and his majority
was only ten to fifteen each time (close
votlng).- His opponents were the best of
men and had been soldiers.
Mr.. Bratton came to Burleigh county in
1888, bringing an interesting family of five.
he located in township 1876, now White
township. He had capital and went at the
work OF opening up a farm with zeal;
built a large and comfortable house; a
frame BARN; sunk a well and broke land.
He has had to stir around to hold his own.
he has not been successful at grain raising
and had he not branched out into stock
would consider his venture a failure. He
did see the necessity for stock raising in
connection with grain and now has a fine
herd of thirty-ive head of cattle-thirteen
cows, mostly part Durham. He started
with twenty head or sheep three years ago
and now has $50 of as fine grade as can he
found in the state. His crops of corn,
wheat and oats are very good. When 1
drove up | found him hoeiug in the gar
den and "the empty sleeve" was noticeable
and impressive evidence of a great sac
rifice on the altar Of his country.
The severest trial Mr.. Bratton has expe.
rienced was in the loss Of his wife and
daughter two years ago. The %neighbOrs
participated in the grief 0ccasioned by the
loss to a small pioneer settlement of two
of its most brilliant, active and lovely
members, and extended to the husband
and remaining members of the family their
heartfelt sympathy. In this household
There is a full realization of "Oh, what is
home without a mother"
Mr.. Bratton kindly invited me to remain
to supper. Here l met farmer Yeater's
two daughters, who drove up from En-
mons county to visit the BrattOns. The
Judge from the front door pointed out and
named the surrounding neighbors' farms.
His farm is on an elevation and from it
we could see Sterling, Mckenzie, White,
Lengen, Menoken and Teller townships,
and see a long ditance into Emmons coun-
ty. 1t will be difficult to find a location
better situated for mixed farming and
stock raising, and that is the opinion of
the m now located here. ~