The Republican., 1890-07-05
An Interesting Sketch of Colonel Rob-
ert Bruce and Other Members of
His Family.

Ills FdDllly.
EDITOR SUNPAY CIVILIAN-Your
many readers may not be unwilling
to hear something additional towhat
has already appeared in your Yalua.
bic journal in regard to the death of
the late Col. Robert Bruce, and his
highly respected family whiGi has
been prominent in our county for
over 100 years. do not know q any
reading matter that ought tObe Of
more interest TO the average nader
than historic facts and incident con.
nected with our ancient, or pbneer
families at any rate there are MI
who do relish such literature. ki
The Bruces were Scotch, of very
distinct type, which follows the line
age in all its bearings. POsitiveness
and decision of character were traits
always prominent in the phase of
their demeanOr. Earnest and
straightforward in al places and re-
latiOns, gentIemanW by nature and
training, with intellectual forces of a
superior order, and in many cases
trained for high professional and
official stations. The family in the
full run Of the pastcentury have filled
more official positions than any other
family in the country, and always
with fidelity and efficiency.
The most remote ancestors of the
name in Maryland settled in what is
now Carroll county. long before the
Revolution. The place has been
known as BrucevilIe. There were
Normand and Andrew, brothers,
! favorite family names. Upton Bruce,
the father of our immediate subject.
| came to AlleganV county at least a
century ago was merchant i'll
Cumberland in IFS infant days, and
very prominent and respected in all
relations of life; elected to the Legis-
| lature in 1904 and three successive
times thereafter judge of the Or.
phans' Court from 1910 to 1912, aud
State Senator from 1872 to 1915, to
say nothing of minor places filled by
| him was the first president of the
bank of Allegany. He removed to
Ryans Glades, in what is now GarY
rett county, where he died in 18gR
| and was buried near German. LeQF9
ed at the gloomy spot years agoN HI
was tall and spare, much like his SDf
Robert, extremely urbane, and ,eFen
cOurtly in manners, an Olden time
gentleman. He left five sons Robert,
Normand, Henry, Charles KeyHU Up
ton, who still survives. and two
daughters, who afterwards became
the wives OF VIM. Price. Esq, and
Gen. Walter Gwynn, respectively.
Robert, the eldest son. was born in
Cumberland. His education was
plain, but sufficient for the times and
practical life. Beginning in the mer.
camille business was once in railroad
life; skilled accountant, he could
readily adjust and audit difficult ac-
counts with great precision and clear
ness. In this line he was an expert.
He also had a large experience in the
banking business, When the late
war came on he was not in any par.
ticular business, and volunteered in
the Union Army soon as enlistments
were in order in Maryland. He was
very efficient in recruiting and o..
ganizing the Second Maryland Regi-
ment, Potomac Home Brigade, of
which he became Colonel upon the
resignation of Colonel Johns, and
served with zeal and great usefulness
to the end of the war. The Colonel
was man of true courage, but not Of
the demonStrative kind. We have
occasion to know how he chahd
under the orders which kept his
regiment from defending CumHcr-
land in 1868 when it was capturedby
the COnfederates. He would not
have hesitated moment to have
given up his life on that occasion.
which was one of great diScredit TO
whoever prevented willing soldiers
from defending their homes. The
Colonel was proud of his military
record, and cherished it more than
his creditable judicial career of 16
years, which closed with his death.
He was elected to the Legislature
in 1886: and was a candidate for
comptroller in 1867, and elected to
the Orphans Court in 1874, a place
filled by his father 62 years before.
For some years prior to his death
owing to his great age, he was very
quiet in demean0r and life, but his
mind was bright and spirits buoyant
to the last. Strong will and vitality
considerably prolonged his valuable
life. He was singuIarly fortunate
and happy in his domestic relations.
leaving wife with whom he had
lived In real felicity for six Years