Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1896-02-27
OssssD Frssklis,
Fiosr.
: Feed, and
= Free Delivery.
MS LIFE WAS A ROMANCE.

quent visitor to Elk Point in wears
past, died at his home near Salix, Ia.
Tuesday afternoon, at the age Of 50
years Of paralysis Of the heart.
There was probably no better known
man in Iowa or the northwest than The
opile Bruguier. His personal history
is part Of the history Of the progress
and development Of the north west @.
G. Treadway was close friend OF Bru.
guter, and was associated with him in
the Indian trade in lS86-67-68, and af.
terwards acted as Mr.. Brupuier's st-
torney. Mr.. Treadway gave the fol.
lowing account to the Sioux City
Journal:
"Mr. Bruguier was az remarkable 4
man % was ever In this part OF the
country. He possessed force OF char
acter that endeared him to those with
whom he came In contact, and was q
man Of culture. Bruguier was very re.
ticient In regard to his early life. but I
learned this much. He was an aristo-
cratically raised young Frenchman,
his father being q captain in the En-
glish army. Young Bruguier started
In life as . clerk In store and was en-.
gagged TO marry young lady at ST.
Johns, New Brunswick. Shortly before
the wedding day arrived the young
woman was taken suddenly ill and died
This misfortune caused BruRuier deep
sorrow from which he never recovered
and marked change In his bright and
promising life. From the highest type
Of civilization he became an adventurer
In wild unsettled country. It was in
about 1885 when Bruguier frat took up
his abode At confluence OF the Missouri
and Sioux rivers. At first 1t was said
he was man Of culture and did not
mingle with the aborigines, but this
was y mistake. From the iirst Bru-
guier became strong friend OF the
Santee Sioux. on whose land he lived
He wore Indian clothes and became :
member Of the tribe. Bruguier soon
got to know the Sioux thoroughly. and
being able to speak their lanruaoe
fluently became q great favorite 81 the
chief, War Eagle. In 1885 Bruouier
married War Eagles two daughters
with the Indian ceremony. You know
the man who marrtes the oldest daurh-
ter Of the family, according 70 the
Indian belief, is entitled to the rest al
the female portion of the family. One
Of Bruguier's wives name was AppahOe
Break OF Day. have often seen her
and must confess she was handsome
squaw.
"Mr. Bruguier's marital relations
were happy, and to him by his Indian
wives we're born twelve children:
Charles, Joseph, Eugene, John, VIII
liam. Andrew, Samuel, Rosa. Julia.
Mary, Victoria and Selma. He was
found Ut his children, and his whole
aim In life was to give them an educa-
tt0n, Charles went to Ann Arbor col
lege, but before he finished his course
he ran away to war and going through
the Pcnaul0 campaign came out
without . scratch q brave man.
He has since died. Andrew
was killed while attending school
In st. Louis, by being stabbed by 4
sCh0Olmate. Joe met q tragic death
out west and I believe Samuel. Holm
and William are still living. All the
girls with the exception 81 Victoria.
are still living. II SCENE as II Rru.
guier's only pleasure Ia life was 70 ele-
vate his children and he lavished mon.
ey on them. At the time Of the 6antea
treaty the government gave him 400
acres Of land for each member 81 tha
family and at one time sBruguier ha0
In his possession IS, 600 acres al land
Nearly ell Of this he used for the bene-
At Of his family.
when Bruguier attempted 10 house
his Indian wives In log house, which
he built in 1857, they became consump-
tive and died. They we're buried be.
side their father, War Eagle, on .
high hill overlooking the two rivers.
BruGuier built fence about the
graves and TO this day the sunken
graves and rotton posts can be seen.
Hundreds OF relic seekers have shipped
pieces from the posts, but OF late the
graves seem to have been forgotten.
Many people believe the little lor
cabin standing near tho Riveaside
power house TO be Bruguier's original
home. They ore mistaken. The little
cabin was only used - an clubhouse.
His drst home was torn down and Is
built story and : half frame house a,
the site In 1858. The house is still
standing and is . familiar sight IS
persons who frequent Riverside. II is
said the house cost BruRuier 1900.
Under its roof he has entertained eome
distinguished men and It should s.
considered an historic building.
Bruguier wAs married third time
to . widow named Mrs. BOuville Bun
mott. Mrs. Burnett used 10 live With
her first husband III . little ho,,se
whore the X. NJ. q. a. building nov
stande, but later moved ont "a the
Sioux, where she met Bruguier ID 1865.