Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1916-02-15

| rheumatism three years ago and fore
| ed to take treatment in Sanitarium
in Montana. While apparently recov-
ering, it left him weaker. Just before
the session OF the last Legislature, he
gave signs of failing health, but he
would not give up and was at his
| office until the last two days OF the
session. He worked hard and ener-
getically to secure legislation in the
interests of the institutions and
fought through a long and arduuOus
legislative investigation of the James
town asylum, assisting greatly in the
victory and vindicatiOn that followed.
Beloved BY Many.
Beloved by hundreds of Bismarck
citizens, many grieved at the loss yes
terday. The comment was general
that his place will be hard to fill be-
cause of the high quality of ability he
brought to the office AS a resident
member of the board, he shaped many
of its policies and probably was more
intimately in touch with the needs of
the institution than any other men,
Der on the board.
Mr.. Brewster was well known in
political circles. He was chairman of
the state central committee until two
years ago when succeeded by F. H.
Sprague Of Grafton. In this position
he did much to bring the factions to-
gether and contributed as much to
the party's welfare as any one man.
His loss will be felt keenly in the
councils of the party.
Mr.. Brewster acted as supervisor of
the federal census for the western
district of North Dakota.
A banker and man of affairs, he
started life in North Dakota with
yoke Of oxen with which he broke the
sod.
In the time that elapsed since that
year of breaking he had wide range
of such experiences as were common
enough to the state-makers of the
early period and attained much sub
stantial success, having to his credit
high standing in banking circles; the
satisfaction of seeing Harvey-with
whose fortunes he was identified even
before it was on the map-become one
of the best towns in the state; and
such recognition as public man as
is indicated by the fact that he was
selected to direct the census in a dis
trict which includes one-half the state.
Mr.. Brewster was born at lndepend
ence, Iowa. December 20, 1857. He
was the son of Harvey Clark and
Belinda Brewster, and his ancestors
were among the first colonists in the
new world. His father was pioneer
and a veteran of the Civil war. He
was 16 years of age when he came in
to Dakota and proceeded to the devel-
opment of his capacity for exercising
patience by managing yoke of cattle
attached to a pillow. He worked on
the farm, studied as he could in
school and out and in the winter he
was clerk in a hotel. He learned tele-
graphy and from 1886 to 1890 he was
operator and agent for the Northern
Pacific at Sanborn. But he sought
for larger sphere and better pros
poets and he got into real estate. In
1889 he became the cashier of the
German State bank at SanbOrn, and
since then, till his death, he devoted
himself very largely to banking and
his realty interests. He became iden-
titled with Harvey very early in its
history and was a large factor in
building up the city. He organized
the Farmers State bank and the Bank
of Harvey, and was interested, until
recently, in the conduct of other
banks
He was always prominent in public
life and in the councils of the I.epubli-
can party for many years. He never
missed state convention; he was the
first clerk of Harvey; was postmaster
under President Mckinley and Roose.
welt, until 1906, when he resigned.
Mr.. Brewster was married to Miss
Jessie Owne, of Sanborn, December
q, 1888, and he had fine home at
Harvey, which he recently sold, and
one. of the largest and best private
libraries in the state.