HARRY BRAGG.

HARRY BRAGG—To instill into the minds and hearts of the young respect for great attainments, reverence for great virtues, and to excite generous emulation, by holding up as examples for admiration and imitation the lives of the wise, the great and the good, is commendable and right. But the field of example should be extended, and lessons of industry, energy, usefulness, virtue, honor, the true aims of life and the sources of happiness, should be gathered and enforced from all the various provinces of human labor, however humble. Our country is eminently in need of increasing intelligence in agriculture, commerce and mechanism. Those great divisions of labors should be rendered not only lucrative and respectable as they are but honorable and attractive to the young in all classes of society. The lives of leading merchants, farmers, manufacturers, mechanics,—of all who by honest labor have achieved success in the different occupations, should be written and commended to the young men of the republic. The path of labor and usefulness should be indicated as the highway to honor.

Harry Bragg, now one of the leading merchants in southern Kansas, has attained to his present creditable position entirely through his own efforts. He was born in Shropshire, England, February 9, 1850. His father, William M. Bragg, was born in London, England, and was married to Miss Margaret M. Pace, of Shropshire, in 1844, where he was Master of a school under the patronage of and maintained by the Duchess of Sutherland (then Mistress of the robes to the Queen) on one of their estates in that county. In this position he remained until he came to America in 1852, locating at Bellevue, Iowa. Moving to Kansas in 1869 he took up 320 acres of land and engaged in farming, which occupation he followed until he moved to Humboldt in 1889, laying aside the arduous duties of a farmer's life, and at which place he now resides at the age of seventy-eight, keeping books in the office of his son. His wife died at the age of seventy-

five years. They had nine children, of whom Harry was the fourth in order of birth.

In taking up the personal history of Harry Bragg we present to our readers the record of one who is very widely and favorably known. He remained in Iowa during his youth and at the age of twelve years he began to learn the tinner's trade. When his parents came to Kansas he remained in the Hawkeye State in order to finish learning his trade, and in 1870 he came to Humboldt, his father having previously located in Neosho county. He secured a situation as tinner in the shops of Redfield & Signor, with whom he remained for twenty months, after which he spent six months in the employ of J. R. Lowey and later was with J. P. Johnson in the hardware business under the firm name of Johnson & Bragg, which connection was maintained from 1876 until 1886, when Mr. Bragg purchased his partner's interest and has since continued the business alone. He now has the largest hardware and farm implement store in southern Kansas and is doing a business of fifty thousand dollars a year. He has followed most systematic and honorable business methods, and his straightforward dealing and moderate prices have gained to him a very liberal patronage.

Mr. Bragg was married in 1873 to Miss Ella Rouse, a native of Warren county, New York. Her father, N. B. Rouse, removed with his family from the Empire State to Kansas and in 1870 came to Humboldt, Kansas. Mrs. Bragg has indeed been a faithful companion and helpmate to her husband, and to her aid he largely attributes his success. He had to borrow two hundred and fifty dollars with which to purchase tools when he began business in Humboldt, but both he and his wife worked hard, she doing dressmaking in order to enable him to get a good start. Together they saved the money, and now as a result of their industry and economy, they are enabled to enjoy many of the comforts and luxuries of life. They have one child, Lucile, an interesting intelligent and popular young lady of Humboldt. She was graduated in the high school of this city, afterward she studied in the State University at Lawrence, and subsequently matriculated in Lombard College at Galesburg, Illinois, where she graduated. She is now acting as her father's bookkeeper.

In his political affiliations Mr. Bragg is a Republican but has had neither time nor inclination for public office. He has attended some of the county conventions, however, and, as every true American citizen should do, feels an interest in political affairs. Socially he is connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Modern Woodmen of America. He occupies a leading position in business circles in this county and his record is well worthy of emulation.

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