Silas Braley

ILAS BRALEY, ex-Sheriff of Winona County, and a member of the Winona Construction Company, which is engaged in paving, sewer work and general contracting, is recognized as one of the most enterprising business men of the city. He was born near Montpelier, Vt., May 1, 1844, and is one of a family of three children, whose parents were John and Abigail (Fuller)

Braley. His sister, Betsy, is now the wifeof Alvin Pierce, of Westboro, Wis., and his brother, Alvin, resides in Winona. The father of this family was born on the old Braley homestead in the Green Mountain State in the year 1819, and was a farmer by occupation. He resided in Vermont until 1849, when, accompanied by his family, he started for the West, and took up his residence in Oshkosh,

Wis., where he continued to reside until 1864. In that year he removed to Fond du Lac, where he remained until 1868, and then went to Cherokee County, Iowa. His remaining days wore there passed. His death occurred in 1894, at the age of seventy-five, many years after his wife was called to the homo beyond. She, too, was born in Vermont, and died at the early age of thirty-two years. The Braley family is of English origin, and was founded in America by ancestors who crossed the bring deep on the "Mayflower.*' The grandfather, Silas Braley, spent his entire life m Vermont.

The gentleman whose name heads this record was a child of only four years when he was taken by his parents to Wisconsin. He continued at home until eighteen years of age, and then started out in life for himself. During the three years which followed before he had attained his majority, he paid his father 120 per month for his freedom. Going to Oshkosli, he engaged in lumbering, following that business about four years? when he entered the shipyards and began learning the ship-car 1)0 nter*s trade, serving a three-years apprenticeship. On the expiration of that period he resumed lumbering, to which he devoted his time and energies until 1870, when he came to Minnesota, in company with A. J. Hay ward, and engaged in logging for two years. He then entered the employ of Laird, Norton <fe Co., to superintend their rating and logging business, and continued with them about twelve years, or until 1884, when he purchased an outfit and began logging in his own interest. For six years he carried on business along that line. In 1892, in connection with Otis Aboil and C. G. Corey, he organized what is known as the Winona Construction Company.

This company is extensively engaged in paving, in laying sewers and in doing general contract work. The first contract taken was for the paving of some seventy-three thousand yards of the streets of Winona, and putting in about twenty-six thousand feet of curbing. This contract amounted to $1 20,- 000, and was completed some two weeks before the time specified in the agreement. The company also took a similar contract for work in Quincy, Ill., for $70,000, and the work was completed six weeks before the specified time; a fact which plainly indicates the thoroughness and rapidity with which the work was carried on. The firm has a high reputation for the excellence of their work and their faithfulness to contracts, and the liberal patronage which they now receive is well deserved.

On the 15th of December, 1863, Mr. Braley was united in marriage with Miss Marion W. Powell, of Oshkosh, Wis., daughter of Willoughby and Zilpha Powell, both of whom were natives of Nova Scotia, and died in old age. Mr. and Mrs. Braley have three children: William Wallace apd John W., who are engaged in railroading on the North-western Road; and Marion Alice, at home.

In 1888 Mr. Braley was nominated and elected as Sheriff of Winona County for a term of two years, and on the expiration of that period was reelected. He had previously served as Deputy United States Marshal for four years, and in the discharge of his duties has ever been found fearless and true. In politics he is a stanch Republican, having supported that party since attaining his majority. Socially he is connected with the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Winona Lodge No. 18, A. F. & A. M.; Chapter No. 5, R. A. M.; and Coeur do Leon Com man dory No. 3, of Winona. He is also a charter member of Winona Lodge No. 21, K. of P. Mr. Braley is a broad-gauged, liberal-minded and public-spirited man, justly popular in Winona and his adopted county, where he has many friends, who hold him in the highest regard.

Austin Abell.

As printed in Portrait and biographical record of Winona County, Minnesota: containing ... (1895). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.