BRUCE, Joshua Harrison

Born March 22, 1833 in Ladoga, Montgomery County, Indiana he began farming at an early age with his father, Charles P. Bruce being raised in Scott Township with a large family (William; Samuel; Angeline; Hetty; Robert; Mary and Charley.) At the age of 22, he married Sarah E. LaFollette. Staying in Montgomery County for a decade, they would go on to Sauk Center, Stearns County Minnesota where he was a well-loved farmer and admired citizen. They were parents of Mary; Sarah; Angeline; Eliza; Charles R; William; Joshua (died young); James M; and Mabel O. He loved farming and his family but did serve in minor local (township trustee for instance) offices as well as in the Minnesota House of Representatives (1885-86) but he did not love that (although he did an amazing job at the task). He desired to be home with wife, children and land thus refused flatly a renomination. His land was nearly 400 acres and said to be one of the most fertile and well cared for in central Minnesota. Quite active in the Odd Fellows, he was buried in their cemetery, the pallbearers all old and warm friends, the funeral at the Episcopal church. Over 50 carriages rode with him to his last resting place. His farm and assets were distributed to his wife and children, he suffering with severe stomach cancer but keeping his cheerful personality and logical brain until his death. His lengthy obituary in the Sauk Centre, Minnesota (April 30, 1891 p 3) newspaper described his as “possessing a warm heart, sympathetic nature, liberality of action, purity of life, nobility of character,” and his death was a “personal bereavement to all who knew him!” A perfect member in our Who’s Who section! - kbz