Cumberland County, Maine - Captain Albert Bragg
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Biography
Captain Albert Bragg
Biographical Review
Cumberland County, Maine
Boston
Biographical Review Publishing Company
1896
Page 112-113


Captain Albert Bragg, senior commander of the Maine Steamship Company's line,
was born at Hyannis, Mass., August 31, 1838, son of John and Cyrena (Baxter)
Bragg. Hyannis was for many years the home of the Braggs and the Baxters. Baxter
Bragg, grandfather of Captain Bragg, was one of the early settlers there.

John Bragg was probably born in Hyannis, which was his boyhood's home. He went
to sea when quite young, and first commanded a fisherman, then a coaster,
following the sea up to the time of his death. His wife, who is the daughter of
John B. Baxter, of Hyannis, is still living. They reared ten children, the
subject of this sketch being the eldest son and the eldest surviving member of
the family. Cornelia is now the widow of Charles Hardwick, of Bridgeport,
Conn.'; James B. is a practising physician in Bridgeport; Martha D., twin sister
of James, is the wife of William A. Hallett, of Hyannis; Jennie is married to T.
P. Lovell, of Boston, a member of the firm of John P. Lovell & Sons; John P.
resides in Brooklyn; Amanda, who was the wife of Dr. Liston, of Albany, N.Y.,
died some time since, leaving five children; Wallace died, leaving two children;
Emma, who was the wife of Edward Gage, of Boston, has also passed from life,
leaving two children; and another child died in infancy.

Albert Bragg received his early education in the schools of Hyannis. He first
went to sea when ten or twelve years old, accompanying his father on a fishing
trip. From that time until he was fourteen he made frequent voyages of the same
sort. In 1852, though only a boy of fourteen, he shipped as an ordinary seaman,
under command of Captain Orrin B. Bearse, on the ship "Berlin," which sailed
from New York to San Francisco, and was one hundred and eighty days making the
voyage. The vessel remained in San Francisco some weeks, and young Bragg had an
opportunity to witness some of the curious phases of life on the Pacific coast
in those wild days. His uncle, John B. Baxter, who was third mate of the
"Berlin," remained in San Francisco, and is still living there. The vessel next
went to the Chintz Islands, Peruvian territory, where she remained two or three
months, loading with guano. It next sailed to Callao, where the crew were given
a furlough for some time. The next stop was at Baltimore, and it was two years
before the "Berlin " finally reached home. Mr. Bragg left the vessel on arriving
home, and engaged in the coasting trade. When he was nineteen years of age, he
was Captain of a coaster, a schooner named the "Cape May." He has since
commanded the "New Delight," the "T. P. Bell," and the "Julia Smith," all
coasting vessels. In 1867 he entered the employ of the Maine Steamship Company,
as first officer of the "Chesapeake," plying between Portland and New York; and
within six months was appointed Captain. He was afterward in charge of the
steamer "Franconia" for nine years, of the "Eleanora" for a long time, master of
the "Cleopatra," and of the "Winthrop" when she made her first trips and he has
had charge of the steamers "Doris," "Rapidan," and "San Antonio," while the
other boats were being repaired. When the company's last and finest steamer, the
"Manhattan," was finished, Captain Bragg was made her master - a position which
he has held since 1891. The "John Englis," a new steamship now being built by
the company, will be ready in January, and will be commanded by Captain Bragg.
He has never lost a boat or a passenger; and the number of his friends increases
with every trip, his many agreeable characteristics drawing people to him by an
irresistible magnetism.

March 7, 1861, Captain Bragg was married to Rosetta, daughter of Eleazer and
Sally (Smith) Crowell, of Hyannis, who was born August 2, 1843. Mrs. Bragg also
belongs to an old Hyannis family. Her grandfather, Judah Crowell, who was
Captain of a coasting-vessel, resided in that town, while her father was born
there. The last-named gentleman was one of the early engineers of the Old Colony
Railroad, and was a resident of Hyannis during his lifetime. Captain Bragg has
one son, Albert C., born March 22, 1863, who is a clerk in the Boston & Maine
freight office at Portland. Captain Bragg votes in the ranks of the Republican
party. He is a member of Ancient Brothers Lodge, Independent Order of Odd
Fellows, and of the Pilots' Association, Manhattan Harbor, No. 12. In religious
belief he and his wife are liberal. They have a pleasant home at Portland.