Reuben Brackett

Reuben Brackett, (father of Arthur and Charley, who reside in Atlantic) came from Lee county, Iowa, and settled on the hillside near the Lewis mill, where Rev. B. L. Shepherd now lives, in 1856, bringing with him the first fruit trees that were ever brought into the county. Mr. Brackett afterward became the pioneer nurseryman of the county, he lived in Lee county as early as 1837 and in that year planted the first osage hedge that was ever put into Iowa soil. In his early life he was the original inventor of rubber cloth which is now in such general use. He sold his patent before it became valuable, getting $3,000 for it. He was the father of C. B. Brackett, president of the State Horticultural Society; he died in 1866 at the age of seventy-six years.

From "History of Cass County, Iowa Together With Brief Mention of Old Settlers," by Lafe Young, Atlantic, Iowa, Telegraph Steam Printing House, 1877, pg. 21.