The Bragdon Farm, now the home of Melville & Fatine Soil. This farm was purchased by James T. Bragdon in 1880 when he came from Ill. to Iowa, originally from Kennebunk, Maine, with his wife, son Harry, & daughter Maude. In Ill. he worked in an iron foundry.

The patent of the 80 acres Mr. Bragdon bought was issued from the United States in 1855. Bragdon was a breeder of Clydesdale horses. The house stands today the same as it was then with the same rock foundation, the sills are all hand hewed. The rail fence stood as is in the

picture until the 1930's.

Maude Bragdon, a Murray High School graduate of Des Moines Business College. He was a farmer and breeder of pedigreed Poland China hogs. In later years he also raised Silver Foxes, shipping the pelts to the New York City fur markets.

Their children were Clarence Friday of Osceola; Glenn of Shawnee, Oklahoma; Fatine of Murray; Calvin of Leon. Mrs Friday passed away in 1920.