A Raft Pilot's log cont. Some of the Men Prominent in the Rafting Industry, 1840-1915 230 CAPTAIN JOSEPH BUISSON Joseph Buisson was born in Wabasha, Minnesota, February 17, 1846. His father, a Frnech trader from Canada, was one of the founders of the town beautifully located on Wabasha prairie and named after a noted Souix chief whose people made their home at the mouth of the Zumbrota river. Joseph took more to school and books than his brothers who were fonder of outdoor sports snf hunting, and as he grew up developed a great fondness for reading, especially works on history and biography, and was a well informed man. He belonged to several fraternal organizations including Masonry in which he was a close student and 233 his life exemplified its teachings. His family were Episcopalians and while not a member he was an attendant of church, and for many years he was the faithful Peoples Warden of Grace Memorial Chapel in Wabasha. His life work on the river began when he was fifteen years old. When nineteen he began piloting himself and as he soon demonstrated his skill and ability in handling rafts and men, he was constantly employed and by the best companies as long as the business lasted. We recall the excellent work he did on the side-wheeler 'Clyde,' then on the side-wheeler 'J.W. Barden,' running lumber for the Daniel Shaw Company, then on the new stern-wheeler 'Gardie Eastman,' several seasons running logs for Gardiner Batcheler and wells of Lyons, Iowa; then on the fine large 'C.W. Cowles,' owned by Fleming Brothers of McGregor and later bought and operated by the Valley Navigation Comapny of which Captain Joe was president, and as master and pilot of the 'Cowles' he ran logs to the Hershey mill and Muscatine and several others until the finish. When rafting played out he operated the 'C.W. Cowles' as a regular packet betwen :aCrossse and Dubuque, but realizing little profit in this, he sold her and went piloting the big packets of the Streckfus Line in the Saint Louis and Saint Paul trade and remained on them for awhile after they were converted into excusion steamers.He gave up this work to take the position of Deputy United States Marshal at Saint Paul, and while fillng it most acceptably the final summons came to him October 29, 1918, amd he was laid to rest in the town os his birth.