After the war , Brackett moved into the city 's rapidly growing milling industry and worked in partnership with William W. Eastman , William S. Judd and Willam D. Washburn . In 1869 he was contracted by J. Gregory Smith to supply and organize transportation for a scouting expedition for the Northern Pacific Railroad . He supported a second expedition in 1870 which built the railroad 's first segment from Carlton , Minnesota to Fargo , North Dakota . For the next decade Brackett had a successful career as a contractor for railroad construction . In addition to the Northern Pacific he also performed work for the Great Northern Railway ( U.S. ) and the Canadian Pacific Railway . He also continued to remain active in a variety of other industries including meat packing , milling , construction and real estate . The 1888 Minneapolis City Directory noted his name and occupation as " George Brackett , Capitalist . " Brackett became involved in the politics of Minneapolis from its inception : he served as one of the city 's first aldermen when the city was formed . In 1873 he was elected mayor of Minneapolis and served a single one-year term . He unsuccessfully ran for re-election in 1874 and 1876 . By one account Brackett led such an extensive campaign against vice in the city that " the city was unable to live up to its opportunities thus offered " and opted to elect a less passionate mayor . He also served as the chief of the Minneapolis Fire Department for a number of years as well as on the Minneapolis Park Board where he was instrumental in purchasing and preserving Minnehaha Park . Brackett was also a major force behind some of the early city 's civic events including the 1886 Industrial Exposition , the 1891 Harvest Festival , and the 1892 Republican National Convention
1892 Republican National Convention
1892 Republican National Convention
George A. Brackett