Alfred Brunson was born in Danbury, Connecticut, February 9, 1793. He served a year in the army under General Harrison during the War of 1812, and was at the taking of Malden, the battle of the Thames, and recapture of Detroit. He entered the Methodist ministry and served in Ohio and Pennsylvania until moving to Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin in 1835. He soon become presiding elder of the district north of Rock Island, including the Indian missions. At various times in the following years he served as preacher, presiding elder, lawyer, Indian agent, and legislator. He wrote a number of religious and historical articles. His Western Pioneer (Cincinnati, 1879) is a history of his times in Wisconsin, as well as an autobiography. He died in Prairie du Chien, August 3, 1882.
