Lake Minnetonka Baked Beans

I bought a little blue book written in the early 1900s (a reprint) by the Lake Minnetonka Garden Club. It has the personal memories and recollections of the Garden Club Members about the Lake’s early pioneers. I, of course focused, on the food items.
One of the earliest pioneers was Colonel George Bracket who served with Henry Sibley and who gave his name to Bracket’s Point, from it’s previous name - Starvation Point. George Bracket came to Minnesota in the early pioneering days and was called into action by the Governor during the 1860 Sioux Uprising. (This complex tragedy is not today’s topic). George rushed south from his Minnetonka home to aid the besieged settlers in St. Peter. He brought with him some of his beans- which he baked by burying a cast iron kettle in the earth under a fire for days.

Although I have never used this technique, I remember reading about it in my 1960 Boy Scout Hand Book. I believe that Colonel Bracket brought this recipe from New England - where he was born and raised. He gave the kettle to the author; Carolyn McKnight Christian, who in turn later gave it back to his grandson Tom.