BRAGG, William I.: 1841-1929

BRAGG, LEGG, WILLIAMS, OSMOND

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri (email)
Date: 6/4/2013 at 14:43:38

William I. Bragg, veteran of Co. I, 19th Iowa Infantry, and former citizen of Bentonsport, died at Davenport on Monday, Jan. 14th. Following is a sketch of his life.

William I. Bragg was born at Chillicothe, Ohio, July 4, 1841. His parents were Willis N. Bragg and Jane Legg. In 1849 his parents came to Bentonsport via steamboat down the Ohio, up the Mississippi and then up the Des Moines River.

He was educated at Bentonsport and upon completion of his schooling, learned the trade of paper maker in the local mill owned by his father and Green brothers, the firm being known as Green and Bragg.

At the outbreak of the civil war he wished to enlist but owing to opposition of his parents he withheld until he attained his majority in 1862. He then became a member of Co. I, 19th Infantry Volunteers. He took part in numerous engagements, one of them being at the famous seige of Vicksburg. His regiment was captured later on and he was taken to Tyler, Texas and confined in a Confederate prison for 10 months. Upon his discharge from prison he again entered service and was made first sergeant. At the conclusion of hostilities he was offered a first lieutenancy in the regular army but declined. He then returned to Bentonsport and for some time worked at his trade with Green and Bragg.

In 1870 he returned to Portsmouth, Ohio, where he became supt. of a paper mill. While there he met and married Hettie Williams and to this union were born five sons and one daughter. Three sons died a number of years ago. The wife died in 1920. He is survived by two sons, Willis and Craig of Davenport, and the daughter, Mrs. Louise Osmond of Vancouver, Wash.

From Portsmouth in 1872 he removed to Blue Ridge, Kansas, to superintend the paper mill which the Green Bros. had removed from Bentonsport to that point. After three years in Kansas he returned to Bentonsport where he lived until 1904. At that time he removed to Davenport which was his residence at the time of his death on Jan. 14, 1929.

During his residence in Bentonsport he was honored by having served as postmaster, councilman, mayor and on the school board. In politics he was a republican and was a member of the Bentonsport lodge of Free Masons until the lodge went out of existence a number of years ago. He was also a member of the G.A.R. at Vernon until it disbanded. In Oct. 1927 he fell and broke a hip. Since that time he has been a patient sufferer until death brought him relief.

His army service resulted in total loss of hearing, making it hard for him to mingle with the public, but to those with whom he came in contact he was well liked and had a sense of humor and a facility of putting it into letters that were highly prized by thosee(typo) fortunate to receive the. He was a wide reader and his intellect keen and memory good until the day of his death on Jan. 14, 1929, aged 87 years, 6 months and 10 days.

Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at the Bentonsport Presbyterian church, Rev. Samp officiating. Interment in Bentonsport cemetery.

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book C, Page 92, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA