Pg 340

         GEORGE W. BRENEMAN, proprietor of the oldest established meat-market at Columbus Junction, Iowa, was born in Lancaster County, Pa., Jan. 25, 1840, and is a son of Jacob and Barbara Breneman. He was reared upon a farm, received a common-school education, and on the 26th of April, 1861, enlisted as one of the “boys in blue,” on the President’s first call for troops to defend the Union. He was mustered into service as a private of Company A, 10th Pennsylvania Volunteers, for three months’ service, and served the term of his enlistment. In May, 1862, he re-enlisted, and was assigned to the transportation service under Gen. George B. McClellan, and continued in that line of duty until the fall of 1863, when the department was abolished. He then engaged in boating on the Pennsylvania Canal until the fall of 1866, when he engaged in the butchering business at Bainbridge, Lancaster Co., Pa., until the fall of 1870, and the following spring removed to Iowa, locating at Columbus City, Louisa County, where he established and carried on a meat-market until the fall of 1876. In the meanwhile he had opened a market in the then new town of Columbus Junction, in the fall of 1872, which, with the exception of an interval of a few months, he has carried on continuously since. In the winter of 1872-73 Mr. Breneman began putting up ice, first for his own convenience and to supply a limited local custom, but the trade increased with the growth of the town, and in the fall of 1883 he contracted to supply the Armour refrigerator cars in transit between Kansas City, St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minn. At one time he supplied as many as 250 cars a year, but the business of late has been somewhat reduced. He puts up an average of 1,000 tons of ice for his own use and the city supply, of which he has the exclusive trade.

On the 26th of August, 1862, Mr. Breneman was united in marriage, in Lancaster County, Pa., with Miss Elmira Grosh, daughter of Samuel Grosh, and a native of the county in which she was married. Three children were born of their union, two of whom are living: Cora is the eldest; Minnie died at the age of three years; and George B., the youngest, was born Oct. 22, 1867, at Bainbridge, Lancaster Co., Pa.

In Pennsylvania Mr. Breneman joined the Odd Fellows, as a member of Bainbridge Lodge No. 627, I. O. O. F., and on coming to Iowa took a withdrawal card from that lodge and helped to organize Columbus Junction Lodge No. 365, of which he is still a member. He was initiated a member of Inland City Lodge No. 88, K. of P., of Lancaster, Pa., but shortly after removing to Columbus City he joined E. M. Sargent and others in starting Liberty Lodge No. 22, K. of P., of that place. He was one of its charter members, and has maintained his connection with the lodge since. In fact Mr. Breneman has been most active in advancing its interest, having held prominent positions in the order, and after serving in the principal offices of Liberty Lodge he was elected Represent- . . .

Pg 341

. . . ative of Iowa, and later was chosen an officer of that body, being now Deputy Grand Chancellor, having held that position for several years. While a resident of Pennsylvania he was a member of the order of American Mechanics, an institution of considerable importance at one time, and he also yet retains membership in an Odd Fellows’ camp at Middletown, Pa. Mr. Breneman is a Republican in politics, having voted with that party since he became a voter. He is a reliable business man, and one of Louisa County’s highly respected and worthy citizens.