For
Muscatine County Iowa
1879
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1879 | |
Here is what the abbreviations in the bios stand for: far: farm; Co.: company or county; dir: dealer; IVA: Iowa Volunteer Artillery; IVC: Iowa Volunteer Cavalry; IVI: Iowa Volunteer Infantry; P.O.: Post Office; S. or Sec.: section; and st.: street.
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Biographical Section, 1879, page 670
WILLIAM J. BRECKON, farmer, Sec. 8; P. O. Wilton; born in Yorkshire, Eng., March, 1829; when 14 years of age, his parents emigrated to America and settled at Jacksonville, Ill., where his father, a wheelwright, worked at his trade until his death the year following; at the age of 16, William apprenticed himself to a harness-maker of that city, with whom he served three years, after which he worked at journeywork until coming to Iowa. March, 1855, he married Frances, daughter of John and Frances Willis, natives of Lancaster Co., Penn., where she was born March 15, 1842. August 23, 1861, he enlisted in Co. K, 1st Mo. C., in which he participated at Pea Ridge, Springfield, Custer's celebrated march, and numerous skirmishes; was mustered out at St. Louis Aug. 23, 1864; July, 1865, they came to Muscatine, where he worked at his trade for two years; thence to his present place of residence, where he owns eighty acres of land, valued at $50 per acre; they have five children---Catharine F., born June 26, 1857; Charles L., Sept. 16, 1858; William J., Jr., Dec. 10, 1865; Charlotte W., June 19, 1867 and Susan L., Sept 23, 1873. Members for thirty years of the M. E. Church, in which he held various offices; was a member of the I. O. O. F. at Jacksonville, Ill., having joined in 1854, and was one of the charter members of the Sons of Temperance.
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