Columbia County PA Archives Biographies.....BREECE, Horace 1848 - living in 1899
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  File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
  Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com June 30, 2005, 6:55 pm
  
  Author: Biographical Publishing Company
  
  HORACE BREECE, who has been the efficient secretary of the Y. M. C. A. of
  Berwick since October, 1893, is a son of Daniel and Mary (Case) Breece, and was
  born in Columbia County, Pa., in 1857.
  
     Daniel Breece, father of our subject, was born in Lycoming County, where he
  learned the trade of a mechanical engineer which he followed for many years at
  Irondale. He then moved to Bloomsburg, where he resided the remainder of his
  life. He was united in marriage to Mary Case, a daughter of William Case, and
  they were the parents of nine children: Jane, wife of J. B. Robinson; Margaret,
  deceased; George, deceased; Horace, in whom the interest of this sketch centers;
  Eliza, deceased; Hannah, a teacher of Bloomsburg; William H., who was born
  October 3, 1863, in Bloomsburg and learned the trade of a mechanic; he entered
  the employ of The Jackson & Woodin Manufacturing Company in 1886, and later held
  a position in the boiler-room. In 1893 he was promoted to the position of
  engineer, and has since had charge of the wonderful Porter-Allen cut-off engine
  with a horse power of 900, which furnishes power by Manila cables to the machine
  shops, foundry, framing-shop, and other departments of the plant. He was united
  in marriage to Emma Lundey, a daughter of Pierce Lundy of Berwick, and they have
  an adopted daughter, D. Ollie, who was born July 17, 1890. The remainder of the
  children born to Mr. and Mrs. Breece were: Dr. Ervin, deceased; and Dora, a
  teacher. Mr. Breece was called to his eternal resting place at the age of
  seventy years. His wife survives him and lives in the old homestead at Bloomsburg.
  
    Horace Breece attended the public schools of Bloomsburg, after which he
  learned the trade of steam engineering which he followed for three years. In
  1879 he removed to Berwick and became an engineer for The Jackson & Woodin
  Manufacturing Company, and faithfully acted in that capacity for fourteen years,
  when he was appointed secretary of the Berwick Y. M. C. A. The association was
  organized in 1878 in the basement of the M. E. Church by C. H. Zehnder, who was
  assisted by George S. Bennett and George Leppard. They elected the following
  officers: C. G. Jackson, president; Isaiah Bower, vice-president; and C. H.
  Zehnder, secretary, without pay. It was established in rooms donated by The
  Jackson & Woodin Manufacturing Company which also furnished the light and heat
  free of cost to the association. As the institution flourished and the
  membership increased rapidly, the rooms were found to be too small, and the
  erection of a more adequate building was planned, the following donations having
  been generously offered: $6,000 and the light by Mr. C. R. Woodin; a three-story
  dwelling house and $3,000 by Mrs. E. S. Jackson; and liberal subscriptions by
  many of the prominent business men. This enabled the association to begin work
  on the present building in 1884 and it was dedicated April 7, 1885 with suitable
  services. It is a handsome brick building, 45 by 66 feet, containing two stories
  and a basement; has a beautiful library containing 5,000 volumes; a large and
  spacious reading room; two social rooms on the first floor; an auditorium with a
  seating capacity of 350 people; parlors; and in the basement a large gymnasium
  for the accommodation of athletic young men; and also good baths. The building
  is well supplied with electric lights and gas and is heated by a hot-air system.
  There has been an ever-increasing membership under the faithful guidance of Mr.
  Breece and preceding secretaries, and there are now over three hundred members
  enrolled. Mr. Breece is a man of purpose and it has ever been his aim to elevate
  the social and moral standing of the community.
  
    Our subject was joined in the bonds of matrimony to Sadie Van Horn, a daughter
  of Abraham and Susan Van Horn of Blooms-burg, Pa., and they became the parents
  of the following children: George, who died in infancy; May L.; Fred N.; and
  Horace Willard. Mr. Breece is past commander of the Knights of Malta, a member
  of the Knights of the Golden Eagle, and a member of the Junior Order of United
  American Mechanics.
  
  
  Additional Comments:
  Extracted from:
  
  Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District
  Published by 
  Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY (1899)
  
  
  
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