BIOGRAPHY: William B. BRATTON, Mifflin County, PA

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The Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley, Comprising 
the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata, and Perry, Pennsylvania.
Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897, Volume I, page 554.

  WILLIAM B. BRATTON, Shanks Run, Mifflin county, Pa., was born in Oliver 
township, Mifflin county, September 22, 1836.  He is a son of Samuel and Mary 
(Brown) Bratton.  His grandfather, William Bratton, was a native of Ireland.  
When quite a young man he came to America in a sailing vessel, and settled in 
Wilmington, Delaware, where he worked as a day laborer.  He afterwards removed 
to Oliver township, Mifflin county, where he was employed as farm laborer.  He 
was known in the community as "Sailor Billie."  Mr. William Bratton identified 
himself with the Democratic party.  He had six children:  William;  Samuel;  
John;  Rachel;  Sarah;  and Elizabeth.  He and his wife died in Oliver township;  
both were members of the Presbyterian church.  Mr. Bratton's father, Samuel 
Bratton, born in Oliver township, about 1801, and educated in the public schools 
of his native township, was a boatman on the Juniata river.  He assisted in the 
construction of the canal and afterwards owned and commanded a canal boat called 
the "Lady Washington."  When the canal was sold, Mr. Bratton removed to Oliver 
township, Mifflin county, and bought a farm near McVeytown.  Samuel Bratton was 
a member of the Democratic party, actively interested in local politics, and 
served his county as tax collector and school director.  He married Mary Brown, 
of Oliver, now Bratton township.  Their children are:  Nancy, died at the age of 
twenty-four years;  William B.;  George, deceased;  Cyrus, deceased;  John, 
residing in Clearfield county, Pa.;  and one who died in infancy.  Mrs. Bratton 
died in Oliver township, in April, 1846.  Mr. Bratton's second wife was Sarah 
McMinn, of Oliver township.  He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian 
church.
  William B. Bratton was educated in the district schools of Oliver township.  
He began to earn his own living when he was only eleven.  For one summer he 
received nothing but his food and clothing.  The next year he obtained a 
position on a canal boat, where he earned six dollars a month.  Three years 
later he left the canal and worked as farm laborer until 1855, when he secured 
employment as a trackman for the railroad company.  Two and a half years of 
faithful service were rewarded by a promotion, and Mr. Bratton was appointed 
section foreman.  This position he held for thirty years, to the entire 
satisfaction of the company.  Twenty-eight years were spent on Division No. 31 
and two years on No. 32.  His health failing, he resigned his position and 
turned his attention to the cultivation of the soil.  In 1881, he bought the 
Miller farm of 70 acres, which he has cultivated ever since.  He also owns and 
farms a tract of land in Wayne township.  He has greatly improved his land and 
devoted much of his attention to raising fine horses and cattle.  Mr. Bratton's 
genial manners have made him popular in his county.  He takes an active interest 
in local affairs, has identified himself with the Democratic party and has been 
elected to various township offices, having been school director, assessor and 
supervisor.  He is past master and secretary of Grange No. 771, Bratton 
township, and a member of the I. O. R. M.
  William B. Bratton was married in 1862 at Lewistown, Mifflin county, to Hannah 
C., daughter of David Miller, of Bratton township.  They have nine children:  
Andrew M., a farmer in Wayne township;  Mary (Mrs. Samuel C. Berdine), of Wayne 
township;  Ada;  Martha (Mrs. John D. Banks), telegraph agent, was station agent 
at Ryde, Pa., for three years;  Annie, at school;  Daisy, stationed at Ryde, 
Pa.;  Samuel D., at home;  William C., at home;  and Edna, at home.  Mr. William 
R. Bratton and his family are active members of the Presbyterian church.
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TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE:  In the last sentence, it refers to Mr. William "R" Bratton, 
whereas throughout the biography he is referred to as William "B" Bratton.  One 
of them must be a typo, presumably it should be William "B" Bratton.