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W. A. Bratt

W. A. Bratt is the owner of a good farm of eighty acres on section 19, Center Township, and in connection with the cultivation of his land also engages to some extent in raising stock. A native of Rensselear County, N. Y., he was born on the 2d of March, 1841, and is the third in a family of four children, whose parents are Daniel C. and Sarah M. (Armstrong) Bratt. Both were natives of New York and spent their lives in that State until after all of their children were born. About 1849, attracted by the discovery of gold in California and hoping to gain a handsome competence for his family, Mr. Bratt made his way to the Pacific Slope, where he was accidentally shot, his death ensuing soon after. His widow subsequently left her home in the East and with her family went to Wisconsin, locating in Osceola, Fond du Lac County, where she was married a second time, becoming the wife of W. R. Pulling, with whom she came to this county. They took up their residence in Center Township, where she spent the remainder of her days, dying in 1888. The death of her second husband occurred three years previous, caused by disease contracted while in the service during the late war. The four children of the family to which our subject belongs all grew to mature years - Daniel A. died in Center Township in 1872; Marian M. is the wife of E. Conger, of Sheboygan County, Wis.; William A. is the next younger; and Marvin S., a member of Company H., Fourteenth Wisconsin Infantry, died in the service at Corinth, Miss., in 1863.

Alternating his time between attendance at the common schools and work upon the farm, Mr. Bratt spent his boyhood days in New York, and with the family came West. Locating in Wisconsin, he engaged in agricultural pursuits until the breaking out of the late war when, on the 17th of September, 1861, he responded to the call for troops and joined the ranks of the boys in blue of Company H, Fourteenth Wisconsin Infantry. He served four years and twenty-two days, during which time he took part in all the movements and engagements in which his company participated, commencing with the battle of Pittsburg Landing, followed by the battles of Corinth and Iuka, and many others, including the siege of Vicksburg. His time not having expired, he re-enlisted and was veteranized in 1864. Faithful to every duty, he was never known to shirk a task imposed upon him but was always found at his post, and at the close of the war was honorably discharged at Mobile, Ala., October 9, 1865.

Mr. Bratt returned to Wisconsin, but in March, 1866, came to this county, and with his brother purchased eighty acres of raw land which they improved, and to it added a forty-acre tract. Later, dividing their land, Mr. Bratt continued the cultivation of his portion until 1878, when he sold out and purchased his present farm, consisting of eight acres on section 19, Center Township. He also owns fifty-two acres situated elsewhere. Throughout life his business has been general farming and stock-raising, and whatever success he has met with is the result of his own efforts. He may truly be called a self-made man.

As a helpmate on life's journey, Mr. Bratt chose Miss Electa J. Proctor, and <in> 1868 they were united in marriage. The lady, a native of Ohio, is a daughter of Nathan R. and Lucy (Perkins) Proctor, and their union has been blessed with four children - Libby I., Susan S., C. R., Arthur and Lucy. (Note: five children named) The parents are members of the Baptist Church, of Randalia, and Mr. Bratt belongs to Center Post, No. 177, G. A. R., of which he is S. V., and also is a member of Tulip Lodge, No. 64, M. W. A., of Fayette. His public and private life are alike above reproach and he well deserves honorable mention among the representative citizens of this county.