Polk Co. IAGenWeb

BRAZLETON, JOHN - Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, November 21, 1836, where he was raised to manhood. He served during the war of the rebellion in the First Wisconsin infantry, company J, enlisting under the first call of President Lincoln for three-months men, serving out his term, and re-enlisting in the same company and regiment the 1st of October, 1861, serving three years, when he was honorably discharged. He remained out of the service but a few days, when he again enlisted in the same regiment, and served until the close of the rebellion. He participated in all the battles in which the western army was engaged, being with Sherman in his march to the sea. During the entire time he was in the service he never lost a day from duty, and was but once slightly wounded. He came to Des Moines in 1872, and for some eighteen months was engaged in railroading, after which he engaged in hotel keeping on the East Side, which business he followed for some two years, after which he was in the employ of Watt & Cochrane for some two years. In 1878 he was elected member of the city council from the Seventh ward, being elected as a Republican from a Democratic ward over a very popular competitor. He was united in marriage in the fall of 1865 to Miss Mary Hafer. They have three children: William, Milton, and Edna Pearl.