My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM BRAITHWAIT, contractor, post office Hulton, was born in Glasgow, Scotland, July 15, 1846, a son of Henry and Sarah (Grimes) Braithwait. His father died when William was three years old, and when he was five years he came to Pittsburgh with his mother and two sisters, Eliza and Sarah. The former now lives in Cleveland, and the latter in Allegheny City. Between the years 1851 and 1860 Mrs. Braithwait, with her children, lived at times in Maryland, about fifteen miles from Baltimore, and in New Jersey. William attended school in these places, and in 1860 returned to Allegheny City with his mother, who feared that he would enter the navy. Here he worked in a cotton factory for a short time, and then went to learn the machinist’s trade. In August, 1862, being a month past sixteen years of age, he enlisted in Co. E, 123d P. V. I., and for nine months served with the Army of the Potomac. He was engaged in the battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, but his time expired before the battle of Gettysburg. He again enlisted, in August, 1864, at the call for one-hundred-days men, hoping to be at the close of the conflict, but was disappointed. This time he did guard duty at Delaware. Returning home, he learned the carpenter’s trade with J. C. Patterson & Co., with whom he remained until 1882, when the firm dissolved partnership. In 1879 he built his present home in Verona, and in 1884 began contracting for himself at that place. He was married, in 1873, to Sarah W. Hulton, a native of this county, and a daughter of James and Susana (Warwick) Hulton. Four children have blessed this union: James, William, Bruce and Earl. The parents are members of the Verona U. P. Church. Mr. Braithwait is a member of the G. A. R. and Royal Arcanum. In the spring of 1888 he was elected to fill an unexpired term in the Verona council.