Source: History of Boone County, Indiana, by Hon. L.M. Crist, 1914.

WILLIAM B. BRANDENBURG Perhaps no state in the Union has a greater right to be
proud of her Union army veterans than Indiana, which sent regiment after regiment into
the "jaws of death" "in order that the nation, under God, might live," and she did not send
them in vain as their records readily attest. In fact, it is not too much to say that the
national troops would have failed had it not been for the support of the Hoosiers, her
thousands of gallant, intelligent, determined soldiers and her numerous able and
renowned officers playing a great role in that tremendous drama of half a century ago, in
fact, the state did all in its power in not only sending soldiers and furnishing her best men
for leaders, but also spent vast sums of money and her women worked heroically one way
and another for the cause of the Union. And, as one of our great men said, "There is glory
enough for all." The hardships and sorrows were bravely borne by our people, the
mothers gave up their sons like the brave Spartan mothers of old and everything is
reconciled and justified. One of this praiseworthy band of Union supporters is William
Brandenburg, a venerable citizen of Royalton, Boone county.

Mr. Brandenburg was born in Bracken county, Kentucky, June 20, 1849. He is a son of
Patterson Brandenburg, also a native of the Blue Grass state, his parents having been
natives of Germany, from which country they emigrated to America in an early day and
settled in the "dark and bloody ground" country when it was still an undeveloped region,
the home of the savage and the wild denizens of the woods. The mother of our subject
was known in her maidenhood as Malinda Matthews, whose people were natives of
Virginia from which state they came to Kentucky in pioneer days and there she was born.
In that state the parents of our subject grew to maturity, received such educational
advantages as the old-time schools afforded which was very meager, and there they were
married and established their home. The father eventually moved to Harper county,
Kansas. Several of their sons were soldiers in the Civil war, Dave, James and William, all
fighting for the Union; however, James served principally as a teamster.

William Brandenburg grew to manhood on the farm and received his education in the
district schools. When twenty-one years of age he married a Miss Wilson, and to this
union these children have been born: Thomas, Henry, Walter and Rettie. Our subject's
first wife died twelve years ago, and he subsequently married Mrs. Ginn, a widow.

Mr. Brandenburg enlisted in May, 1864, in Company B, One Hundred and Thirty-fifth
Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in the one hundred day service, and he was with the troops in
Tennessee and Alabama and gave a good account of himself as a soldier, and was
honorably discharged.

Mr. Brandenburg has a good home at Royalton, Eagle township. He has served twice as
township supervisor.

BRANDENBURG GINN MATTHEWS WILSON

Submitted by Amy K Davis