BIO: Peter BREON, Centre County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JRB Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/ http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/1picts/commbios/comm-bios.htm _____________________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898. _____________________________________________________________________ PETER BREON (deceased), who in his lifetime was a well-known agriculturist of Potter township, justly deserves to be ranked among the self-made and prominent citizens of Centre county, where his entire life was passed. He was born in Gregg township, where his father, Peter Breon, Sr., was also born. The family was founded in Centre county by his grandfather, Valentine Breon, of Berks county, Penn., who, with his brother, Jacob, located here at an early day, and from these two are descended all who bear the name of Breon in Penn's Valley. By trade the grandfather was a shoemaker. His death occurred in Confer Valley, Gregg township, and he was laid to rest in the Mountain Cemetery of that place. In his family were the following children: Peter, the father of our subject; Daniel and George, who both died in Gregg township; Valentine, who lives in Illinois; Catherine, who married John Wenerich, and died in Centre county; Elizabeth, wife of Benjamin Ripka, of Gregg township; Hannah, widow of John Crater, and a resident of Gregg township; and Sally, who married Simon Weaver, and died near Centre Hill, Centre county. After acquiring a limited education in the German language, Peter Breon, Sr., learned the shoemaker's trade, at which he worked throughout the greater part of his life, never accumulating much property, however, having only a small home at the time of his death, which occurred when he was over seventy years of age. He was buried in Cross Roads Church Cemetery by the side of his second wife. In his younger years he was a robust man, politically was a lifelong Democrat, and in religious faith he was a member of the Reformed Church. In Gregg township he married Miss Rebecca Sunday, and they became the parents of the following children: Daniel, who died in Gregg township; George, of Sugar Valley, Clinton county; Peter, the subject of this sketch, born April 16, 1828; Sally, who married Jacob Crater, and died in Haines township, Centre county; Betsy, deceased; Hannah, widow of John Smelzer, of Potter township; Caroline, who married Jonathan Yeagly, and died in Gregg township. The mother of these children passed away in Gregg township, and her remains were interred in Heckman Cemetery. Later the father wedded COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 255 Rebecca Ream, and to them were born seven children, namely: John, of Gregg township; Henry, of Penn township; Samuel, who died in Centre Hill; Valentine, of Sugar Valley; William, of Kansas; Rebecca, who married Daniel Decker, and died in Gregg township, and Annie, who married Abraham Alters and removed to Kansas, where he died, and where she has since married and now lives. His parents being in very limited circumstances, Mr. Breon, the subject of this review, was unable to attend school until twelve years of age, and then pursued his studies in the school house that stood over the hill from Tusseyville toward Colyer. During the first winter he had his feet frozen as his shoes were very poor, and from that injury did not recover until the following harvest. He was at that time living with Judge W. W. Love, and continued to make his home with different farmers until his father's second marriage, therefore his school privileges were very meagre. After his return home he assisted his father for one year, and then again worked for others, including John Grove who resided in the east end of George's Valley, and with him he remained some nine years, during which time he worked very hard, but his wages were poor. Later he was with William Grove, in George's Valley, and subsequently he learned the carpenter's trade under Daniel Lose. During the summer he would work for $5 per month, while throughout the winter season he worked for his board at whatever he could find to do. After serving a three-years' apprenticeship, he worked at his trade for one year, and then turned his attention to farming. At the age of twenty-one years, Mr. Breon married Miss Catharine Grove, daughter of William Grove, and to them were born three children: Rosetta, now Mrs. James Runkle, of Snyder county, Penn.; Amanda, who died at the age of seven years; and Henrietta, who married Adam Ripka, and died at the home of her father. (Ripka lived in the same house where she died a few years later). The wife and mother died, and was buried in Cross Roads Church cemetery in George's Valley, and for his second wife Mr. Breon wedded Catharine Ripka, a native of Gregg township, and a daughter of John Ripka. Five children blessed their union: Howard, who died in childhood; Perry W., a farmer of Potter township; Lavina, wife of William Flory, of Centre Hall, Centre county; Savilla, wife of Robert Foreman, of Centre Hall; and Celesta, wife of Gotleib Strohmeier, of the same place. For sixteen years Mr. Breon rented the Dr. Smith farm, near Centre Hill, then lived on the Spangler farm above Tusseyville for one year, and for the following twelve years operated the Samuel Huston farm. On leaving the last place in 1888, he purchased his late home, and continued to live a semi-retired life, enjoying the fruits of his former toil. He died November 29, 1897, at the age of 69 years, 7 months and 13 days. He had ever been a hard working, industrious man, and the success that came to him was assuredly well merited. He was a man of the strictest integrity and honor, his word being considered as good as his bond, and he lived peaceably with his fellow-men, having never been engaged in a lawsuit. As a tenant farmer he worked for some of the most particular and precise land owners in Centre county, but his labors always proved satisfactory. An incident, which plainly indicates the confidence and trust reposed in him, is as follows: During the war he was drafted, and being poor his wife and little ones would have been left destitute had he gone to the front. However, he had not a penny with which to hire a substitute, nor a single dollar's worth of property to give as security. He had concluded to join the army, but, without his solicitation, Reuben Keller, a merchant of Centre Hill, offered to furnish him with $1,000, not even asking an individual note, and declining the same when Mr. Breon offered it. It is unnecessary to say that the money was in due time returned. He enjoyed the esteem and respect of all with whom he came in contact in the various walks of life, and was a consistent member of the Lutheran Church. Although he usually supported the Democratic party, he was not strictly partisan, and at one time he efficiently served as supervisor of Potter township. He sleeps his last sleep in the Centre Hall cemetery.