Madera County Biographies

William O. Breyfogle

Transcribed by Craig A Hahn

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm



William O. Breyfogle, of Madera, is a native of Delaware County, Ohio, born in 
1837. He was educated in the common schools, and then gave his attention to 
learning the trade of a carpenter, which he first put into practice in Kansas 
City, in 1856. In the fall of 1857 he joined a prospecting company visiting the 
mining districts of Denver, and in 1858 Mr. Breyfogle came to California. He 
then went to the mines at Auburn, Placer County, but devoted most of his time to 
his trade, in building the mining camps. He then passed one year in looking 
about Oregon and northern California, and in the fall of 1860 returned to San 
Francisco and was engaged by the San Francisco & San Jose Railroad Company in 
building bridges. He was with the company two years, and constructed every 
bridge on the line. In 1863 he began contracting and building in San Francisco, 
where he remained until 1869, when he went to San Jose, following the same 
pursuit and also engaged quite extensively in bridge-building. In 1878 he 
retired from active business to accept the position of superintendent of 
streets, to which he had been elected and was re-elected in 1880. This second 
term was abbreviated in 1881 by his resignation, in order to come to Madera to 
superintend the yards and manage the factory of the Madera Flume & Trading 
Company, where he is still engaged. Mr. Breyfogle was one of the incorporators 
of the Bank of Madera, which began business November 25, 1889, and January 1, 
1891 was elected president of the bank. 
     In 1867 he celebrated an important event in his life, by his marriage, in 
San Francisco, to Miss Rebecca Croskey, an estimable lady, who was a native of 
New York State. Four children have been added to the household: Nellie M., 
William R., Lillian and Olive. Mr. Breyfogle is a member of Howard Chapter, No. 
14, Royal Arch Masons, and Commandery, No. 10, Knights Templar, all of San Jose.
 
Memorial and Biographical History of the counties of Fresno, Tulare and Kern, 
California Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1892, p. 492-493