Genealogy Data Page 216 (Notes Pages)

Note: 1880: Mercer, Mercer County, PA, Joseph C Breckenridge, 36, dry goodsmerchat, Elizabeth, 34, William, 13, Bessie, 10, Lillie, 7, Stella, 4, Joseph, 1 all born in PA

MILITARY: Co E 100th regt PV

U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865
about Joseph C. Breckenridge
Name: Joseph C. Breckenridge
Side: Union
Regiment State/Origin: Pennsylvania
Regiment Name: 101 Pennsylvania Inf.
Regiment Name Expanded: 101st Regiment, Pennsylvania Infantry
Company: E
Rank In: Private
Rank In Expanded: Private
Rank Out: Private
Rank Out Expanded: Private
Film Number: M554 roll 13

Occupation: Date: BET 1870 AND 1880
Place: Dry Goods Merchant

Census: Date: 1860
Place: Liberty, Mercer, Pennsylvania

Census: Date: 1850
Place: Wolf Creek, Mercer, Pennsylvania

Census: Date: 1870
Place: Jamestown, Mercer, Pennsylvania

Census: Date: 1880
Place: Mercer, Mercer, Pennsylvania

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Lang, Gershom L (b. 9 AUG 1846, d. 20 AUG 1863)

Note: BURIAL: "in great peace of mind"

Census: Date: 1850
Place: Palmyra, Somerset, Maine

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Burgess, Gershom L (b. 2 JUL 1863, d. ?)

Note: widow in 1900

Census: Date: 1900
Place: Rockport, Knox, Maine

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Breckenridge, William Kilgore (b. 24 FEB 1867, d. 27 MAY 1956)

Note: 1910: Name: William K Breckenridge Age in 1910: 41 EstimatedBirth Year: 1868 Birthplace: Pennsylvania Home in 1910: OBERLIN PCT, LORAIN, Ohio Race: White Gender: Male Series: T624 Roll: 1206 Part: 2 Page: 239A Year: 1910 Piano player, Conservatory of Music, Oberlin College, single

1930: Name: William K Breckenridge Age: 62 years Estimated birth year: 1867 Birthplace: Pennsylvania Relation to Head-of-house: Head Race: White Home in 1930: Oberlin, Lorain, Ohio

William K. Breckenridge was born in Mercer, Pennsylvania on February 24, 1867 to Joseph Carlin Breckinridge and Elizabeth Agnes Kilgore. He was one of five children, four of whom attended Oberlin College. Breckenridge earned a diploma in piano forte, organ harmony, and theory from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in 1888, (A.B. 1906) which included a year of study in Leipzig, Germany. After graduation, he spent two years studying piano in Berlin, Germany.

In 1890, Breckenridge began his teaching career at the Oberlin Conservatory as Instructor of Piano forte. There he continued to teach, along with Charles W. Morrison, George Whitfield Andrews, and Edward Dickinson, until his retirement 44 years later (1934). For years he was the pianist most frequently called upon to represent the Conservatory of Music in musical events; and, he appeared with many visiting artists as an accompanist as well. His love of old music and instruments in their proper setting led to his production of a number of concerts in costume. He began the first consort of recorders in Oberlin, as well as the first group of Oberlin Madrigal Singers. The need for a harp teacher at the Conservatory was filled when he taught himself to play the harp. He was appointed Acting Professor of Harp in 1934-35, and he continued his other teaching assignments as well.

Breckenridge’s cultural service activities and interests outside the Conservatory were numerous. He served as organist at the First Church in Oberlin, the Second Church, and at the Methodist Church for 54 combined years. As an inveterate student of foreign cultures, and a skilled linguist, he traveled to Europe 42 times, often to visit his personal friend Johannes Brahms (1833-1897). His collector’s instinct with a penchant for the exotic created a treasure-trove for campus theater and music productions, particularly those needing stage properties and costumes. His collection of sheet music, acquired in these travels, augments the Music Library at Oberlin College today. He published several textbooks about piano teaching. He was known as a “Good Samaritan” to an endless list of friends and strangers, students, townspeople, and faculty colleagues and was affectionately known as “Mr. Breck.” His special interest was the American Red Cross. A colleague described Breckenridge as “a doer of neighborly deeds, a talented master of many skills, and a man of the friendly heart to whom good impulses and action are one.”

He continued his many interests well after his retirement. During these years he was a frequent concert-goer, easily recognized by an askew toupee, and regular clicking of his false teeth. He died on May 22, 1956 and was buried in Mercer, PA. He never married.

Chronicle Telegram, The (Elyria, Ohio) June 26, 1934

William K Breckenridge retires as professor of pianoforte in the Conservatory of Music but by special arrangement will remain for another year as instructor on the harp. He was graduated from the Conservatory and has been on its teaching staff since 1890.

Ship records:

William Breckenridge 03 Sep 1935 abt 1868 Male Southampton, England Berengaria
William Breckenridge 24 Aug 1936 abt 1867 Male Cherbourg, France Queen Mary
William Breckenridge 28 Aug 1938 abt 1867 Male Le Havre, France De Grasse

‘Mr Breck’ Dies at 89
Popular Professor Is Dead At Oberlin

Oberlin – William Kilgore Breckenridge, professor of piano at Oberlin College Conservatory of Music from 1890 until 1934, died yesterday at 6:35 a.m. in Allen Hospital following an illness of three months. He was 89.

He was familiarly known as “Mr. breck” by alumni who were fond of visiting him at his home, 5 South Main St. to renew old acquaintances and glean much from his experiences and companionship.

Prof. Breckenridge often recalled how he started playing the piano at the age of six when his mother gave him lessons on a melodeon. He was sent to Oberlin Conservatory by his parents where he was graduated in 1888. After graduating he studied in Berlin and returned to Oberlin where he taught from 1890 until he was made professor emeritus in 1934 with the exception of one year when he was sent to Paris to study. While there he took up harp instruction at Oberlin.

Along with his teaching at the conservatory he played for the Musical Union and accompanied the many great artists who appeared at Warner Concert Hall. He also found time to serve as church organist at the First Church of which he was a member and later at the First Methodist Church where he served as organist for 26 years. During his lifetime he also had been organist at two Cleveland churches.

Textbooks Published

Prof. Breckenridge also published several textbooks in music including “Hints for Piano Normal Students” in 1955 and “Anecdotes of Great Musicians” in 1958. He received an Alumni Citation from Oberlin in 1953.

For 21 years Prof. Breckenridge traveled all over Europe guiding tourist groups in the summer. It was during these travels that he collected old and rare articles which filled his living room. Among his treasures were pieces of brocade, paisley shawls, a 1,000 year old lamp from St. Mark’s Cathedral in Venice, one of the earliest grand pianos, a German lute with a head of Mozart carved in the wood, a Chinese oboe and a music stand dating back to the time of Napoleon.

“Mr. Breck” had never married, stating “he just never had time to get married.” He is survived by two sisters, Lillian Breckenridge of Mercer, Pa. and Adelaide Breckenridge of Pittsburgh and one brother G L Breckenridge of Hood River, Ore.

The body is at the Cowling-Stang Funeral Home where friends will be received. The Rev. Joseph King will officiate at services tomorrow at 2 p.m. at First Church. Burial will be in mercer, Pa. Wednesday.

Occupation: Date: BET 1890 AND 1934
Place: Piano Teacher, Conservatory Of Music, Oberlin Ohio

Census: Date: 1870
Place: Jamestown, Mercer, Pennsylvania

Census: Date: 1880
Place: Mercer, Mercer, Pennsylvania

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Harvey, Sarah (b. ABT 1811, d. ?)

Census: Date: 1850
Place: Sidney, Kennebec, Maine

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Breckenridge, Bessie Louise (b. 17 MAY 1870, d. BEF 1956)

Census: Date: 1870
Place: Jamestown, Mercer, Pennsylvania

Census: Date: 1880
Place: Mercer, Mercer, Pennsylvania

Census: Date: 1900
Place: Warren, Warren, Pennsylvania

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Breckenridge, Lillian Bell (b. FEB 1873, d. 1964)

Census: Date: 1900
Place: Mercer, Mercer, Pennsylvania

Census: Date: 1880
Place: Mercer, Mercer, Pennsylvania