Hi Chris,

Here is more information on your GG Grandfather

JOHN S. BRADNER. The thriving village of Hecla has no more prominent
business man within its borders than the gentleman above named. He
conducts a prosperous general merchandise business and has been
identified with the commercial world for many years, and is thoroughly
conversant with his vocation. He is enterprising and progressive, and
his career has been marked with persistent effort to advance the
interests of those for whom he labored as well as his own interests,
and he has been rewarded by the acquisition of a comfortable income,
and pleasant home surroundings.

Mr. Bradner was born in Wayne county, Michigan, January 7, 1843, and
was the son of Joel A. and Deborah (La Count) Bradner, and is of
Scotch-Irish extraction. At the age of seven years he went with his
parents to reside in Dodge county, Wisconsin, and in April, 1861, he
enlisted in Company E, Third Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. He was soon
at Harper's Ferry, and his first battle was at Winchester, then
followed Cedar Mountain, second battle of Bull Run, and Antietam. He
then enlisted in the First United States Engineer Corps, and was at the
battle of Fredericksburg. He was taken sick and sent to Washington and
discharged in January, 1863, for disability. He next enlisted in the
United States naval service on board the United States steamer "Fond du
Lac," and served one year on the Mississippi, and after the expiration
of this service enlisted in Company D, Ninth Regiment, Hancock's
Veteran Corps. He was final]y mustered out in 1866, after a loyal
service of five years in four different branches of the service. He
engaged in the hardware business in Dodge, county, and at various other
places in Wisconsin, and in the spring of 1883 went to Brown county,
South Dakota, and engaged in farming in Liberty township. He followed
that calling until 1892, when he went to the village of Hecla, and
assumed the charge of the Union Stock Company store, operating that
business four years.

He established a business for himself in 1896, and has enjoyed his
share of the patronage of the vicinity since his entering into that
calling.

Mr. Bradner was married in 1865 to Miss Lucinda Rhodes. Three children
have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bradner, as follows: Joel, Samuel, and
Myrtle. Our subject is very prominent in G. A. R. circles and is
adjutant and ex-commander of Gen. Stolher's Post No. 138. He has served
as a delegate to the grand lodge, and occupied many prominent positions
in the local post. He is non-partisan in politics, and favors
prohibition. He is an old soldier, who can look back over an honorable
military career spent in trying to defend the Union, and his entire
life has been one of loyal purpose and true worth. He is honored in his
community as a man of push and energy, and at all times can be depended
on as a supporter of any public enterprise which has for its object the
development and upbuilding of the village of Hecla. When he started out
in life for himself he had no means, and nothing on which to depend but
his own efforts, and by constant and systematic labor he has
accumulated wealth single-handed. He has a fine store, well supplied
with a large and costly stock of goods, and has a high standing in the
commercial world.