William Brackett was born in Pittstown, New York on January 14th, 1825. His mother died when he was only eight years old, and William moved to Hannibal, New York to live with his uncle. He married Elisabeth Sherman on March 4th, 1846. The two were married for 45 years. William was a railroad bridge builder, and later became an architect of houses and buildings. Much of his work, including Brackett House, still stands in Mount Vernon today. In 1856, the Bracketts moved to Iowa, and William’s leg was broken in a work accident that year. His leg never fully recovered. The Bracketts moved to Mount Vernon in 1860. William Brackett was known for his industrious and detail-oriented nature. He died on June 15th, 1891.