05 WILLIAM HARLEY MEMORIAL

William Harley was born on May 2nd 1835, in a house in Victoria Street, Littleport. Unfortunately the house no longer stands . In 1859 William Harley left Littleport and emigrated to Oswego, USA. Soon after arriving in the USA he enlisted in the army. He fought on the side of the Unionists, in the American Civil War; the war that shaped the future of America. William fathered several children with Mary Smith. One of these was William Sylvester, born December 29th 1880 William Sylvester Harley went on to form the Harley-Davidson Motor Company with Arthur Davidson in 1903