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The Children of Henry and Elizabeth Branscomb:
Daniel Travis Branscomb
Please check the Author's Notes for an explanation of the numbering system I use for identifying individuals within any family.
The line of descent for Daniel Travis Branscomb is:
7. Daniel Travis Branscomb
Daniel was b. 23 July 1845 Mo., d. 12 December 1939; bur. Pleasant Home Cem. His birth date is from his Declaration for a Pension as a veteran of the Civil War. His grave marker has an erroneous DOB, 18 July. The calculation of his age in days, years and months, as reported on his death certificate, is also in error. The Star of David on Daniel’s grave marker is yet another error, since Daniel was a Protestant. All of the errors came from a single informant. Daniel md. (1) in Putnam County, 31 March 1866, Sarah Houghton (b. 1836 in Bedford, Nova Scotia; d. 1919 in Rapid City, SD, and bur. there). She was the daughter of Oliver Houghton and his first wife Ann Jones. Sarah had been married earlier to Moss.
According to his grave marker, Daniel “Branchcome” served during the Civil War as a private in the “Missouri 4 VTN [= “Veteran”] Reserve Corps.” The available records explain that assignment. His military service began on 4 October 1863 when he enlisted in Company G of the Ninth Regiment of Iowa Cavalry. He enlisted at Centerville, Appanoose County, Iowa, which borders Putnam County, Mo. According to a deposition made by an officer in Daniel’s company,
On or about February 15th, 1864, while the company was out on a skirmish drill at Benton Barracks, Missouri, Private Daniel Branchcome was thrown violently from his horse, and falling with his left side against a Stump, he received a severe injury in region of the heart. In consequence of the gravity of injury, he was sent to . . . St. Louis Hospital, where he remained under treatment about two weeks. He was then transported to Jefferson Barracks Hospital, where he remained under treatment about one month. He was then because of a permanent injury transferred to the Veterans Reserve Corpse [sic], Captain Benjamin’s Company, “C,” 4 Regiment.
Daniel was discharged on 12 November 1865. On 5 June 1876 he made application for a pension by virtue of being “greatly disabled from obtaining subsistence by manual labor.” The application was evidently approved, as indicated by a subsequent document, “Declaration for Pension, Act of May 1, 1920,” in which Daniel made a sworn statement that he was “a pensioner under Certificate No. 342,732” and that he required “the regular personal aid and attendance of another person.” At that time he was 81 years old. This declaration had the benefit of providing a physical description: Daniel was 5 feet four inches tall, had a fair complexion, blue eyes, and light-colored hair. In the various papers Daniel’s surname is rendered “Branchcomb,” Branchcome,” and “Branscomb.” Twice he made his mark, and once he signed his name in a hand unaccustomed to a pen, “Daniel Branchcomb.”
As stated, Daniel married in March 1866 Sarah Houghton (Moss). Sarah’s mother had died in 1843, and the second wife of her father Oliver Houghton died in 1864. In October 1865 Oliver married Daniel’s widowed mother. At the time of the 1870 census Daniel and Sarah were living in dwelling #90 of Elm Township (p. 230), next door to their respective parents, Oliver and Elizabeth Houghton:
| |
Age |
Sex |
Where born |
Identities (not from census) |
|
| [Branchom], Dan’l |
24 |
M |
Mo. |
|
farmer |
| S |
36 |
F |
Canada |
Sarah |
|
| H.O. |
2 |
M |
Mo. |
Henry Oliver |
|
| Branschom, S. A |
8/12 |
F |
Mo. (b. September) |
Cynthia Anne |
|
[The surname was not recorded for Daniel, but it appeared on the line immediately preceding as the surname of the “V. A. Branchom” in Oliver’s household. The surname “Branschom” for “S.A.” began a new page.
The 1880 census for Elm Township showed Daniel’s family in dwelling #3, p. 437A:
| |
Age |
Where
born |
Pa
born |
Ma
born |
|
| Branscom, Daniel |
36 |
Mo. |
Ky. |
Vt. |
|
| Sarah |
41 |
Canada |
Vt. |
Vt. |
(b. Bedford, Canada) |
| Cynthia Ann |
10 |
Mo. |
Mo. |
Canada |
|
| Wm Dudley |
5 |
Mo. |
Mo. |
Canada |
|
Twelve-year-old Henry Oliver was not listed.
In 1900 Daniel and his wife Sarah were in dwelling #160:
| |
Age |
DOB |
Where
born |
Pa
born |
Ma
born |
|
| Branscomb, Daniel |
53 |
July 1846 |
Mo. |
Ky. |
Ky. |
md 33 years |
| Sarah |
61 |
August 1838 |
Canada |
Vt. |
Vt. |
3 children, all living |
| Pearl |
16 |
June 1883 |
Mo. |
Mo. |
Canada/England |
|
Pearl was not a daughter of Daniel and Sarah. During his later years #76 Virgil thought that she was a daughter of #4 Asa Martin, but at that point in his life Virgil’s memory was not always trustworthy. This history contains a fairly reliable record of the sons of Henry and Elizabeth except for #4Martin, #9 Henry Will, and #10 George Riley. One of these last three was probably Pearl’s father. It is remotely possible that Pearl was born to a daughter.
Some confusion exists about the land that Daniel owned in Putnam County. It seems clear that all of the land for which deeds have been found to date was in T65 R16. The deed index shows two entries for the purchase of property in S32, the W½ of the NW¼ and the N½ of the SW¼: on 3 January 1887 Mildred J. Young made a bond to provide a deed to Daniel Branscomb for the property (Book 30, p. 38), and Mildred conveyed the property by a deed dated 8 November 1887 (Book 29, p. 210). Currently the deed for the disposition of this land has not been found. Then on 27 February 1892 William Shaw and wife gave a warranty deed to Daniel Branscomb for the NW¼ of the NE¼ and the NE¼ of the NW¼ in S17. Eighteen months later, on 30 August 1893, Daniel acquired a parcel from the same portion of S11 (the NW¼ of the NE¼ and the NE¼ of the NW¼ ) from N. Miller and husband. The plat book published in 1897 showed that Dan Branscomb owned 40 acres, the NW¼ of the NE¼ of S17, and later deeds show the disposition of land from the same areas in S17. S11 is located to the east of the Chariton River in Schuyler County, and a deed for purchase or sale land in that county would have been filed in Schuyler County. The logical conclusion is that the S11 in the deed index should have been recorded or read as S17. The Chariton River, 200 yards to the east of Daniel’s 40 acres in S17, divided Putnam County from Schuyler County. Immediately to the west of this tract as shown on the plat book was a 40-acre tract owned by W. W. Branscom, who Marjorie Warren feels confident was actually Daniel’s son #73 William D. and probably represents land which Daniel conveyed to him, although as yet the deed has not been found.
During the early 1900s Daniel supplemented his farm income by trapping animals for their furs. At the time of the 1910 census Daniel, age 63, resided in the home of his son #73 William D.; Sarah was not listed, but apparently she was still in Putnam County.
Some time around the turn of the century, several of the Branscombs in Putnam County, including brother George Riley Branscomb, moved westward to Newcastle in Weston County, Wyo. Daniel’s daughter #72 Anna Shaw and her husband James Shaw may have gone initially to Weston Co, but by 1920 they were across the border in Rapid City, Pennington County, S.D. Daniel was also eager to go. By 1910 Sarah was blind. She pleaded with Daniel not to go west, and she expressed the fear that if she went she would die there. Sarah’s fears were realized; she died in 1919 and her body was buried in Rapid City. Pansy Shaver (#7313) said that her son had seen Sarah’s grave there. (Information provided by Marjorie Warren.) Daniel and Sarah probably resided with their daughter Anna upon moving to the west; at least, Daniel was there at the time of the 1920 census. The census showed him as a widower, age 73.
Daniel soon returned to Putnam County. He married there (2) on 9 September 1922 Martha McFarland (b. 2 December 1844, d. 25 September 1929; bur. Rose Cem.) She had md. earlier (1) Charlie Buster and (2) Albert L. Robbins. After Martha’s death in 1929 Daniel lived alone for a time. The 1930 census for Putnam County showed Dan Branshcomb, age 84, in Iron Township, dwelling #147.
Daniel was not alone long; on 9 December 1930 he md. (3) Henrietta Houghton (b. 25 April 1850, d. 5 February 1933; bur. St. John Cem., Putnam County), who was a sister of Daniel’s first wife Sarah. Henrietta had been married previously to Thomas Stockton (1847-1917).
(See further under #732 Arta for the care Arta and his wife provided to Daniel during his later years. Census data from Carolyn Canida.)
Daniel and Sarah had three children, all born in Missouri and presumably in Putnam County:
- 71. Henry Oliver Branscomb, b. 23 December 1867, d. 23 April 1938; bur. Pleasant Home Cem. His given names reflect those of his grandfathers. The marriage book shows only two of his marriages, and two are reported in his obituary. Those marriages: (1) 1889 to Nevada Anderson, d. 1893, as reported in his obituary. Nevada’s dates were probably: b. 6 September 1871, d. 8 May 1893, md. 8 February 1881 (see the second paragraph below). One child. Oliver md. (2) 5 August 1894 Anna Stockton, d/o Jane Choat (book 3, p. 67). Anna was probably Anna Elizabeth, since Marjorie remembers her as Elizabeth. She was b. 16 December 1877, and she d. October 1894 after being married less than three months. Marjorie wrote that Henry was devastated by her death. Henry md. (3) 20 February 1897 Nancy A. Terrell of Livonia (book 3, p. 298); and (4) Rebecca Robbins (d. 1926; reported in his obituary). Rebecca was Rebecca McFarland, sister of his father’s wife Martha. Rebecca’s husband Benjamin Robbins died in 1898. Martha’s husband Albert was Benjamin’s brother.
Henry’s obituary appeared 27 April 1938 in the Unionville Republican. It added the information that Henry and Nevada had one child, James E., and that Henry died at James’s home near Livonia in Putnam County. It said also that Henry’s marriage to Rebecca Robbins occurred late in his life.
The dates quoted above for Nevada Anderson are not certain. The confusion comes from the fact that there is no grave marker for Henry even though his name and dates are in the cemetery book. The name of Henry O.’s mother Sarah H. Branscomb is next to Henry’s in the cemetery book, but there are no accompanying dates-and, again, no grave marker. Marjorie Warren provides them from “the working notes of the women who walked the cemetery at Pleasant Home, from records they had searched at the funeral home.” It appears that someone has mistakenly given Nevada’s dates to Sarah Houghton under the impression that Sarah was the first wife of Henry O. rather than the first wife of Henry’s father Daniel T. and thus the mother of Henry. Sarah’s dates were actually 1836-1919, and, as stated above, her grave is in Rapid City, SD.
Henry Oliver had only one child, James. James’s mother was Nevada Anderson:
- 711. James Edgar Branscomb (“Jim Buck”), b. 29 November 1889, d. 16 December 1946. Md. ca. 1909 Edith Bessie Eppley (d. 12 December 1916); both bur. Pleasant Hill Cem, Cincinnati, Iowa. Two children: Edgar Samuel and Delbert Basil. According to the Putnam County marriage records (Book 6, p. 279), James md. (2) 10 September 1917 Bessie Blanch Parcel (Rutledge); Jim’s obituary gives the date as 16 September 1918. Bessie was b. 5 June 1892, d. 15 October 1957, bur. Pleasant Home Cem. in Putnam County. One child, Ruby May. (Most of this information is from the obituary for James.) The cemetery records state that Bessie Blanch’s third husband, whom she married presumably after James’s death, was George Lee Oval McCoy.
- 72. Cynthia Anna Branscomb, b. 1869, d. 1956. Md James Monroe Shaw. They moved to Newcastle, Weston County, Wyo. The 1939 obituary for her father Daniel gave her residence as Hampton, Wyo. [Uinta County]. Marjorie Warren found information for Anna on the Internet (Caution!) including her dates and the existence of three children:
- 721 Ruby Ethel Shaw, b. 1894; md. four times. Her husbands were Ira Stockton, Ed Lloyd, Lonson France and Bertan Capps, not necessarily in that order. Marjorie remembers that her mother talked about Bertan Capps; and Marjorie’s sister Marilyn Morrow remembers Ruby’s stepson Jack Capps, who was approximately Marilyn’s age. When Marilyn last had contact with him in 1998, Jack Capps was living in New Castle.
- 722. Delbert Shaw (“Jack”, b. 1896, d. 1945); md. Alpha Omega Mullinex (1899-1994). Their children were James Vern, Martha Ann Maxine and Anna Lois.
- 723. Bennie Shaw.
(Confirmation is needed for the data concerning Cynthia and her family.)
- 73. William Dudley Branscomb, b. 25 January 1875, d. 1 June 1945. Md. 6 September 1893 Mary Jane Stockton (b. 10 August 1876, d. 6 May 1952) both bur. Pherigo Cem., Putnam County Mary Jane was the d/o William Anderson Stockton and Louisa Jane Jones and therefore the sister of #710 Elizabeth Ann Stockton. The marriage book (#3, p. 11) says that William and Jane both were residents of Mapleton in Putnam County. They had six children. Marjorie Warren related the stories she had from her mother #7320 Ruby: Will was a good husband and father when he was sober, but when the children were small William spent long periods away from his family, leaving them without adequate resources. These absences evidently were due to extended trips to Rapid City, S.D. During his absence William’s father Daniel provided for the family to the extent that he could. Arta, William’s eldest son, worked for a local farmer as a means of supporting his mother and his siblings. The family dreaded William’s return because he drank heavily and because he was physically abusive to his wife and children. As an adult Arta bore scars on his back from the whip his father wielded when Arta was a child. In his later years William gave up alcohol and reformed his behavior accordingly.
William was among the Branscombs who went to Weston County, Wyo., during the 1920s, where his parents and his Uncle George Riley had gone earlier. On 28 February 1929 he obtained a homestead patent contiguous with Riley’s for 320 acres in T46N R62W of the sixth principal meridian: the SE¼ and the S½ of the NE¼ of S7 and the N½ of the NE¼ of S18. Then on 14 December 1933 he obtained another homestead patent of 320 acres, this one for “Stock raising,”in T43: the NE¼ of the NE¼ of S7, the S½ of the SW¼ of S4, the NW¼ of S9, and the SW¼ of the NE¼ of S9. He continued his extended visits to Rapid City, SD, during the years he lived in Wyoming.
The children of William D. and Mary Jane:
- 731. Clara Etta Branscomb, b. 21 August 1894, d. 11 January 1980; md. in Mendota, Mo., 16 July 1910 William Thomas DeMack (b. 3 January 1886, d. 12 September 1970); both bur. Lone Pine Cem. Clara and Thomas spent some time in Hill City, Pennington County, SD, before returning to Putnam County Three children, Earl, Arthur and Pansy.
- 732. Arta Leon Branscomb, b. 23 January 1896, d. of cancer 12 November 1956 in the veterans’ hospital in Des Moines, Iowa. During WW1 Arta served in France in the 32nd Engineer Corps. He md. 23 September 1920 Ruby America Nalley (b. 11 January 1900, d. 31 October 1993 in Grangeville, Idaho); both bur. Pleasant Home Cem. Ruby was the daughter of Charles Nalley and Anna Florence Summers. After he was married, Arta worked in the coal mines near Graysville.
Henrietta Houghton, sister of Arta’s grandmother Sarah, married Thomas Stockton. Thomas and Henrietta took Ruby Nalley as their foster daughter when she was eight years old and after their own children were grown. Thomas died in 1917. When Arta returned from the army in 1918, he worked for Henrietta on her farm. After he married Ruby they continued to live with Henrietta. Their first child Marilyn was born in December 1922. During 1925 Arta, Ruby and Marilyn followed Arta’s parents and siblings who had moved to Wyoming. On 6 June 1930 Art L. Branscomb received a homestead patent for 320 acres in Weston County, Wyo., which bordered the tracts held by his great-uncle George and his father William in T46N R62W. Art’s land comprised the NE¼ and the E½ of the NW¼ of S8 plus the W½ of the NW¼ of S9.
In 1930, due to Ruby’s ill health, Arta, and his family returned to Putnam County The family lived again on the Stockton property, and again Arta did the farming for Henrietta. As stated above, after Arta’s grandmother Sarah died in 1919 in South Dakota, his grandfather Daniel returned to Putnam County, where in 1922 he married Martha Robbins; Martha died in September 1929. In December 1930 Daniel married the widowed Henrietta. Henrietta died in early 1933. Then Arta’s family moved with Daniel to Daniel’s tiny shack on the wagon road bordering the Chariton River. Circa 1934 Daniel traded his land and the shack for a larger house on a 40-acre tract a quarter mile west on Button Ridge. Arta and his family moved with Daniel to the new site, and they cared for Daniel until his death in 1939. At various times they cared for Daniel’s son Henry Oliver, and for Arta’s mother Mary Jane. They cared for Mary Jane during her final illness.
Arta and Ruby had four children: Marilyn Naomi, twins Wesley Armond and Leslie Arnold (of whom only Wesley survived), and Marjorie Ethel Carolyn.
- 733. Lorenzo Ben Branscomb, b.17 April 1898, d. 22 February 1950; bur. Pleasant Home Cem. Md. 30 January 1922 Mayme Rutledge (b. 1907); five children. Ben’s grave marker shows that their daughter Pauline is buried at the same site. Ben and Mayme had five children: Pauline, Paul, Bette, Marguerite Dean, and Robert Dale (the grave marker has “Robert Dell”).
- 734. Lester Raymond Branscomb, b. 17 June 1901, d. 11 April 1962. md (1) 10 June 1933 Nellie Hurley (1909-1947; bur. Rose Cem.). Lester md. (2) Violet Capps (b. 18 September 1904, d. 6 February 1971). Lester and Violet bur. Lone Pine Cem.
- 735. Robert Anderson Branscomb, b. 17 May 1905, d. 23 April 1913; bur. Pherigo Cem.
- 736. Virgil W. Branscomb, b. 27 August 1907, d. of black lung 25 May 1987; md. (1) Eva Lorene Reeves (b. 6 May 1911, d. 23 August 1976); both bur. Lone Pine Cem. Seven children: Cora Jane, Christina, Mary Belle, Dorothy Ann, Donald Wayne, Inez Nell, and Charles Raymond. Virgil md. (2) Bertha D. Capps (Colton), b. 1908; bur Lone Pine Cem. The obituary for his mother Mary Jane stated that she was in Virgil’s home at the time of her death.
See also:
Henry Branscomb, son of John and Olive E. Branscomb
Elizabeth Burris, wife of Henry
Children of Henry and Elizabeth (Burris) Branscomb
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Frederick B. Tubbs
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