Atlas M. Branch, born 1872 in St. Mary's Township (Garner), Wake County, NC, the 5th of 8 known surviving children (5 boys/2 girls) born to farmers, Newton A. Branch and his wife, Lugenia.

His father was born in Burke County, NC, and volunteered at the age of twenty-three in May 1861 with the NC 6th Regiment, Company D. Promoted to Corporal Sept 1861, he was seriously wounded in the foot during an attack at Gettysburg on July 1, 1863. Unable to walk, Branch stayed behind when the Confederate army retreated, and was captured and hospitalized at David's Island, New York, until paroled and transferred to City Point, VA for exchange. After the exchange, he was reduced to ranks for reason of disability and retired to invalid corps on February 3, 1865. He took the Oath of Allegiance at Raleigh on June 3, 1865.

Atlas' mother, Lugenia, died in 1906 and is buried here. His father remarried in 1907 at age 71, but died in 1918 at the NC Soldiers Home in Raleigh from toxic meningitis. His newlywed widow, Emma, survived him. Newton A. Branch is buried in the Confederate Section of Oakwood Cemetery. [CIVIL WAR PHOTO SHOWN HERE.]

Atlas Branch married Nora Francis Hinnant, daughter of Capt. Littleberry Hinnant (CSA) and Kate Chamblee of Wilder Twp, Johnston County, about 1895 when he was 23 and she just 16. Soon after their marriage, the couple moved to Reidsville, Rockingham Co, NC where Atlas was a blacksmith. (Their first 2 children were born here.) By 1920, the couple were back in St. Mary's (Garner) farming.

The couple would have 11 known children (6 boys/5 girls): Gladys (c. 1896), Beatrice (c. 1898), John D. (1901), Marie (c. 1904), Leslie Oliver (1906), Douglas M. (c. 1909), Minnie R. (c. 1911), Cecil H. (1914), Paul R. (c. 1917), Lois C. (c. 1919) and Howard J. (c. 1923).

Atlas M. Branch died in 1936 at age 64. His bride of 41 years survived another 18 years, passing in 1955 at age 76.