Jesse V. Branham, Jr., a pioneer, who took a most active and prominent part in the trying times of the Indian massacre, is one of the best-known and most conspicous figures in Meeker county's history. He is a native or Jennings county, Ind., born July 8, 1834, and is the son of Jesse V. and Mary (Butler) Branham, a sketch of whom will be found elsewhere in this ALBUM. In 1847 his parents removed to Franklin, Johnson county, Ind., where our subject remained under the parental roof until nineteen years of age, when he opened a dry-goods and grocery store. In 1855 he was united in mariage with Miss Mary L. Stark.
Early in the summer, of 1857, Jesse V., Jr., joined a party of pioneers consisting of his father, Jesse V. Branham, Sr., William Branham, Levi Reed, Hugh McGannon and others, and came to Meeker county, Minn., our subject locating on section 35, of Litchfield-then Ness-township, in June of that year. He at once began improvements, and his family joined him in August. He there remained, earnestly devoting his time and labor to developing a farm, living in contentment and prosperity, notwithstanding the many disadvantages usual to pioneer life, until the Indian outbreak of 1862 began.
On Sunday, August 17, 1862, while Jesse V. Branham, Jr., was crossing a field with a neighbor, the report of the Jones and Baker murders were brought to him. After a hasty consideration of the matter, he concluded to get all the people of the neighborhood together at the house of George C. Whitcomb (who was absent), on account of the location, partly because of a good well in the cellar, should the Indians make an attack, and partly to protect Whitcomb's family. Sunday night, after the neighborhood had been notified and brought to one point, our subject, in company with his brother William, mounted his horse and started for Acton, to learn as to the truth of the reports. When within about three miles from their destination, they met a party from the scene of the massacre, who had with them a child, which was the only surviving member of either the Jones or Baker households. The Branhams then learned that all reports were true, and immediately returned to Whitcomb's house. Early Monday morning they all started for Forest City, where they remained inactive for a day or so, but Tuesday afternoon word was received that the outbreak was general and would extend all along the border. That evening they held a council, and decided to send all women and children to Clearwater, and J. V. Branham, Jr., was appointed to take charge of the train. Wednesday morning the train started, being made up of teams of every description, and being half a mile in length. Jesse V., Jr., piloted them about half way through the "Big Woods," when he bade his family good-bye and returned to Kingston. There he talked with a number of the leading citizens, gave them his idea of the stockade, and the following morning with his team, he hauled the first log for the Kingston fortifications. Returning to Forest City, he found George C. Whitcomb with an order from Governor Ramsey to form a company of State militia, to defend the town. Our subject joined the ranks, and, as soon as possible, he, with others of the command, were mounted and started west to bury the dead and aid the wounded. They rode through the western part of Meeker county and all over Kandiyohi county.
After this Jesse V., Jr., remained with the company until the night of September 2, when, on coming into the stockade after a brush with the Indians, they learned that Captain Strout would be in camp at Acton that night. The whole company knew that the country was filled with hostile Indians, and knew that unless Strout was warned, his whole command would probably be murdered. Captain Whitcomb called for volunteers to go upon the extremely dangerous mission of warning Strout, and Jesse V. Branham, Jr., was the first to offer his services, Thomas Holmes and A. P. Sperry soon joining him, and at sundown they started for Acton, with Jesse in command of the trio. Reaching their destination and fulfilling their mission in the night, they slept for a time, and in the morning the company started for Forest City. The Indians soon made an attack on them, and in the engagement, Jesse Branham, Jr., was shot through the lungs, the bullet coming out of his back, and seventeen others of Strout's company were wounded. They were taken to Hutchinson that night, and upon arriving there, Branham got up and walked from the wagon to his room, in the second story of the hotel. When the doctor examined him, he said to those in attendance: "I can do nothing for this man; make him as comfortable as you can; he will be dead in three hours." The following morning, September 4th, was the day of the attack on Hutchinson, and while our subject was lying on his cot, then unable to move, there came a shower of bullets on and through the house. Later he was carried to the stockade with the other wounded, and there cared for. Four weeks later he was able to go to Minneapolis to his family. Three weeks later the family went south to Louisville, Ky., and remained there until the spring of 1863, when they returned to Minneapolis, and the following fall, again settled in Meeker county. Jesse V. Branham, Jr. rented the mill at Greenleaf, and operated it during the winter of 1863-4, and the following spring went to Forest City and rented a farm for the season. In the fall of 1864, the county commissioners appointed him county auditor to fill a vacancy, and he was afterward elected and re-elected, serving until the spring of 1871. During this time the county seat had been removed to Litchfield, and after the expiration of his term of office, our subject engaged in the mercantile trade at that place. Since that time he has been engaged either in the merchantile trade, real estate or farming.
In the early days Jesse V. Branham, Jr., was one of the most active and public-spirited men in the county. When the town of Ness was organized, he was elected first town clerk; he also held the office of county commissioner, besides that of county auditor, and various local offices. He was one of the original town site proprietors of Litchfield; drew the bill changing the county seat from Forest City; gave Litchfield its name, and in many other ways connected his name indissolubly with the early history of the county. He drew the plan of the park in Litchfield, and to him, more than any other one man, is due the credit of planting trees and getting it into the beautiful condition of to-day.
Mr. and Mrs. Jesse V. Branham, Jr., are the parents of five children, as follows-Hiram S., a member of the Litchfield banking firm of Stevens & Co., Alice, now Mrs. Robert Burns; Delaney E., Lula and Thomas.
Above excerpt from
Alden, Ogle & Company, . Illustrated Album of Biography of Meeker and McLeod Counties, Minnesota, History of Minnesota, Presidents of the United States.. Chicago: Donohue and Henneberry, 1888. 491-93. Print.
Early in the summer, of 1857, Jesse V., Jr., joined a party of pioneers consisting of his father, Jesse V. Branham, Sr., William Branham, Levi Reed, Hugh McGannon and others, and came to Meeker county, Minn., our subject locating on section 35, of Litchfield-then Ness-township, in June of that year. He at once began improvements, and his family joined him in August. He there remained, earnestly devoting his time and labor to developing a farm, living in contentment and prosperity, notwithstanding the many disadvantages usual to pioneer life, until the Indian outbreak of 1862 began.
On Sunday, August 17, 1862, while Jesse V. Branham, Jr., was crossing a field with a neighbor, the report of the Jones and Baker murders were brought to him. After a hasty consideration of the matter, he concluded to get all the people of the neighborhood together at the house of George C. Whitcomb (who was absent), on account of the location, partly because of a good well in the cellar, should the Indians make an attack, and partly to protect Whitcomb's family. Sunday night, after the neighborhood had been notified and brought to one point, our subject, in company with his brother William, mounted his horse and started for Acton, to learn as to the truth of the reports. When within about three miles from their destination, they met a party from the scene of the massacre, who had with them a child, which was the only surviving member of either the Jones or Baker households. The Branhams then learned that all reports were true, and immediately returned to Whitcomb's house. Early Monday morning they all started for Forest City, where they remained inactive for a day or so, but Tuesday afternoon word was received that the outbreak was general and would extend all along the border. That evening they held a council, and decided to send all women and children to Clearwater, and J. V. Branham, Jr., was appointed to take charge of the train. Wednesday morning the train started, being made up of teams of every description, and being half a mile in length. Jesse V., Jr., piloted them about half way through the "Big Woods," when he bade his family good-bye and returned to Kingston. There he talked with a number of the leading citizens, gave them his idea of the stockade, and the following morning with his team, he hauled the first log for the Kingston fortifications. Returning to Forest City, he found George C. Whitcomb with an order from Governor Ramsey to form a company of State militia, to defend the town. Our subject joined the ranks, and, as soon as possible, he, with others of the command, were mounted and started west to bury the dead and aid the wounded. They rode through the western part of Meeker county and all over Kandiyohi county.
After this Jesse V., Jr., remained with the company until the night of September 2, when, on coming into the stockade after a brush with the Indians, they learned that Captain Strout would be in camp at Acton that night. The whole company knew that the country was filled with hostile Indians, and knew that unless Strout was warned, his whole command would probably be murdered. Captain Whitcomb called for volunteers to go upon the extremely dangerous mission of warning Strout, and Jesse V. Branham, Jr., was the first to offer his services, Thomas Holmes and A. P. Sperry soon joining him, and at sundown they started for Acton, with Jesse in command of the trio. Reaching their destination and fulfilling their mission in the night, they slept for a time, and in the morning the company started for Forest City. The Indians soon made an attack on them, and in the engagement, Jesse Branham, Jr., was shot through the lungs, the bullet coming out of his back, and seventeen others of Strout's company were wounded. They were taken to Hutchinson that night, and upon arriving there, Branham got up and walked from the wagon to his room, in the second story of the hotel. When the doctor examined him, he said to those in attendance: "I can do nothing for this man; make him as comfortable as you can; he will be dead in three hours." The following morning, September 4th, was the day of the attack on Hutchinson, and while our subject was lying on his cot, then unable to move, there came a shower of bullets on and through the house. Later he was carried to the stockade with the other wounded, and there cared for. Four weeks later he was able to go to Minneapolis to his family. Three weeks later the family went south to Louisville, Ky., and remained there until the spring of 1863, when they returned to Minneapolis, and the following fall, again settled in Meeker county. Jesse V. Branham, Jr. rented the mill at Greenleaf, and operated it during the winter of 1863-4, and the following spring went to Forest City and rented a farm for the season. In the fall of 1864, the county commissioners appointed him county auditor to fill a vacancy, and he was afterward elected and re-elected, serving until the spring of 1871. During this time the county seat had been removed to Litchfield, and after the expiration of his term of office, our subject engaged in the mercantile trade at that place. Since that time he has been engaged either in the merchantile trade, real estate or farming.
In the early days Jesse V. Branham, Jr., was one of the most active and public-spirited men in the county. When the town of Ness was organized, he was elected first town clerk; he also held the office of county commissioner, besides that of county auditor, and various local offices. He was one of the original town site proprietors of Litchfield; drew the bill changing the county seat from Forest City; gave Litchfield its name, and in many other ways connected his name indissolubly with the early history of the county. He drew the plan of the park in Litchfield, and to him, more than any other one man, is due the credit of planting trees and getting it into the beautiful condition of to-day.
Mr. and Mrs. Jesse V. Branham, Jr., are the parents of five children, as follows-Hiram S., a member of the Litchfield banking firm of Stevens & Co., Alice, now Mrs. Robert Burns; Delaney E., Lula and Thomas.
Above excerpt from
Alden, Ogle & Company, . Illustrated Album of Biography of Meeker and McLeod Counties, Minnesota, History of Minnesota, Presidents of the United States.. Chicago: Donohue and Henneberry, 1888. 491-93. Print.
Jesse V. Branham, Jr., a pioneer, who took a most active and prominent part in the trying times of the Indian massacre, is one of the best-known and most conspicous figures in Meeker county's history. He is a native or Jennings county, Ind., born July 8, 1834, and is the son of Jesse V. and Mary (Butler) Branham, a sketch of whom will be found elsewhere in this ALBUM. In 1847 his parents removed to Franklin, Johnson county, Ind., where our subject remained under the parental roof until nineteen years of age, when he opened a dry-goods and grocery store. In 1855 he was united in mariage with Miss Mary L. Stark.
Early in the summer, of 1857, Jesse V., Jr., joined a party of pioneers consisting of his father, Jesse V. Branham, Sr., William Branham, Levi Reed, Hugh McGannon and others, and came to Meeker county, Minn., our subject locating on section 35, of Litchfield-then Ness-township, in June of that year. He at once began improvements, and his family joined him in August. He there remained, earnestly devoting his time and labor to developing a farm, living in contentment and prosperity, notwithstanding the many disadvantages usual to pioneer life, until the Indian outbreak of 1862 began.
On Sunday, August 17, 1862, while Jesse V. Branham, Jr., was crossing a field with a neighbor, the report of the Jones and Baker murders were brought to him. After a hasty consideration of the matter, he concluded to get all the people of the neighborhood together at the house of George C. Whitcomb (who was absent), on account of the location, partly because of a good well in the cellar, should the Indians make an attack, and partly to protect Whitcomb's family. Sunday night, after the neighborhood had been notified and brought to one point, our subject, in company with his brother William, mounted his horse and started for Acton, to learn as to the truth of the reports. When within about three miles from their destination, they met a party from the scene of the massacre, who had with them a child, which was the only surviving member of either the Jones or Baker households. The Branhams then learned that all reports were true, and immediately returned to Whitcomb's house. Early Monday morning they all started for Forest City, where they remained inactive for a day or so, but Tuesday afternoon word was received that the outbreak was general and would extend all along the border. That evening they held a council, and decided to send all women and children to Clearwater, and J. V. Branham, Jr., was appointed to take charge of the train. Wednesday morning the train started, being made up of teams of every description, and being half a mile in length. Jesse V., Jr., piloted them about half way through the "Big Woods," when he bade his family good-bye and returned to Kingston. There he talked with a number of the leading citizens, gave them his idea of the stockade, and the following morning with his team, he hauled the first log for the Kingston fortifications. Returning to Forest City, he found George C. Whitcomb with an order from Governor Ramsey to form a company of State militia, to defend the town. Our subject joined the ranks, and, as soon as possible, he, with others of the command, were mounted and started west to bury the dead and aid the wounded. They rode through the western part of Meeker county and all over Kandiyohi county.
After this Jesse V., Jr., remained with the company until the night of September 2, when, on coming into the stockade after a brush with the Indians, they learned that Captain Strout would be in camp at Acton that night. The whole company knew that the country was filled with hostile Indians, and knew that unless Strout was warned, his whole command would probably be murdered. Captain Whitcomb called for volunteers to go upon the extremely dangerous mission of warning Strout, and Jesse V. Branham, Jr., was the first to offer his services, Thomas Holmes and A. P. Sperry soon joining him, and at sundown they started for Acton, with Jesse in command of the trio. Reaching their destination and fulfilling their mission in the night, they slept for a time, and in the morning the company started for Forest City. The Indians soon made an attack on them, and in the engagement, Jesse Branham, Jr., was shot through the lungs, the bullet coming out of his back, and seventeen others of Strout's company were wounded. They were taken to Hutchinson that night, and upon arriving there, Branham got up and walked from the wagon to his room, in the second story of the hotel. When the doctor examined him, he said to those in attendance: "I can do nothing for this man; make him as comfortable as you can; he will be dead in three hours." The following morning, September 4th, was the day of the attack on Hutchinson, and while our subject was lying on his cot, then unable to move, there came a shower of bullets on and through the house. Later he was carried to the stockade with the other wounded, and there cared for. Four weeks later he was able to go to Minneapolis to his family. Three weeks later the family went south to Louisville, Ky., and remained there until the spring of 1863, when they returned to Minneapolis, and the following fall, again settled in Meeker county. Jesse V. Branham, Jr. rented the mill at Greenleaf, and operated it during the winter of 1863-4, and the following spring went to Forest City and rented a farm for the season. In the fall of 1864, the county commissioners appointed him county auditor to fill a vacancy, and he was afterward elected and re-elected, serving until the spring of 1871. During this time the county seat had been removed to Litchfield, and after the expiration of his term of office, our subject engaged in the mercantile trade at that place. Since that time he has been engaged either in the merchantile trade, real estate or farming.
In the early days Jesse V. Branham, Jr., was one of the most active and public-spirited men in the county. When the town of Ness was organized, he was elected first town clerk; he also held the office of county commissioner, besides that of county auditor, and various local offices. He was one of the original town site proprietors of Litchfield; drew the bill changing the county seat from Forest City; gave Litchfield its name, and in many other ways connected his name indissolubly with the early history of the county. He drew the plan of the park in Litchfield, and to him, more than any other one man, is due the credit of planting trees and getting it into the beautiful condition of to-day.
Mr. and Mrs. Jesse V. Branham, Jr., are the parents of five children, as follows-Hiram S., a member of the Litchfield banking firm of Stevens & Co., Alice, now Mrs. Robert Burns; Delaney E., Lula and Thomas.
Above excerpt from
Alden, Ogle & Company, . Illustrated Album of Biography of Meeker and McLeod Counties, Minnesota, History of Minnesota, Presidents of the United States.. Chicago: Donohue and Henneberry, 1888. 491-93. Print.
Early in the summer, of 1857, Jesse V., Jr., joined a party of pioneers consisting of his father, Jesse V. Branham, Sr., William Branham, Levi Reed, Hugh McGannon and others, and came to Meeker county, Minn., our subject locating on section 35, of Litchfield-then Ness-township, in June of that year. He at once began improvements, and his family joined him in August. He there remained, earnestly devoting his time and labor to developing a farm, living in contentment and prosperity, notwithstanding the many disadvantages usual to pioneer life, until the Indian outbreak of 1862 began.
On Sunday, August 17, 1862, while Jesse V. Branham, Jr., was crossing a field with a neighbor, the report of the Jones and Baker murders were brought to him. After a hasty consideration of the matter, he concluded to get all the people of the neighborhood together at the house of George C. Whitcomb (who was absent), on account of the location, partly because of a good well in the cellar, should the Indians make an attack, and partly to protect Whitcomb's family. Sunday night, after the neighborhood had been notified and brought to one point, our subject, in company with his brother William, mounted his horse and started for Acton, to learn as to the truth of the reports. When within about three miles from their destination, they met a party from the scene of the massacre, who had with them a child, which was the only surviving member of either the Jones or Baker households. The Branhams then learned that all reports were true, and immediately returned to Whitcomb's house. Early Monday morning they all started for Forest City, where they remained inactive for a day or so, but Tuesday afternoon word was received that the outbreak was general and would extend all along the border. That evening they held a council, and decided to send all women and children to Clearwater, and J. V. Branham, Jr., was appointed to take charge of the train. Wednesday morning the train started, being made up of teams of every description, and being half a mile in length. Jesse V., Jr., piloted them about half way through the "Big Woods," when he bade his family good-bye and returned to Kingston. There he talked with a number of the leading citizens, gave them his idea of the stockade, and the following morning with his team, he hauled the first log for the Kingston fortifications. Returning to Forest City, he found George C. Whitcomb with an order from Governor Ramsey to form a company of State militia, to defend the town. Our subject joined the ranks, and, as soon as possible, he, with others of the command, were mounted and started west to bury the dead and aid the wounded. They rode through the western part of Meeker county and all over Kandiyohi county.
After this Jesse V., Jr., remained with the company until the night of September 2, when, on coming into the stockade after a brush with the Indians, they learned that Captain Strout would be in camp at Acton that night. The whole company knew that the country was filled with hostile Indians, and knew that unless Strout was warned, his whole command would probably be murdered. Captain Whitcomb called for volunteers to go upon the extremely dangerous mission of warning Strout, and Jesse V. Branham, Jr., was the first to offer his services, Thomas Holmes and A. P. Sperry soon joining him, and at sundown they started for Acton, with Jesse in command of the trio. Reaching their destination and fulfilling their mission in the night, they slept for a time, and in the morning the company started for Forest City. The Indians soon made an attack on them, and in the engagement, Jesse Branham, Jr., was shot through the lungs, the bullet coming out of his back, and seventeen others of Strout's company were wounded. They were taken to Hutchinson that night, and upon arriving there, Branham got up and walked from the wagon to his room, in the second story of the hotel. When the doctor examined him, he said to those in attendance: "I can do nothing for this man; make him as comfortable as you can; he will be dead in three hours." The following morning, September 4th, was the day of the attack on Hutchinson, and while our subject was lying on his cot, then unable to move, there came a shower of bullets on and through the house. Later he was carried to the stockade with the other wounded, and there cared for. Four weeks later he was able to go to Minneapolis to his family. Three weeks later the family went south to Louisville, Ky., and remained there until the spring of 1863, when they returned to Minneapolis, and the following fall, again settled in Meeker county. Jesse V. Branham, Jr. rented the mill at Greenleaf, and operated it during the winter of 1863-4, and the following spring went to Forest City and rented a farm for the season. In the fall of 1864, the county commissioners appointed him county auditor to fill a vacancy, and he was afterward elected and re-elected, serving until the spring of 1871. During this time the county seat had been removed to Litchfield, and after the expiration of his term of office, our subject engaged in the mercantile trade at that place. Since that time he has been engaged either in the merchantile trade, real estate or farming.
In the early days Jesse V. Branham, Jr., was one of the most active and public-spirited men in the county. When the town of Ness was organized, he was elected first town clerk; he also held the office of county commissioner, besides that of county auditor, and various local offices. He was one of the original town site proprietors of Litchfield; drew the bill changing the county seat from Forest City; gave Litchfield its name, and in many other ways connected his name indissolubly with the early history of the county. He drew the plan of the park in Litchfield, and to him, more than any other one man, is due the credit of planting trees and getting it into the beautiful condition of to-day.
Mr. and Mrs. Jesse V. Branham, Jr., are the parents of five children, as follows-Hiram S., a member of the Litchfield banking firm of Stevens & Co., Alice, now Mrs. Robert Burns; Delaney E., Lula and Thomas.
Above excerpt from
Alden, Ogle & Company, . Illustrated Album of Biography of Meeker and McLeod Counties, Minnesota, History of Minnesota, Presidents of the United States.. Chicago: Donohue and Henneberry, 1888. 491-93. Print.
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