Word was received here yesterday of the death of William Christopher Columbus Branning at his home in West Palm Beach, following a short illness. The funeral will be held today, the interment being in the family section in the West Palm Beach Cemetery.

Mr. Branning was seventy-seven years of age, and was a native Floridian. For nearly half a century he resided in Clay County, and then came to Palatka, where he conducted a jewelry store for a few years. Later he went to Jacksonville, and thence to West Palm Beach, where he was making his home when claimed by death.

(Times-Herald Obituary dated Friday, 22 May 1925.)

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1860 U.S. Census for Clay Co., Florida:
George Branning M 61 NC; b. 1799
Mary Branning F 54 Georgia; b. 1806
Leny Branning M 17 Florida
Washington Branning M 14 Florida
*William Branning M 12 Florida


William m. Reubanniah Gaines (b. Ocala, Florida) ca 1868, Clay Co., Florida; she d. 1903.


1870 U.S. Census for Jacksonville, Duvall Co., FL:
William C C Branning M 22 Florida; jeweler
Rubana Branning F 22 Florida
George L Branning M 7 mos Florida
Alabama Gaines F 17 Florida
Amanda Edwards F 15 Florida; domestic servant (Black)


1880 U.S. Census for Precinct 2, Volusia Co., Florida:
William C C Branning Self M 32 Florida
Rubena Branning Wife F 32 Florida
George L Branning Son M 10 Florida
Mary E Branning Dau F 7 Florida
William C C Branning Son M 5 Florida
Dina Branning Dau F 3 Florida

William, Sr. was an Agriculturist Farmer.


1885 Florida State Census for Volusia Co., Florida:
W C C Branning FATH M 38y; jeweller
R Branning WIFE F 38y
G L Branning SON M 14y
M E Branning DAU F 12y
W C C Branning SON M 10y
H R Branning SON M 8y
R R R Branning SON M 6y
W F Branning SON M 4y
R Branning DAU F 7m


1900 U.S. Census for Palatka city Ward 7, Putnam Co., FL:
William Branning Head M 52 yrs, b. Jan. 1848 Florida
Reubanniah Branning Wife F 53 yrs, b. Dec. 1847 FL
Robert R R Branning Son M 20 yrs, b. Aug. 1880 FL
Henry P Branning Son M 18 yrs, b. Aug. 1882 Florida
Willie F Branning Son M 16 yrs, b. Dec. 1884 Florida
Reubannah Branning Dau F 13 yrs, b. May 1887 Florida

They had 6 children, all living. William, Robert, & Willie are "artists".


He m. Kate Sadler (b. 1870, Illinois).


1910 U.S. Census for West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Co., Florida:
Wm C C Branning Sr. Head M 62 Florida
Katie Branning Wife F 40 Illinois
Alford P Sadler Stepson M 21 Florida
Carrie E Sadler Stepdau F 16 Florida
Millard M Sadler Stepson F 12 Florida


1920 U.S. Census for West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Co., Florida:
William is listed as married and owning his home. He was a retired census enumerator.


William & Reubannah Gaines Branning's children:

1. George Lewis Branning, b. 1869
2. Mary Ella Branning, b. Oct. 1872; see below
3. William Converse Branning, b. Feb. 1875
4. Robert Raymond Reed Branning, b. Aug. 1880
5. Henry Pierre Branning, b. Aug. 1882
6. Willie Fulford Branning, b. Dec. 1884
7. Reubannah (Ruby) Edith Branning, b. May 1887


Note: Son William Converse Carroll Branning, b. 11 Feb 1875, Green Cove Springs, Clay Co., FL; m. Flora; d. 2 June 1932, West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Co., FL (57y 3m 20d); buried in this cemetery. He was an electrical contractor.

Son George Lewis Branning m. Kittie L. Briggs 16 Oct 1895, Mendon, St Joseph Co., Michigan. Her parents were Chas D. Briggs & Marion A. Troy. Kittie was b. 1873, Michigan.

In 1910, he, wife Kittie & their 3 children resided in New Smyrna, Volusia Co., Florida. He was b. 1870, FL. Believe she's buried in this cem. He d. 1943, Dade Co. FL. A 1940 U.S. Census for Miami, Dade Co., FL shows him married to Esther K. Branning.

Daughter Mary Ella Branning, b. 5 Oct 1872, Jacksonville, Duvall Co., FL; m. William W. Weaver; d. 20 Sept 1928, DeLand, Volusia Co., FL; buried at Oakdale Cemetery, DeLand, Volusia Co., FL with her husband; Memorial 98049767.

Daughter Reubannah Edith Branning resided in West Palm Beach, Precinct 4, Palm Beach Co., Florida in 1940. She worked as a servant in the home of Ada L Saunders, a widow & her son John Fox Weihe, divorced. He owned a charter boat. The 3 of them resided in the same house in 1935. Reubannah Edith is buried in this cemetery with her parents & brother.

Son William "Willie" Fulwood Branning, b. 8 Dec 1882, Volusia Co., FL; d. 20 Nov 1950, Lockhart, Caldwell Co., Texas; burial: Lockhart, Caldwell Co. Texas. He was married & a farmer when he passed away. He & his wife Bessie Marie Pyland Branning are buried in Lockhart Municipal Burial Park, Lockhart, Caldwell Co., Texas; Memorial 39770966.

William Fulwood Branning m. Ruby Berry Rouse 28 November 1905, Dade Co., Florida.


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Description of headstone markers layout:
From the large family marker as the center then to the direct right side is the one marked FATHER and to the direct left side is the one marked MOTHER. There is one closer to the base of the large stone and that one is for Kittie Louise. The remaining two, C and Reubannah, are further out in front.

Thanks to Roberta Moody for the description and headstone photos!