My Tree

Deeply Rooted

Branch, Amanda B.

Source 003 – Personal Letter Regarding Branch/Lawton Genealogy by Dorothy Lawton

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Author: Dorothy Lawton
Title: Letter to Helen J. (Thomas) Hoorn regarding Branch/Lawton Genealogy
Date: 09 June 1982
Curator: Christine Fisher
Note: Sent from Mayer, AZ, to Grand Rapids, MI

09 June 1982
Grand Rapids, MI

Dear Helen:
This is the darnedest letter. First I’m not seeing so good. Second its a darnedest mix up trying to write about the family. and then I’m such a poor writer. But Frank says if you really study the papers in the last box, you’ll probably be able to figure it out for yourself. And then you can write and ask anything you don’t understand. So here goes:

Valeria L Nelson’s sister Helen E. Nelson – who married Elam Branch, Frank’s grandfather. There was three children: EE Branch (Uncle Elam), Jesse Branch (died in early life, was married and had two children. He died up in the thumb area of typhoid pneumonia and we lost track of his children. And Amanda Branch – Frank’s mother. After Elam died Helen E Branch later married Lyman Cooper (your [Helen’s] grandfather). But Helen was both yours and Franks grandmother.

After Helen and Lyman Cooper were married they had one daughter, Iva May Cooper – your mother.

Valeria L Nelson, sister of Helen E Nelson maried Elam Branch. They had 3 children: EE Branch, Jesse Branch, and Amanda Branch. After Elam Branch died Helen E Branch later maried Lyman Cooper. Had one dawter: Iva May Cooper. You asked if Aunt Valeria had been maried. She maried William Nelson. I do not know if he was a cousin or not. Grandmother Branch-Cooper buried in Hillside Cemetery, Lawrence, MI

Helen Branch-Cooper, Valeria Nelson, and Frank H Lawton and Amanda B. Lawton are all buried on the same large lot. If you were to go to the Lawrence Cemetery and look up the large lot and maybe look up the manager and he’ll tell you about who buried there.

Does Martin belong to the Mason’s? You remember Uncle Elam was a 32 (?) mason and we have a couple of rituals
My goodness I was going to copy this out a little better, but didn’t get it done.

My sister Vera and her husband (Clark William Hill) are having their 50th anniversary at their sons in Owosso next month. Hope you have a nice time sorting this out.
Love,
Lawtons (Frank and Dorothy), Mayer AZ

Source 127 – Personal Letter by Amanda Lawton

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Author: Amanda (Branch) Lawton
Title: Letter to Helen (Thomas) Hoorn
Date: 10 April 1952
Curator: Christine Fisher
Note:

Dear Niece and all your fine family.

Just a few lines to let you know I remember you and hope you are all well and will have a very happy Easter.

Dorothy L. told me you are looking for another addition to your family [Dianna was born 19 April 1952]. If its twins again hope it will be girls to even the family up. There was a pair of twins in our line I forgot about. My great grandma Nelson [Dorothy Comstock] had 13 children among them a pair of twin boys that died in infancy [John and Alexander]. Great grandmothers name was Dorothy. Great grandfather [Moses Nelson] had a short revolutionary war record so if you want to join the D.A.R., I have the record.

It is getting dusk and I can’t see to follow the lines very well so I will close with love and best wishes for all. Aunt Amanda [Ellsworth, Mich]

Source 059 – Postcard by Iva M. Cooper

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Author: Iva M. Cooper of Grand Rapids, MI
Title: Postcard to Mrs. A.B. Lawton [Amanda (Branch) Lawton] of Lawrence, MI
Date: 19 December 1912
Curator: Christine Fisher
Note:

Dorr, December 19, 1912

Mrs. A.B. Lawton [Amanda (Branch) Lawton]
Lawrence, MI
RFD #3

Whatever you haven’t shipped, hold now, till you hear otherwise; unless it can be pushed through by Christmas. If all is well we will start the last of next week or first of the next. I may write a letter before we go and send you some freight money, but if I don’t, will write as soon as we arrive, so you can start the freight on its way. I hope the stove is on its way here, but haven’t heard from you, so I don’t know. If you do send anything Sat. be sure to let us know, but don’t send unless it will be pushed through. Iva

Source 008 – Personal Letter by Amanda Lawton

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Author: Amanda B. (Branch) Lawton of Lawrence, MI
Title: Letter to “Sister” [Iva M. Cooper of Beulah, MI]
Date: 28 October 1906
Curator: Christine Fisher
Note: care of CH Craine [husband of Junia E. Cooper, Iva’s half-sister through father]

Dear Sister [Iva]
I direct to you because mother said to and it has been so long since I got her letter that she may be back in Paw Paw by this time. I am sorry I could not answer sooner but I was out of envelopes, stamps, and money at the time so was obliged to wait till I could stock up again.

I saw Welsh the day I got the letter. I thought I explained things so it was all understood that I couldn’t meet anything more until Carl pays me. I hoped he would pay me this month but I have to wait until Nov. And my creditors have to wait along with me and the int. is steadily growing but I can’t help myself.

But this is enough along this line. I hope Junia is much better by this time. It seemed so hard that she must loose her first little girl and probably all the one she will ever have. Mrs. Barnes was buried the 7th of this month. Her foot was amputated a few days before she died hoping to save her but it was too late. The last time the Dr tried to dress her leg I was told that the flesh sloughed off to the bone from where the sore was on her leg to her toes. The dear little woman has been such a sufferer for so many years. Death must have been a sweet release to her, though it must be very lonely for Mr Barnes, but he probably will not have long to endure it. Last night we were told of Aida Barnes Fuller’s death. I haven’t heard any particulars yet. I think Junia went to school to her. I suppose you had a snow storm up there the same time we had ours. Apples were frozen solid on the trees and grapes on the vines burst – the string beans were many of them spared. Apples that were on the ground were not hurt. We hadn’t had frost enough to color the leaves yet and they just crisped and fell green. We have had the most peculiar looking landscape this fall that I ever saw having entirely missed the gorgeous red and yellow colouring of the leaves that we usually have in Oct.

It was so cold and stormy that the baby [Frank Jr] and I didn’t go to church today but Jesse went with Silvia. And the baby is taking a nice long nap so I am having quite a peaceable time writing. But it is time to start dinner now and I must write to Aunt Valeria [Nelson]. I had a letter from her dated the 5th and as I haven’t written to her since the baby was born I think it is about time I wrote. We are well so far and hope you are the same. But good by with love and best wishes to mother if she is still there and also to yourself and Junia and good luck to Charlie.
I remain as ever your loving sister,
Amanda B. Lawton [Iva’s half-sister through mother]
Lawrence, MI

Source 032 – Personal Letter by Nancy J. Nelson

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Author: Nancy J. (Draper) Nelson age 56
Title: Letter to Helen [age 24]
Date: October 1870
Curator: Christine Fisher
Note:

Lawrence
October 1870

Dear Helen (age 24),
Although you do not write to me I suppose for some good reason I doubt not you will be glad to know how we are getting along so this eve the sixth anniversary of your wedding day and the 9th since we last saw our beloved Marcus, I am alone as your Pa [Moses Nelson Jr] has gone to Wills so to commence work early in the morning. He has sowed three acres of wheat there on shears, he finished sowing Saturday but had not time to finish dragging in, as it was a prospect of rain it seamed very necessary for him to go to night, though alone I feel I am not alone for my beloved Shepherd is near. I heard an excellent sermon to day from Br Havens from these words – contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints, not for creeds, he said but alone for this faith it is a feast to hear him preach for all that love the truth we had a good lodge meeting last evening though our number was but eight, Sister Squires thought best to give up but was opposed by nearly all the rest she could not see what good the Lodge was doing, I was stirred up by such a speech, I told them by the same rule we might say as individuals we could not any see good we were doing so we would do nothing more, I told them I thought instead of being discourage it would be better for all that had an interest at the throne of grace to pray for our cause your Father intended to give you the pass word but for got it.

Now about your peaches. Your father Branch [Eaton Branch] got six two quart cans (as we had no means to get them) and I have caned them to the best of my ability he did not bring the word in about a week he was very much drove and forgot it, but we had saved yellow peaches expecting to hear from you, they were our late peaches but very rich flavored they were smaller than the early ones but I cut them in halves so they look nice tell Jesse and Amanda [age 3] that we have got a calico kitty and to night she catched a mouse though she is a very little kit. I did not dry many peaches for I was so lame I could not, we sold them at a dollar per bushel very readily.

My ankles are improving some, so I do not suffer as much pain as I did. I have been taking Ayers Sarceparilla is the cause of improvement, I suppose you missed Jesse’s N gowned. It hung in the chamber. It has been very sickly in Lawrence and vicinity. Uncles folks have all been sick but Frank, but we have been highly favored not having to call a physician this summer. It is after ten so I must close pleas write soon if but a short letter.

With love and good wishes I remain your ever loving mother,
NJ Nelson [age 56]