My Tree

Deeply Rooted

Branch, Jesse M.

Source 252 – Memorial Card – Jesse M. Branch

by

Title: Memorial Cabinet Card for Jesse M. Branch
Date: Died October 7, 1889, aged 24 years
Locality: 
Curator: Christine Fisher
Detail: 

There is no Death! What seems so is transition;
This life of Mortal breath is but a suburb of the life elysian whose portal we call Death.

In Loving Remembrance of Jesse M. Branch
Died: October 7, 1889, aged 24 years.

‘Tis hard to break the tender cord, when love has bound the heart,
‘Tis hard, so hard to speak the words, we must forever part.

Dearest loved one, we must lay thee, in the peaceful grave’s embrace,
But thy memory will be cherished, ‘till we see thy heavenly face.

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

by

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 032 – Personal Letter by Nancy J. Nelson

by

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]