John E. Branch, farmer and stockraiser, and one of the enterprising farmers of Boardman Township, was born in Medina County, Ohio, Oct. 29, 1832. His parents, Lewis Branch, an early settler of Medina County, and Cordelia, nee Phillips, were natives of Massachusetts. They were married in Monroe County, N. Y., in 1830, and immediately removed to Medina County, Ohio, where nine children were born, his oldest sister, Fannie C., being the first white child born in York Township. In 1868 he came to Iowa, on a visit, and died in Linn County. His mother died in 1867. The subject of this memoir was reared on a farm, and received his education in the common schools of Ohio. He remained at home until he was twenty-one, but being in poor health he came to Iowa, arriving in Clayton County in 1853, and locating in Farmersburg Township where he purchased a farm in 1855. In March of that year he married Sarah A. Crust, daughter of Andrew and Eliza (Vernon) Crust; she was born Oct. 11, 1830. By this union there were six children, two sons and four daughters, viz.: Ebeline A., Mary E., Fred E. and Cora M.; two died in infancy. In the fall of 1858 he purchased his present farm of 105 acres, all of which is under a high state of cultivation and valued at $45 per acre. Mr. Branch has been identified with the county for more than a quarter of a century, and has seen the wild prairies transformed into beautiful farms and thriving villages. When he came to Clayton County he had but $2.50 in his pocket, and was in poor health, but he went manfully to work, and by judicious management accumulated a fine property and home. source: History of Clayton
County, Iowa, 1882, p. 652 |