Thomas Brandon

Thomas Brandon, one of the most extensive land owners in Monroe county, who is also equally successful in the banking business, which he follows in Melrose, belongs to that class of typical American citizens who with determined purpose force aside all the barriers that obstruct their path and work their way upward from an humble position to one of prominence in the business world. A laudable ambition, tempered by sound judgment and enterprise and executive ability, have been the important factors in his success.

On the 27th of August, 1826, near Greenville, in Greene county, Tennessee, Mr. Brandon was born, and is the eldest of a family of eleven children, whose parents were James Brandon and Rebecca(Fowler) Brandon, also natives of Tennessee. The father was a farmer by occupation, following that pursuit until his death, which occurred in February, 1852, in Scotland county, Missouri. His remains were then brought back to Iowa and interred in the cemetery on our subject's farm. The children of the family were Thomas; Audley, deceased; Amanda; Dicy; John, deceased; George; Eunice; Alexander; Rebecca; Rhoda and an infant,--all four deceased.

Mr. Brandon spent his boyhood days on the old home farm in Tennessee until sixteen years of age, when he accompanied his parents on their removal to what is now Monroe county, Iowa. It was then a wild and undeveloped region, and he aided in the arduous task of transforming the wild prairie into a good farm. The experience and hardships of frontier life were familiar to him, and he was thoroughly conversant with the county's history for more than a half century.

On the 13th of September, 1849, Mr. Brandon was united in marriage with Miss Ruth Barker a native of Wayne county, Iowa. They became the parents of two children: Samuel, who married Miss Lucinda Johnson, and is a farmer of Appanoose county, Iowa; Elizabeth, who became the wife of Norton Allison, and died near Florence, Kansas, leaving six children. The mother of this family was a member of the Quaker Church, and died in that faith on the 4th of March, 1855. Mr. Brandon was again married, September 11, 1856, his second union being with Miss Mary J. Stephens, a native of Virginia, who came to Louisa county, Iowa in her girlhood days, and thence to Monroe county. Seven children were born of this union: Ruth J., wife of C. B. Riggs, a farmer of Chase county, Kansas; Thomas T., who married Miss Lucy Chadwick and operates a track of land in Monroe county; Sarah, wife of D. J. Martin, also an agriculturist of Monroe county; Clara, wife of John Massman, a farmer of Appanoose county; Alice, wife of O. T. Ripp, a farmer of Monroe county; Laura, wife of Benjamin Ullem, who follows the same pursuit in Monroe county; and Josephine, at home.

Mr. Brandon is indeed a self-made man. When he married his entire possessions consisted of a yoke of cattle and a cart, of which he made good use while peddling through the country; but with characteristic energy he entered upon business, which he prosecuted industriously until it yielded to him a good income. As his financial resources have increased he has made judicious investments in land, adding more and more to his real estate until he has now accumulated 1, 450 acres, besides a ten-acre lot, with good residence and a banking house in Melrose. He also owns 640 acres of good farm land in Texas, about thirty miles from Galveston and about twenty-three from Houston. Mr. Brandon, being about blind, took his daughter Laura with him to select this land. In 1881 he embarked in the banking business in Melrose, with his daughter Sarah as cashier, who was then eighteen years of age, she having inherited her father's business talent, and she remained with him until the 4th of March, 1885, when she was married, leaving the office to her younger sister, Clara, who remained with him the following two years, when she too, was married, leaving his daughter Alice as cashier for a short time, when his daughter Sarah again took the office; and she and her husband remained with him the following eight years, when they quit the banking business to take charge of their farm. Mr. Brandon then employed Mr. John Luttrell as cashier. The bank has the reputation of being second to none in the State. Mr. Brandon has gradually risen from the role of peddler to that of one of the most conservative bankers in the State.

In politics he is a Jackson Democrat, but never aspires to public office, preferring to give his entire time and attention to his business interests, in which he has met with such signal success.