For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 199
THOMAS H. BRANNAN. Thomas H. Brannan, city recorder of Muscatine and one of its most popular young men, was born in this city, January 23, 1883. He is a son of Judge William F. and Mary ( McColm ) Brannan, a record of whom appears elsewhere in this work. In the family are two children: William F., Jr., of New York city, and Thomas H. John Brannan, the paternal grandfather, was born near Dublin, Ireland, and received a good education, becoming a school teacher in his native land. In 1822 he came to America and located at Washington, D. C., where he entered the government service as clerk in the pension department. He wedded Mary McLeod and three sons were born to them: John, Thomas and William F. Our subjects grandfather McColm was a native of Portsmouth, Ohio, where he entered the dry-goods business and studied law, becoming county judge of his county. He came to Muscatine in 1866 and was for a number of years identified with the dry-goods business in this city. He married Miss Mary Davidson and they became the parents of the following children: Mary Helen, the mother of our subject; Louise, who married W. D. Ament and is now deceased; Frank, also deceased; Lydia, the widow of Henry D. Wycoff, of Chillicothe, Missouri; John Leroy, of Muscatine; and A. Greenley, of Waterloo, Iowa.Thomas H. Brannan was reared in Muscatine and attended the public schools, then becoming a student at St. Albans Academy, of Knoxville, Illinois. After leaving the institution he studied law in the offices of J. W. McKee and E. P. Ingham, of Muscatine, later entering the Northern Illinois College of Law, at Dixon, Illinois, from which he was graduated with the degree of LL. B. in 1901. Desiring to pursue his studies further, he became a student in the law department of the State University of Iowa at Iowa City, where he continued for a little more than a year. Returning again to Muscatine, he entered newspaper work as a reporter on the Muscatine Journal and after a short experience on that paper, accepted a position on The Nonpariel at Council Bluffs, Iowa. Once more he became identified with the Muscatine Journal but, desiring to see something of the world, he went west and was connected with papers in Seattle and Tacoma, Washington; Ogden and Salt Lake, Utah. In 1907 he became city editor of the Muscatine Journal and continued in that position until March, 1910, when he was elected city recorder. This office he now occupies, discharging its duties in a way that meets his hearty approval of the people of the city regardless of party affiliation.
On the 18th of May, 1909, Mr. Brannan was united in marriage to Miss Gertrude L. Legler, a native of Seventy-six township, Muscatine county, and the only child of John J. and Ida ( Geiger ) Legler. Her parents were both born in Muscatine county, Mr. Legler becoming one of its well known farmers and stock-raisers. They are now living in Muscatine. One child, Margaret, has come to brighten the home of Mr. and Mrs. Brannan.
Mr. Brannan is a member of the Phi Delta Theta college fraternity and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and he and his wife are both identified with the Presbyterian church. Politically he adheres to the republican party, believing that the permanent interests of the country are best subserved by its principles. Having possessed unusual advantages at home training and of education and also having traveled extensively in the United States, in a course of which he made many interesting observations, Mr. Brannan has a mind well stored with knowledge and as a conversationalist has few superiors anywhere. Socially he possesses qualities which readily attract friends and it is freely prophesied by those who know him best that in the years to come he will prove a worthy successor to his father in the estimation of the people of his native state.
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