Treasure Chest Thursday - The Brane Family Bible

Back in February I wrote this post regarding the Brane Family Bible that had come into my possession.

This past spring/summer I took the plunge and had the bible restored.  It wasn't cheap but the finished restoration is priceless!

When I received the bible the spine was missing.  Sections of the bible were no longer attached and most were in the wrong order.  Because the pages were flaking off I didn't try reconstructing the correct order.

When the bible was restored it was put back into the correct order and it was discovered that the first 16 pages were missing entirely.  This means I don't know exactly when the bible was printed or when it came into the family.  However, the front inside cover does show this:

It's a clue that as early as 1907 it was in the Brane family possession.

The before and after is just amazing.

Before

After

After

 Before

After

 Before

After

What was once a family treasure hidden away is now one that can be enjoyed by all the Brane family descendants for many generations to come.

Restoration work completed by:
Etherington Conservation Services
1010 North Sycamore Street
North Manchester, IN  46962
1-800-334-3628

52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy - Week - Family Heirlooms

Week 6 – Family Heirlooms:  For which family heirloom are you most thankful? How did you acquire this treasure and what does it mean to you and your family?

One of my most treasured possessions is the bible kept by my Great-Great Grandparents, John Thomas Brane and Marilla Scott Brane. 


Inside the front cover they glued and taped obituaries for family members from the local newspaper dating back to 1872.  My great-great grandmother also listed all the family marriages, births and deaths.  


Sadly it is very old and in bad condition.

Right after Christmas there was an article in our local newspaper about a church in town who had old books restored regarding their church history.  I contacted the company they used and found that they were located in the same small town my boys go to college in!


I took the bible to them for an estimate and left it in their capable hands.  It will take 6 months and several hundred dollars to restore. 


But to me......it's priceless.

Mystery Monday - Can You Help Date This Photo?

I just love this photo!  Whoever they are I bet they were lots of fun!

**This is one of a handful of photos found in an album among the possessions of Clyde Arthur BRANE (1881-1972), grandson of Daniel and Mariah Anderson BRANE.  The name on the outside of the album reads Mariah Anderson BRANE.

Mystery Monday - Can You Help Date This Photo?

**This is one of a handful of photos found in an album among the possessions of Clyde Arthur BRANE (1881-1972), grandson of Daniel and Mariah Anderson BRANE.  The name on the outside of the album reads Mariah Anderson BRANE.

Mystery Monday - Can You Help Date This Photo?

**This is one of a handful of photos found in an album among the possessions of Clyde Arthur BRANE (1881-1972), grandson of Daniel and Mariah Anderson BRANE.  The name on the outside of the album reads Mariah Anderson BRANE.

Mystery Monday - Can You Help Date This Photo?

The ancestors in this photo are unidentified and I'm trying to determine what year it may have been taken. Can you help?


**This is one of a handful of photos found in an album among the possessions of Clyde Arthur BRANE (1881-1972), grandson of Daniel and Mariah Anderson BRANE.  The name on the outside of the album reads Mariah Anderson BRANE.

Wordless Wednesday - Marilla Elma Scott Brane

Marilla Elma Scott BRANE

Circa 1946

Marilla is my great-great grandmother.  She was born 26 May 1862 in Wabash County, Indiana and died 21 Mar 1948 in Marion, Grant, Indiana.

Her Find a Grave memorial can be found here.

Sunday's Obituary - John Thomas Brane

John Brane Dies At Farm Home


John Brane, a life-long resident of Liberty township, died at his home north of LaFontaine at 3:30 Wednesday afternoon following a five year's illness with sugar diabetis.  During the past couple of years he had undergone four operations on his feet when gangreen set in and this caused his death.  His last illness was of about a month's duration and he was brought to his home from the Wabash hospital two weeks ago.

He was born on a farm adjoining the one he died on March 28, 1861 and spent all his life, with exceptions of a couple of years in LaFontaine, on the farm.

He is survived by seven children, Clyde of Glendive, Mont.; Mrs. Pearl Stevens, South Bend; Mrs. Harold Hadley, Westfield; Mrs. Rhoda Hockett, Indianapolis; George, Marion; Ralph, LaFontaine and Charles of LaFontaine.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday from the Lincolnville, United Brethren church with the Rev. K.K. Merryman assisted by the Rev. J.F. Lutey of the LaFontaine, M.E. church.  Burial will be made in Center Grove cemetery and grandsons will be pallbearers.

Circa 1934, newspaper unknown.

John Thomas Brane is my great-great grandfather.  His daughter Florence preceded him in death in 1907.  My great-great grandmother Marilla Elma Scott BRANE lived until 1948.

Tombstone Tuesday - The Coomler Children

Barbury Ellen Coomler

Age 4

Born:  29 Dec 1843

Died:  19 May 1848

Daniel Jacob Coomler

Age 2

Born:  22 Mar 1846

Died: 10 Jun 1848

Joseph F. Coomler

Age 14 months

Born:  2 Jun 1857

Died: 27 Aug 1858

George Broderick Coomler

Age 11

Born:  16 Feb 1851

Died: 16 Feb 1862

All are children of Jacob and Mary Hoffman COOMLER.  All buried in America Cemetery, LaFontaine, Wabash, Indiana.

Tombstone Tuesday - Rebecca Ann Botkin Brane

Rebecca Ann Botkin BRANE

b: Dec 1857 in Wabash County, Indiana

d:  1925 in Wabash County, Indiana

Rebecca is the daugher of Isaac and Caroline Minnear BOTKIN.  On the 8 Sep 1880 she married William Henry BRANE in Wabash County, Indiana.  They were the parents of one daughter, Florence S. BRANE.

Rebecca is buried along with William and Florence in the LaFontaine IOOF Cemetery, LaFontaine, Indiana.  Her FAG memorial can be found here.

On This Day - January 20, 2011

James Morandaham BOTKIN was born on this day in 1856 in Pulaski, Kentucky, USA.  James is the oldest son of Moses Matson BOTKIN and Elizabeth GASTINEAU. 

On the 23 Nov 1876 he married Lucy Jane WEIBLE in Reynolds, Missouri.  Together they had 8 boys, 7 of whom lived to adulthood. 

James died on 7 Oct 1926 in Reynolds, Missouri at the age of 70.  His death certificate lists the cause as high blood pressure and old age.  He is buried in Lower Bee Fork Cemetery, Bunker, Reynolds, Missouri.  His FAG memorial can be found here

Thomas Allen BOTKIN was born on this day in 1820 in Virginia, USA.  He is the son of George BOTKIN.

On 16 Aug 1840. Thomas married Phebe CONNOR in Grant County, Indiana.  Together they had 8 children, 2 boys and 6 girls.

Thomas died on 19 Mar 1864 at the age of 44 in Grant County, Indiana.  His is buried in Prickett Cemetery, Jalapa, Grant, Indiana.  His FAG memorial can be found here

Harol David HADLEY was born on this day in 1893 in Morgan, Indiana, USA.  He is the husband of Nellie Myrtle BRANE. 

On 16 Feb 1916, Harol and Nellie were married in Wabash County, Indiana.  On the 15 Jul 1970 he died in Kokomo, Indiana and was buried in Park Lawn Cemetery, Amboy, Indiana.  His FAG memorial can be found here

Giles Parker HUNT was born on this day in 1843 in Randolph County, Indiana.  He is the husband of Elmira BOTKIN. 

On the 9 Aug 1862, Giles enlisted in the 69th Indiana Volunteer Infantry, Company D.  He mustered out 5 Jul 1865 in Mobile, Alabama.

On 1 Jan 1868 Giles and Elmira were married in Randolph County.  They were the parents of 5 children. 

Giles died on 31 Oct 1905 in Randolph County, Indiana.  His burial location is unknown.

Finally, on this day in 1854, my Great-Great Grandfather, George Washington STEPHENS was born in Wayne County, Indiana.  He is the son of William B. STEPHENS and Elizabeth Ann CONNETT. 

On the 10 Jul 1877 in Grant County, Indiana, he married Rebecca Jane Catherine BOLE.  Together they had 10 children before George died on 20 Jul 1898 at the age of 44 in Mills Township, Grant, Indiana. 

Grandpa George is buried in McKinney Lugar Creek Cemetery, Marion, Indiana.  His FAG memorial can be found here

Wordless Wednesday - Elsie Marie Brane

Born: 6 Dec 1905

Died: 26 Sep 1906

Elsie died at 9 months of age.  She was crawling on the floor, picked up a button and choked on it.  Her Find A Grave Memorial is here.

On This Day.....

6 Jan 1831 - 180 years ago, Nathan GARRISON, son of Jeremiah GARRISON and Rebecca MCDANIEL, husband of Mary G. BOTKIN, was born in Wabash County, Indiana.  Nathan was the father of six children.  He died 20 Apr 1908 in Wabash County and is buried in Harper Cemetery in La Fontaine, Indiana.  His FAG memorial can be found here.

6 Jan 1851 - 160 years ago, Catherine Elizabeth BRANE, daughter of Abraham BRANE and Nancy HOFFMAN, wife of Arthur MCCLAINE, was born.  Catherine was the mother of one child and died 24 Feb 1879 at the age of 28.  She is buried in Center Grove Cemetery, Lincolnville, Indiana.  Her FAG memorial can be found here.

6 Jan 1888 - 123 years ago, Bruce BRANE, son of Milton Samuel BRANE and Anna Elizabeth THOMAS, husband of Mary Elizabeth DOTY was born in Wabash County, Indiana.  Bruce was the father of three children and died Jul 1968 in Zephyrhills, Florida at the age of 80. 

6 Jan 1939 - My uncle Bob Stephens was born South Bend, Indiana.  Happy 72nd birthday, uncle Bob!

Wordless Wednesday - The John T. Brane Family circa 1892

Left to right back row: 

Marilla Elma SCOTT BRANE, Charles Fremont BRANE, Grace Mabel BRANE, Clyde Arthur BRANE and John Thomas BRANE.

Left to right front row:

Florence Marie BRANE, Rhoda Mae BRANE and George Washington BRANE (baby)

Not yet born:

Nellie Myrtle BRANE and Ralph Wreford BRANE

More Ancestors Identified in the Brane Family Reunion Photo of 1918!

Thank you to Doug Brane for identifying 7 more Brane ancestors from the reunion photo!

Here are the names:

The stylish woman in the hat holding the baby is Mary Elizabeth DOTY BRANE, kneeling in front of her is her husband Bruce BRANE.  Mary is holding their daughter Lonetta BRANE RUDICEL while Bruce has his arm around their son Earl Perviance BRANE.

The man holding his hat is Milton Samuel BRANE.  Standing to his left is his daughter Ruth Elizabeth BRANE.

The man kneeling on the left is Miles Wendell BRANE.

So that takes us up to a total of 32 people identified out of 65.  49% of the family have now been identified!

If you are a BRANE family descendent can you help?

Tombstone Tuesday - Back to America Cemetery

Back in June I blogged about meeting two new cousins, Jean and Dee Dee, as a result of this blog.  During our meeting in Kokomo we talked about the trip mom and I made to America Cemetery.  I expressed my desire to return in the fall after the poison ivy had died back to do more research and some clean up.  Jean and Dee Dee volunteered to join us and in October we returned to America and did a tremendous amount of work.

Dee Dee had also visited the cemetery in the summer time and both of us expressed surprise at how large it appeared in the fall.  With the leaves off the trees, and all the bushes and underbrush dying off we were able to see more stones then either of us realized were there!

We first had to rake all the leaves to the perimeter of the cemetery and then began work brushing off and photographing the stones.  We used water to clean some stones off and were able to read names that we previously could not read. 

By then end of a very long day we had found and photographed most of the cemetery.  We even uncovered a couple that were not listed in the cemetery records as being buried there!  Sadly, among the stones not found were some of my relatives.  I had such strong hopes of finding them but now I realize we most likely never will.  If the stones are there they are buried or sunken under the ground. 


However, I am excited to say that of the 77 interments listed for the cemetery only 14 stones were not found.  That is amazing considering the last burial in the cemetery took place in 1877, over 133 years ago!
The entire cemetery can be found on Find A Grave.

There are some stories to be told among those buried there and I'm going to post some of those in the coming days.  My family or not, they are someone's family and I would like to see them connected to them somehow. 

First up will be the story of the four little boys....but where are their parents?


T

Why a 150 year old piece of log cabin is sitting in my kitchen

I must start this post by stating "I LOVE the citizens of Lincolnville, Indiana!" 

Not only have they been instrumental in identifying many Brane family members in the reunion photo, but they managed to save a piece of my family history for me. A piece of the log cabin that my g-g-g-grandfather, Daniel Brane lived in.

Here's how the story goes.  Remember our genealogical angel, Ann?  Well, when Ann met us to pick up the photo she mentioned that Daniel Brane's and Bruce Brane's farms had been bought and the homes were about to be torn down.  This set off a panic in my mother!  She had been told that the home that now sits on Daniel's farm was built around the original log cabin that Daniel lived in.  Daniel was deeded the land in 1859 making the cabin at least 150 years old if not older!

The citizens of Lincolnville once again came to our rescue.  They immediately went to the site where all the windows had already been removed.  Upon inspection they reported back to Ann that they saw no sign of the cabin inside the home.  My mom responded "I've been told if you pull back the siding you will find it."  Back to the site went our saviors with their tools.  This time peeling back the siding and revealing the log cabin inside! 

But they didn't stop there!  They pulled out a saw and cut a section of one the logs.  Now my mom and I each have a part of my g-g-g- grandfathers log cabin.  Amazingly, some of the whitewash used oh so long ago still remains.  And if you get close you can still smell the wood. 

So why is it sitting in my kitchen?  Because I'm afraid to move it any further away from the door.  In case of fire I'm grabbing 3 things: my family, my pictures and this piece of wood.

They are my most treasured possessions........

Brane Family Reunion Photo - 1918

You can read the story of the family reunion photo here and here.  I've scanned and copied just sections of the photo below with the names of the people that have been identified.  If you are a Brane descendent please take a look and see if you can name anyone in the photo.

Man on the left is Milton OWEN, next to him is his wife Stella Young OWEN and I believe the little boy in front of them may be their son Milbourne OWEN.  Others unknown.

Little boy second row on the left is James Austin BRANE, in front of him and mostly cut off in this photo is Estacorine BRANE,  the lady in the back row on the left in the hat is Osie Luree BRANE, the woman next to her is Amanda Bricker BRANE, the little girl in front of Amanda is Marguerite Desdoma KENDALL. Others unknown.

First lady on the left (mostly cut off) Opal Jennings BRANE, next to her is Marie BRUMBAUGH and behind her is her husband John BRUMBAUGH.  Next to John and holding the baby is Homer KENDALL.  The baby is Kenneth KENDALL.  The stylish woman in the hat is Vesta Elizabeth Brane KENDALL.  All others unknown.

In this photo the only one identified is the man in the hat on the right.  He is David BRANE. All others unknown.

All five of these Brane family members have been identified!  From left to right is John Thomas BRANE, his wife Marilla Elma Scott BRANE, slightly behind is Addison SHAFFER, next to him is Charles BRANE and on the end is Charle's wife Bessie Howard BRANE.

I'd like to thank everyone who has left a comment on this blog over the past two days.  It is so special to be able to share my excitement with a group of people who understand and care.  I love reading the comments and want to be sure I let you know how much I appreciate you!

Why a 92 year old photograph is keeping me up at night - Part 2

Following up on our idea of contacting the UB church in Lincolnville, mom placed a call to the office and left a message.  Those of you that follow this blog know that I am a strong believer in genealogy serendipity and boy did it come through for us this time!

Her call was returned by a wonderful lady named Ann.  Ann was excited to take on the project of getting people to look at the photo and identify as many people as they could.

I had racked my brain on the best way to obtain the names and decided to use tracing paper to trace the photo.  That way anyone could add the name directly to the tracing paper instead of trying to describe where they were located on the photo.  I mounted the tracing paper to card stock and hoped for the best.

So on a rainy day in October Ann met us at the BP gas station in LaFontaine, Indiana to pick up the photo and tracing and take it back to Lincolnville.  It wasn't long before my mom had a call from Ann letting us know how it was going.  It seems Ann was worried about the expense we put into the picture and instead of dropping it off at the church, contacted people in and around Lincolnville and began taking the photo to them herself!  Ann had become our own little genealogical angel! 

As news of the photo spread around the little town of Lincolnville more Brane family descendents requested to have a look.  In the end the kind people of Lincolnville, Indiana have been able to help us identify 23 of the 62 family members in the photo!  But it's not over yet!  As a result of this blog, another Brane family member in Florida is able to identify more for us!  I'm waiting to hear back from him so that I can add those names. 

So why is this 92 year old photo keeping me up at night?  Because they are my family, my history and I have a burning need to be able to call them by name and research their stories.  Every last one of them.  I want no one to be left behind.

Are you a Brane family descendent?  Can you help identify anyone in the photograph?  Please take a look.

Why a 92 year old photograph is keeping me up at night - Part 1

My insomnia began back in June when I first met my cousin Jean and he brought the existence of the photo to  my attention.  (You can read about that meeting here!)

Jean discovered the photo online on the Indiana Historical Society's website.  It is a panoramic shot of the Brane Family Reunion in 1918 in Marion, Indiana.  Jean had zoomed in on sections of the photo, printed them out and brought them to that first meeting asking if mom or I could identify anyone in it. 

Here is the photo:

(follow this link to see a larger view)

Right away mom could identify four of our ancestors on the right.  Second in from the right is Bessie Howard Brane 1883-1956, on her right is her husband, Charles Fremont Brane 1883-1967, the women next to Charles is his mother and my great-great grandmother Marilla Elma Scott Brane 1862-1948 and the man next to her is her husband and my great-great grandfather, John Thomas Brane 1861-1934. 

But who were the rest of the 62 people in the picture?  I've become obsessed with finding out.

The first thing I did was contact the Indiana Historical Society and asked how I could get a copy of the photograph.  It took a couple of months but finally I had a copy in hand.  Mom took it and had it custom framed and together we developed an idea. 

Benjamin Brane and his sons, Peter, Daniel and  Abraham came to Wabash county, Indiana and were charter members of the United Brethern Church in Lincolnville, Indiana.  That church still exists today. We knew that some Brane family descendants still lived in the area and may still attend that church.  What if we dropped the photo off to the church and let members have a look?  Maybe they could help identify some of the people in the picture?

Find out what happens next  in Part 2 which should be titled How One Old Photograph Brought a Whole Town Together........