John Branom

John Branom (misspelled on the marker) was my great-great grandfather, and, until recently, I had no idea that he was buried less than an hour away near Sparks, OK.

 

John Branom was born in eastern Tennessee in 1832 and married Minerva Farr from the same area when he was 22. They soon moved to Knoxville, where they had their first child, Sarah (my great-grandmother). By that time, Minerva's family had moved to Webster County, Missouri, so John and his new family decided to leave the security of Tennessee and try their luck with his in-laws out west.

 

Here's how my cousin, R. Manning, describes their lives after moving to Missouri:

 

"When hostilities commenced in 1861, John left his farming, and volunteered for duty as a member of the homeguard. From that he enlisted in the Phelps Volunteer Infantry Regiment which fought detached from regular Federal troops at the onset of the Civil War. He enrolled 28 Aug 1861, and was mustered into duty at Rolla, Missouri, in Company A for six months service. This was 18 days after the Federal defeat at the Battle of Wilson's Creek, near Republic, Missouri. Everyone thought it would only take a few months to put down the rebellion and then they could return home to their families. But it took longer than they expected. An error in enrollment records shows John as "Private John Brannon". Two brothers-in-law also served in John's company; Corporal Ezekial Jasper Farr and Corporal Samuel Mathis Farr.

 

As the Missouri State Guard began to organize against the Federals, under the direction of the Secessionist Governor of the state, they attempted to seize the arsenal at St. Louis, Missouri. Captain Nathaniel Lyon, commandant of the Federal Arsenal, moved all weapons to Illinois, and proceeded to mount a defensive to defend Missouri from the Confederate raiders. Lyon was promoted to Brigadier General and with the help of Colonel Franz Siegal, they met the Rebels at Wilson's Creek. This was the first major battle for control of Missouri, in the war's first year. Union forces were pitted against the Missouri State Guard of Major General Sterling Price and the Arkansas State Guard, commanded by General Ben McCulloch.

 

John was on detached duty when his regiment saw action at Sugar Creek and Bentonville, Arkansas, but he found himself square in the middle of the fight at Pea Ridge, Arkansas, also know as the Battle of Elk Horn Tavern, on the Telegraph Road. Major General Sterling Price and Major General Earl Van Dorn's invading forces met south of Fayetteville, Arkansas, in the Boston Mountains, and advanced on the "Tavern". The fighting was heated and the Confederates took the "Tavern", but were driven away. This battle was considered a Federal victory and saved Missouri for the Union. Corporal Ezekial J. Farr, brother of Minerva Branom, was wounded in the thigh during the fighting around the "Tavern", 7 Mar 1862.

 

John may have participated in the battle at Mountain Grove, Arkansas, 9 Mar 1862, as well. He mustered out of the Phelps Regiment on 11 Apr 1862, at Springfield, Missouri, and his company disbanded 13 May 1862. He returned home to his family. Minerva had been home tending to the farm and two young daughters. Strapped as they were, John believed it was necessary for him to rejoin the conflict, and enlisted in Company C, 8th Missouri Volunteer Cavalry. He joined up in Springfield, Missouri, on 5 Aug 1862, and was mustered in 25 Aug 1862. His brother-in-laws once again joined John to serve in the cavalry. Ezekial gained the rank of 1st Sergeant and served as a recruiter in Springlfield, from Nov 1863 to Jun 1864. Ezekial's brother, Samuel Farr, was the company's 7th Sergeant, but was demoted to Corporal; he was the company bugler. Samuel died of measles and pnuemonia at Camp Forsythe, Missouri, in Feb 1863.

 

John was sick in quarters in Nov and Dec 1863. As happened many, many times with volunteer soldiers, they became concerned with the welfare of their families at home. Seasons changed, crips needed harvesting, and family business needed tending to, so John left his post at Bloomfield, Stoddard County, Missouri, for home. John returned to his regiment at Austin, Arkansas, but was immediately arrested for desertion. He was tried by courts-martial and found "not guilty" of desertion, but he was convicted of being "absent without leave". He was sentenced to pay forfeiture of pay and to one month's hard labor at the military prison in Little Rock, Arkansas. He dutifully served his time and returned to active military duty in Jul 1864. John was hospitalized in Little Rock for chronic dysentery, but suffered no combat wounds He was honorably discharged from service in St. Louis, Missouri, 27 Jun 1865.

 

With the conflict over, John returned home with other members of his regiment. He and Minerva resumed family life as before the War. He now had a son and Minerva was due with the next child in the Spring of 1866. John applied for and received his military service pension in 1891, when he was living in Batesville, Independence County, Arkansas. He moved westward to Oktaha, Creek Nation, Indian Territory (Oklahoma) in Jun 1907. Minerva's brother, Ezekial J. Farr was already living in the fledgling town of Okmulgee. John and Minerva later moved to Lincoln County, Oklahoma, to live near their oldest daughter, Sarah Conner. John was an aging 77 years old and had become ill. He died in his daughter's home on 23 Feb 1909, and was buried in Forrest Cemetery, west of Sparks, Oklahoma.

 

Minerva moved to Winfield, Kansas, to live with another daughter, and died there on 17 Jul 1921. She collected John's military pension for many years, sometimes her only income to live on. She was buried in the South Vernon Cemetery, outside Winfield, Cowley County, Kansas."

 

Done