"...never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced...-- Abraham Lincoln 1863
In the Civil War (1861 to 1865) eleven Southern states seceded from the U.S. and formed the Confederate States of America.
American pioneers migrated west to settle areas not previously inhabited by European Americans.
The 1890 census materials was lost in a 1921 fire.
Jacob Branstitre was born on December 4, 1838 in Dinsmore Township, Shelby County, Ohio. He was the son of Daniel Branstiter and Elizabeth Baker. According to his Civil War records, he was six feet tall and had black hair, gray eyes and a medium complexion. He was a blacksmith.
He served in Company C of the 106 Illinois Infantry. He enlisted as a private when he was 23 years old on August 2, 1862 in Lincoln, Illinois. His residence at that time was Madison, Logan County, Illinois. He served with his brother-in-law, Daniel Baker.
Company C of the 106 Illinois Infantry. The Regiment was mustered into service on September 18, 1862 and deployed to Jackson, Tennessee. They served as provost guards in Jackson and along the railroad. Part of Company C was sent eight miles north of Jackson to Carroll station. On December 17th Jackson was attacked and the part of Company C surrendered on the morning of December 20th. That night the remainder of Company C was attacked in the block house and after a severe fight drove the enemy off.
After that the Regiment was sent farther north to guard railroad stations. Some paroled prisoners were exchanged late in the summer of 1863. The Regiment was ordered to Bolivar in March, and about May 31st it moved to Vicksburg. While en route their boats were fired on.
After serving in the trenches of Vicksburg the Regiment was sent forty miles up the Yazoo River to repel a Rebel force. Returning by forced marches, they were harassed by the enemy and suffered from the extreme heat. The Regiment lost more on that trip than from
any other cause during its term of service. The Regiment served in the lines at Vicksburg until after the surrender.
Immediately after Vicksburg, it was ordered to Helena and took part in the capture of Little Rock. They took a prominent part in the battle of Clarendon, and performed service at Duvall's Bluff, Pine Bluff, Hot Springs, Lewisburg, St. Charles, Dardanelle and Brownsville. The Regiment was mustered out of service July 12th, 1865, at Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Jacob married Chloe Jane Wiley on June 30, 1867 in Logan County, Illinois. Chloe was born in 1845 in Illinois. Her parents were James and Katherine Wiley.
Jacob and Chloe had seven children:
James Oliver Branstitre (1868, married Eliza Adams, and Mariam Howland),
Roy Weston Branstitre (1871, died age 13),
Francis Marion Branstitre, 1874, married Ora Belle Price),
John WesleyB ranstitre (1877 , married Mary Catherine Perry),
Maud Ethel Branstitre (1883-1885),
Charles Henry Branstitre (1888), and
Fay Branstitre (1890, married William Howard Hayden).
In 1870 the young family was in Prairie Creek, Logan County, Illinois. The household consisted of Jacob age 33, Chloe age 26 and two year old James. Jacob was a farmer.
In 1876 they moved to Nuckolls county where he purchased two hundred and forty acres of uncultivated railroad land and built a sixteen by twenty-four feet house where they lived until 1910 when they moved to Edgar, Nebraska.
Chloe died on May 25, 1897 in Nebraska.
He married Rosina Adalina Perry Gunn on February 28, 1902 in Nuckolls County, Nebraska. Rosina was born December 18, 1874 in Clay County, Nebraska.
He had
always given his political allegiance to the republican party in the interest of which he takes an active part. Both he and his wife are consistent and prominent members of the Presbyterian church and he is also identified with the Grand Army of the Republic.
He died May 13, 1925 and is buried in Edgar Cemetery in Clay County.
The Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) was an organization of veterans of the Union Army who had served in the Civil War.
A blacksmith forges and shapes iron with a hammer and anvil.
Logan County is in central Illinois and was established in 1839.
Shelby County, Ohio is in western Ohio and was formed in 1819 from Miami County.
Jacob Branstitre Family Plot
Jacob Branstitre
Laid to Rest Photo courtesy of Darlene Kennedy
Buildings in Clark County, Ohio ranged from simple log cabins to sophisticated Italianate and Gothic Revival structures.
The first U.S. railroad opened in the 1830s. In 1869 the first transcontinental railway was completed.
Jacob Braustitre of Edgar has devoted his entire life to agricultural pursuits since making his initial step into the business world. He was born in Clark County, Ohio, in 1834, a son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Baker) Braustitre, the former a native of Pennsylvania, and, and the later of Virginia. Their marriage occurred in Pennsylvania and they removed to Ohio at an early day. In 1847 they went to Illinois and there the death of Mrs. Braustitre occurred. The father then removed to Nebraska and made his home with a son [Henry Branstiter] until death.
Throughout his life he had followed the blacksmith trade and had achieved a substantial amount of success. Twelve children were born to that union, six boys and six girls, three of whom are now living; Jacob, whose name initiates this review; Letitia, who is the wife of J. Mallory and lives in Nemaha county; and Daniel, a retired farmer who is engaged in blacksmithing and carpentering in Illinois. Daniel Braustitre was a stanch supporter of the democratic party and took an active interest in the local affairs of his community.
Jacob Braustitre is indebted to the schools of Illinois for his education. In August of the year 1862 he enlisted for service in the Civil war becoming a member of Co. C, One Hundred and Sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry with which he served for over three and one-half years. His regiment was part of the western army and he participated in many of the important battles and skirmishes of the conflict.
After the close of the war he returned to Illinois by way of Missouri and began to farm. He was engaged in that connection there until 1876 when he came to Nuckolls county and purchased two hundred and forty acres of railroad land, then in an entirely uncultivated state. He built a home sixteen by twenty-four feet and there resided until 1910 when he removed to Edgar. He still owns his farm which is one of the finest in the country and he is widely recognized as an agriculturist of ability.
On the 30th of June, 1867, Mr. Braustitre was united in marriage to Miss C. G. Wiley, a native of Illinois and to them seven children were born, four of whom are living: Francis, who is residing on his father’s farm, John W. and Charles Henry, also on the home place; and Fay, who is the wife of W. H. Hayden.
The demise of Mrs. Braustitre occurred on the 25th of May, 1897, and in 1902 Mr. Braustitre was again married, this time to Mrs. Rosina Gunn, nee Perry a native of Clay county and a daughter of Henry H. and Emily (Hurlbert) Perry, the former a native of Ohio while the latter was born in New York state. Her parents came to Nebraska and settled in Clay county in 1872, where they acquired a homestead. Subsequently they removed to Furman and there resided until death.
Early American Colonists and pioneers had to make everything necessary for daily life and skilled craftsmen were essential.
From History of Hamilton and Clay Counties, Nebraska,
George L. Burr and O. O. Buck editors,
The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, 1921
Four children have been born to the first marriage: Newton P Gunn who is residing in Oxford, was in the national guard for four years served in the World war for twenty months, four months of which time was spent abroad where he contracted smallpox and was one of the first to be returned to this country; Catherine Gunn, who is employed in Burlington, Colorado; Beulah, who is the wife of Ed Post, a barber of Burlington, Colorado; and Leonard Gunn a farmer near Oxford.
Mr. Braustitre has always given his political allegiance to the republican party, in there interests of which he takes an active part. Both he and his wife and consistent and prominent members of the Presbyterian church and he is also identified with the Grand Army of the Republic. When Mr. Braustitre first came to Nebraska he had little more than one thousand dollars which he invested with much thought and insight and as a result of those characteristics and of his own determined effort he is now residing in Edgar, financially independent an honored, respected and representative citizen.
The Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) was an organization of veterans of the Union Army who had served in the Civil War.
The Homestead Act was signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln on May 20, 1862. It gave an applicant 160 acres of undeveloped land outside of the original colonies. Anyone who had never taken up arms against the United States could file an application. They had to live on the land and make improvements to receive title.
Jacob Branstitre was born at Sydney, Clark County (sic), Ohio December 4, 1838. Died at his home at Edgar, Nebr., May 13, 1925, at the age of 86 years, 5 months, 9 days. He moved with his parnts (sic) to Illinois when a boy, where he lived until the outbreak of the Civil War. He inlisted (sic) in Company C, 106 Illinois Infranty (sic) in which he honorably served until the end of the war. After the war he engaged in farming and was married to Chloe Jane Wiley June 30, 1867. To this union were born seven children, James, Roy, Francis, John, Maudie, Charles and Fay.
After seven years farming in Illinois, he moved to Nuckolls County, Nebraska., in 1876, where he purchased land and facing and enduring the hardships of pioneer life, he built a home and reared his family to maturnity (sic). His wife preceded him in death May 25, 1897. Also four of the children, Roy, Maude, James and Francis, have gone to their rest.
He married to Rosina Gunn February 26, 1902, and continued to farm until 1910 when he moved to Edgar and retired from his agricultural pursuit. He leaves to follow the teachings of his life, his wife, Rosina, and three children, John, Charles and Fay. Also one brother living in Clinton, Illinois and one sister at Julian Nebraska. He was a man of sterling character, honored by honesty and frankness in all his dealings with his fellow men. Although being confined to a chair for the past eight months he accepted his fate in live and was a patient sufferer and when becoming helpless he expressed his desire to go to his rest as he never wished to become a burden. His departure was just a peaceful sleep.
Services conducted from his late home at Edgar Nebraska. Thursday May 11 at 3 P.M., Charles A. Shook, minister of the Christian Church officiating.
Music by Messers Wailey, Olseene, McGhie and Voorhees.
Internment was in the Edgar Cemetery.
Smallpox is caused by of two viruses: Variola major and Variola minor. Symptoms include a rash and blisters. The mortality rate for V. major is 30–35% and for V. minor is about 1%. Long-term complications include scars, blindness, and limb deformities.
