An American Family History

Henry with his father, Daniel, in front,
Hs son, John and an unknown girl in back
photo courtesy of Darlene Lockwood Kennedy

Buildings in Clark County, Ohio ranged from simple log cabins to sophisticated Italianate and Gothic Revival structures.

Henry Branstiter was born on July 5, 1825 in German Township, Clark County, Ohio. He was the son of Daniel Branstiter and Elizabeth Baker.

When he was 25, he married his first wife, Eliza Adams, on June 23, 1850 in Clark County. Eliza was born in Ohio on August 25, 1827.

Henry and Eliza's children included:
Adam Wesley Branstiter (1851-1869),
John R. Branstiter (1853-1888, married Emily Horn),
Daniel Mario Branstiter (1858-1915),
Sarah Ellen Branstiter Burger (1863-1925), and
Mary Etti C. Branstiter Turk (1866).

Henry and Eliza were still in Clark County in 1850. Henry was working as a laborer. They moved to Morgan County, Illinois before 1853 when their son John was born.

He was left a widower when Eliza died in 1870. The family (Henry Bronstiler) had moved to Glen Rock, Nemaha County, Nebraska by 1870. The household in 1870 consisted of Henry age 45, John age 17, Daniel age 12, Sarah age 6, and Maryetta age 3. He was a farmer. Sarah and Mary were also listed in the 1870 census in their aunt, Luticha Mallory's, household.

Henry married his second wife, Mariam Howland, in Johnson County, Nebraska. Mariam was born on June 7, 1845. Her parents were Jeremiah Howland and Hepsaba Howard.

Henry and Mariam's children included:
Anna Branstiter Lockwood (1872-1950),
Olive Euretta Branstiter Powell Bower (1876-1939, her first husband was Alvin R. Powell-1865),
Arthur A. Branstiter (1878-1929),
William H. Branstiter (1882-1883),
James Henry Branstiter (1884-1936),
Roy B. Branstiter (1887-1887), and
John Earl Branstiter (1888).

The family was still in Glen Rock in 1880. Henry was 54 and a farmer. His wife “M" (Mariam) was 35 and keeping house. The children were “D" (Daniel) age 22, Elen (Sarah Ellen) age 17, “M.E." (Mary Etti) age 14, Annie age 7, Olia (Olive) age 5, and “A" (Arthur) age 3. Francis Fanning an 18 year old laborer was also a member of the household.

He died when he was 62 years old on February 24, 1888 in Nemaha County, Nebraska and is buried at Camp Creek Cemetery in Otoe County, Nebraska with his father Daniel Branstiter, Jr. and some of his children.

After his death Mariam married Marion Reeves on November 10, 1908. Marion was born in 1845 in New York.

Mariam died on August 8, 1929 Douglas, Otoe County, Nebraska, and was buried in Douglas Cemetery.

Clark County, Ohio was formed March 1, 1817, from Champaign, Madison and Greene Counties. The first settlement was in 1796. The inhabitants of German Township were German Lutherans who came from Virginia.

Children of Daniel Branstiter and Elizabeth Baker Henry Branstiter Sarah Branstiter Taylor Philip Branstiter Emery Branstiter Mahala Branstiter Swartz James Branstiter Jacob Branstitre Mary E. Branstiter Miller Synthia Branstiter Luticha Branstiter Mallory Eliza Branstiter Baker Daniel Branstiter