This came to me from Cyndi who has joined the Grant Co. list. Due to complications, her
postings are bounced. I offered to forward her postings until the problem is straigtened
out. Her note follows:
I am descendent from David Branson. See the NOTE that follows. But I am still trying to
get some kind of documentation on his grandson. I am trying to connect a William J.
Berry
b. 1832 to a Jonathon Berry and Jane Branson (daughter of David Branson). I know there
are several individuals that have this relationship listed, for which I am very grateful
or I never would have known how to connect Branson to Berry, but I would really like to
have some kind of documentation.
NOTE FROM:
http://ww1.comteck.com/~tdtw98a/ged/helphens/d0001/g0000015.htm
NOTE: Martin Boots, along with David Connor has the distinction of being the first
purchasers of land in Grant County, Indiana. He entered his claim on October 19, 1825.
From the United States, to Martin Boots, part of Sections 6, 24, and 8, the land on which
the western part of Marion now stands. In 1826, at the time of his arrival to his new
purchase, he employed two men, named James and Daniel Cox, to build for him a mill. This
at first was only a saw-mill, a "corn cracker," soon after being attached.
Accordingly, through the enterprise of Boots, the pioneer as early as 1827 could have his
logs sawed into lumber or his corn ground into meal. Many other firsts for our county can
be attributed to Martin Boots, also. The first school in Center Twp. was held in a cabin
on the Martin Boots farm. The first election of Center Twp. was held in the blacksmith
shop of Martin Boots, etc. Under the act of the Legislature, approved February 10, 1831,
Charles W. Ewing, William Edwards !
and William Hunt were authorized to locate the county seat. In selecting the location,
they had in view the following places; the farm of William Hiatt, near Jonesboro; the
Beatty farm, and the land owned by Boots and Branson. The commissioners agreed to locate
the town on the farm of the party who would donate the most land. The land of Boots and
Branson joining, each donated thirty acres, reserving lot Nos. 1 and 8 in each block. The
proposition was accepted by the Commissioners, and accordingly Martin Boots and David
Branson became the proprietors of a town, in honor of Francis Marion, a General of
Revolutionary fame, they called Marion. (This is quoted from the Combination Atlas Map of
Grant County.)
A family story was told to me about the land being donated by a "red haired irishman
named Branson" to build the Grant County courthouse on. I found a book about Grant
County history a few years ago and found out about David Branson. His will lists two
Berry granddaughters. Another part of the story says there is a hitchenpost outside of
the courthouse that has to remain or the land reverts back to the heirs of David Branson
and Martin Boots.
Anyway, I am very new to mailing lists but would like to see the list remain up and
running.
Thank you,
Cyndi
halesweb(a)aol.com ""
Shirley Pearson
a.k.a. Wordsmith
GenFest Coordinator
http://www.munpl.org/genfest/genfest2005.htm