EATON BRANCH,
son of Vine and Abigail Branch, was born in Benson, Rutland Co., Vt., April 8, 1808. His father was of English descent; mother, Scotch. In 1810 the father moved with his family to Onondaga Co., N.Y., locating about nine miles from what was then called Salt Point. They remained there twelve years, clearing up land, and in 1822 pushed west to the Holland Purchase, in Wyoming Co., N.Y. As the family possessed little means the educational advantages of the children were limited. Eaton says, with reference to his education, "I was schooled in the use of the axe, hoe, and ox-gad." In 1833 he started to see the western country, and pushed as far as Ann Arhor, Mich. Returning to the old home the same year, he married Amanda M. Allen. In 1834, in company with his wife, father, and mother, he came back to Michigan. In 1835 the country was threatened with war, and Eaton, with many others, was drafted in the "Toledo war," by order of Governor Mason. As the trouble was of short duration he was soon able to return to his work. Not having means to purchase land he was obliged to hire out, and engaged with a Mr. Allen to go to Van Buren County and superintend his business, as he (Allen) had bought land at the mouth of Brush Creek and laid out a town. On the 7th of November, 1835, Mr. Branch and his wife started in a wagon for this place. They were eight days going one hundred and twenty miles; stayed in Kalamazoo over the Sabbath, and attended service in a school-house, the sermon being preached by Rev. Silas Woodbury. They finally reached Mason, as it was then called, - now known as Lawrence, - November 15th, where they found a log house, owned by Mr. Allen, and at once occupied it; it was twelve feet square. Thirteen persons lived in it until they could build a double log house, which latter was used for some time as a hotel. Mr. Branch has been a very active man in the advancement of the interests of his township. In April, 1837, he assisted in organizing the first town-meeting, and was elected one of the highway commissioners, which office he held for many years. He was a charter member of the First Presbyterian Church, organized Aug. 19, 1837, afterwards changed to a Congregational Church. In 1858 a new church was built, Mr. Branch furnishing about two thousand five hundred dollars towards its construction. In 1852 the first agricultural society was formed, which he helped organize, and a fair was held in the court-yard at Paw Paw. In 1872, Mr. Branch was an assistant in organizing the first pioneer society, and has been present at every meeting since, and is one of its officers. Mr. Branch has raised a family of six boys, all of whom lived to manhood. His oldest son was the first male child born in the town. Three sons served in the Rebellion, all returning after the war. Four of his sons are settled on lands which their father assisted them in buying. Mr. Branch first located a quarter-section in Lawrence township, President Van Buren signing the deed, and a part of this is now in his home. He united with the Presbyterian Church in 1831, and has always been an active member. Mrs. Branch died March 30, 1866, in her fifty-third year.
*Bio kindly provided by Douglas Robinson #46999364
son of Vine and Abigail Branch, was born in Benson, Rutland Co., Vt., April 8, 1808. His father was of English descent; mother, Scotch. In 1810 the father moved with his family to Onondaga Co., N.Y., locating about nine miles from what was then called Salt Point. They remained there twelve years, clearing up land, and in 1822 pushed west to the Holland Purchase, in Wyoming Co., N.Y. As the family possessed little means the educational advantages of the children were limited. Eaton says, with reference to his education, "I was schooled in the use of the axe, hoe, and ox-gad." In 1833 he started to see the western country, and pushed as far as Ann Arhor, Mich. Returning to the old home the same year, he married Amanda M. Allen. In 1834, in company with his wife, father, and mother, he came back to Michigan. In 1835 the country was threatened with war, and Eaton, with many others, was drafted in the "Toledo war," by order of Governor Mason. As the trouble was of short duration he was soon able to return to his work. Not having means to purchase land he was obliged to hire out, and engaged with a Mr. Allen to go to Van Buren County and superintend his business, as he (Allen) had bought land at the mouth of Brush Creek and laid out a town. On the 7th of November, 1835, Mr. Branch and his wife started in a wagon for this place. They were eight days going one hundred and twenty miles; stayed in Kalamazoo over the Sabbath, and attended service in a school-house, the sermon being preached by Rev. Silas Woodbury. They finally reached Mason, as it was then called, - now known as Lawrence, - November 15th, where they found a log house, owned by Mr. Allen, and at once occupied it; it was twelve feet square. Thirteen persons lived in it until they could build a double log house, which latter was used for some time as a hotel. Mr. Branch has been a very active man in the advancement of the interests of his township. In April, 1837, he assisted in organizing the first town-meeting, and was elected one of the highway commissioners, which office he held for many years. He was a charter member of the First Presbyterian Church, organized Aug. 19, 1837, afterwards changed to a Congregational Church. In 1858 a new church was built, Mr. Branch furnishing about two thousand five hundred dollars towards its construction. In 1852 the first agricultural society was formed, which he helped organize, and a fair was held in the court-yard at Paw Paw. In 1872, Mr. Branch was an assistant in organizing the first pioneer society, and has been present at every meeting since, and is one of its officers. Mr. Branch has raised a family of six boys, all of whom lived to manhood. His oldest son was the first male child born in the town. Three sons served in the Rebellion, all returning after the war. Four of his sons are settled on lands which their father assisted them in buying. Mr. Branch first located a quarter-section in Lawrence township, President Van Buren signing the deed, and a part of this is now in his home. He united with the Presbyterian Church in 1831, and has always been an active member. Mrs. Branch died March 30, 1866, in her fifty-third year.
*Bio kindly provided by Douglas Robinson #46999364
EATON BRANCH,
son of Vine and Abigail Branch, was born in Benson, Rutland Co., Vt., April 8, 1808. His father was of English descent; mother, Scotch. In 1810 the father moved with his family to Onondaga Co., N.Y., locating about nine miles from what was then called Salt Point. They remained there twelve years, clearing up land, and in 1822 pushed west to the Holland Purchase, in Wyoming Co., N.Y. As the family possessed little means the educational advantages of the children were limited. Eaton says, with reference to his education, "I was schooled in the use of the axe, hoe, and ox-gad." In 1833 he started to see the western country, and pushed as far as Ann Arhor, Mich. Returning to the old home the same year, he married Amanda M. Allen. In 1834, in company with his wife, father, and mother, he came back to Michigan. In 1835 the country was threatened with war, and Eaton, with many others, was drafted in the "Toledo war," by order of Governor Mason. As the trouble was of short duration he was soon able to return to his work. Not having means to purchase land he was obliged to hire out, and engaged with a Mr. Allen to go to Van Buren County and superintend his business, as he (Allen) had bought land at the mouth of Brush Creek and laid out a town. On the 7th of November, 1835, Mr. Branch and his wife started in a wagon for this place. They were eight days going one hundred and twenty miles; stayed in Kalamazoo over the Sabbath, and attended service in a school-house, the sermon being preached by Rev. Silas Woodbury. They finally reached Mason, as it was then called, - now known as Lawrence, - November 15th, where they found a log house, owned by Mr. Allen, and at once occupied it; it was twelve feet square. Thirteen persons lived in it until they could build a double log house, which latter was used for some time as a hotel. Mr. Branch has been a very active man in the advancement of the interests of his township. In April, 1837, he assisted in organizing the first town-meeting, and was elected one of the highway commissioners, which office he held for many years. He was a charter member of the First Presbyterian Church, organized Aug. 19, 1837, afterwards changed to a Congregational Church. In 1858 a new church was built, Mr. Branch furnishing about two thousand five hundred dollars towards its construction. In 1852 the first agricultural society was formed, which he helped organize, and a fair was held in the court-yard at Paw Paw. In 1872, Mr. Branch was an assistant in organizing the first pioneer society, and has been present at every meeting since, and is one of its officers. Mr. Branch has raised a family of six boys, all of whom lived to manhood. His oldest son was the first male child born in the town. Three sons served in the Rebellion, all returning after the war. Four of his sons are settled on lands which their father assisted them in buying. Mr. Branch first located a quarter-section in Lawrence township, President Van Buren signing the deed, and a part of this is now in his home. He united with the Presbyterian Church in 1831, and has always been an active member. Mrs. Branch died March 30, 1866, in her fifty-third year.
*Bio kindly provided by Douglas Robinson #46999364
son of Vine and Abigail Branch, was born in Benson, Rutland Co., Vt., April 8, 1808. His father was of English descent; mother, Scotch. In 1810 the father moved with his family to Onondaga Co., N.Y., locating about nine miles from what was then called Salt Point. They remained there twelve years, clearing up land, and in 1822 pushed west to the Holland Purchase, in Wyoming Co., N.Y. As the family possessed little means the educational advantages of the children were limited. Eaton says, with reference to his education, "I was schooled in the use of the axe, hoe, and ox-gad." In 1833 he started to see the western country, and pushed as far as Ann Arhor, Mich. Returning to the old home the same year, he married Amanda M. Allen. In 1834, in company with his wife, father, and mother, he came back to Michigan. In 1835 the country was threatened with war, and Eaton, with many others, was drafted in the "Toledo war," by order of Governor Mason. As the trouble was of short duration he was soon able to return to his work. Not having means to purchase land he was obliged to hire out, and engaged with a Mr. Allen to go to Van Buren County and superintend his business, as he (Allen) had bought land at the mouth of Brush Creek and laid out a town. On the 7th of November, 1835, Mr. Branch and his wife started in a wagon for this place. They were eight days going one hundred and twenty miles; stayed in Kalamazoo over the Sabbath, and attended service in a school-house, the sermon being preached by Rev. Silas Woodbury. They finally reached Mason, as it was then called, - now known as Lawrence, - November 15th, where they found a log house, owned by Mr. Allen, and at once occupied it; it was twelve feet square. Thirteen persons lived in it until they could build a double log house, which latter was used for some time as a hotel. Mr. Branch has been a very active man in the advancement of the interests of his township. In April, 1837, he assisted in organizing the first town-meeting, and was elected one of the highway commissioners, which office he held for many years. He was a charter member of the First Presbyterian Church, organized Aug. 19, 1837, afterwards changed to a Congregational Church. In 1858 a new church was built, Mr. Branch furnishing about two thousand five hundred dollars towards its construction. In 1852 the first agricultural society was formed, which he helped organize, and a fair was held in the court-yard at Paw Paw. In 1872, Mr. Branch was an assistant in organizing the first pioneer society, and has been present at every meeting since, and is one of its officers. Mr. Branch has raised a family of six boys, all of whom lived to manhood. His oldest son was the first male child born in the town. Three sons served in the Rebellion, all returning after the war. Four of his sons are settled on lands which their father assisted them in buying. Mr. Branch first located a quarter-section in Lawrence township, President Van Buren signing the deed, and a part of this is now in his home. He united with the Presbyterian Church in 1831, and has always been an active member. Mrs. Branch died March 30, 1866, in her fifty-third year.
*Bio kindly provided by Douglas Robinson #46999364
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