Carmel was the first U.S.-born son of his immigrant Italian parents. He appeared with his parents and siblings, under the Americanized surname of "Brann," on the 1900 Census on their farm in Bertrandville Village, Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana (ED 38; Pg 3-B; Family 71) when he was four years old. When he was 6 1/2, his father was killed in an accident on the farm. He wasn't quite 10 1/2 when his mother succumbed to illness (influenza or yellow fever). His older brothers, both Italian born, became his surrogate parents, with his American-born older sister Lena handling household chores.
By the time he was 15, he was working the family farm with his brothers and appeared with his siblings on the 1910 Census still under the surname "Brann" and still on the farm in Plaquemines Parish (ED 50; Pg 3-B; Family 59). As soon as he turned 18 in 1913, though, he successfully petitioned the court to be declared an emancipated minor and soon thereafter moved to Texas, where he registered for the draft in Port Arthur, Jefferson County, on 5 Jun 1917, the same day his older brother Joseph registered in New Orleans. He described himself as having brown eyes and hair; although both of his older brothers had red hair.
Unlike brother Joseph, who was granted a military exemption as the sole support of his family, a young and single Carmel was drafted into the military in 1918 and went to boot camp at Camp Logan (present-day Memorial Park area) in Houston, Harris County, Texas. Unlike his brother Jack, he did not enter the war as the armistice was declared before he received orders. His only battle experience was the fight to remain healthy as Camp Logan proved to be the starting point of the 1918 Spanish Flu Epidemic in the Houston area.
At the time of his registration, Carmel was unemployed but soon found work with the Texas Company (later known as Texaco), where he became a stillman in the oil refinery. He remained with the company for over 43 years, retiring at the age of 65 in May 1960. During his employment, he sometimes solved work problems by inventing new mechanisms; however, due to his employment terms, the patents were held by the company.
Carmel returned to New Orleans and married Florence Olivia Larsen on 30 Oct 1919, and the couple returned to Port Arthur, where they appeared on the 1920 Census on January 14 (Ward 3; ED 108; Pg 24-A; Family 573), mistakenly transcribed as the surname "Brandy." Already, Carmel had earned the position of foreman at the refinery. Later that year, on 7 December, their first of five sons was born.
Three years later (August 1923), a second son, Floyd, joined the family, followed shortly by the third, Gerald (September 1924), and the fourth, Eldon, (February 1926). With a growing family and a steady job, Carmel and Florence purchased a home on Eighth Street in Port Arthur and there appeared on the 1930 Census (ED 47; Pg 47-A; Family 154) and the 1940 Census (ED 123-98; Pg 9-B; Family 189). In August of 1935, Carmel's and Florence's fifth and final son, Richard, had been born and was not yet school-age by the census even though their oldest son had started at Lamar College that year. Eventually, all five sons would graduate from the University of Texas at Austin even though Carmel only received a fifth-grade education, never even "graduating" from elementary school.
Carmel registered on 27 April 1942 as an "old man" during the Second World War but naturally was not called to serve; however, 3 of his sons entered the service: Gilbert served in the Signal Corps in the United States and the Pacific; Floyd served in the Army Air Corps as an instructor in the U.S.; Gerald served in the Army Artillery in the European theater, disembarking during the third wave at Normandy and finishing the war in Germany. Eldon later served in the Army in Germany during the mid-1950s while Richard also served two years in the Army in the late 1950s/early 1960s.
After retiring from Texaco, Carmel began to have heart trouble, suffering several heart attacks. Until his death at age 71, he remained, along with his wife, active in their church, St. Mary's Catholic Church, and as a long-time member of the Knights of Columbus, Santa Maria Council, Lodge 1304.
Siblings
Unknown child (b. and d. before 1890, Italy)
Unknown child (b. and d. before 1890, Italy)
Giuseppe "Joseph" Branda (Jul 1887 - Jan 1919)
Giacomo "Jack" Branda (Jan 1890 - Jul 1954)
Lena Branda Cash (Nov 1893 LA - Aug 1982 TX)
Carmel Branda (1895 - 1966)
Bernadette Branda Bonura (1898 - 1994)
Parents
Stefano or Stephen Branda (1860 - 1902)
Salvadora Teresa Finocchio Branda (1860 - 1905)
Note: Father died after farm accident, likely buried on farm; mother died in epidemic, also buried on farm originally)
By the time he was 15, he was working the family farm with his brothers and appeared with his siblings on the 1910 Census still under the surname "Brann" and still on the farm in Plaquemines Parish (ED 50; Pg 3-B; Family 59). As soon as he turned 18 in 1913, though, he successfully petitioned the court to be declared an emancipated minor and soon thereafter moved to Texas, where he registered for the draft in Port Arthur, Jefferson County, on 5 Jun 1917, the same day his older brother Joseph registered in New Orleans. He described himself as having brown eyes and hair; although both of his older brothers had red hair.
Unlike brother Joseph, who was granted a military exemption as the sole support of his family, a young and single Carmel was drafted into the military in 1918 and went to boot camp at Camp Logan (present-day Memorial Park area) in Houston, Harris County, Texas. Unlike his brother Jack, he did not enter the war as the armistice was declared before he received orders. His only battle experience was the fight to remain healthy as Camp Logan proved to be the starting point of the 1918 Spanish Flu Epidemic in the Houston area.
At the time of his registration, Carmel was unemployed but soon found work with the Texas Company (later known as Texaco), where he became a stillman in the oil refinery. He remained with the company for over 43 years, retiring at the age of 65 in May 1960. During his employment, he sometimes solved work problems by inventing new mechanisms; however, due to his employment terms, the patents were held by the company.
Carmel returned to New Orleans and married Florence Olivia Larsen on 30 Oct 1919, and the couple returned to Port Arthur, where they appeared on the 1920 Census on January 14 (Ward 3; ED 108; Pg 24-A; Family 573), mistakenly transcribed as the surname "Brandy." Already, Carmel had earned the position of foreman at the refinery. Later that year, on 7 December, their first of five sons was born.
Three years later (August 1923), a second son, Floyd, joined the family, followed shortly by the third, Gerald (September 1924), and the fourth, Eldon, (February 1926). With a growing family and a steady job, Carmel and Florence purchased a home on Eighth Street in Port Arthur and there appeared on the 1930 Census (ED 47; Pg 47-A; Family 154) and the 1940 Census (ED 123-98; Pg 9-B; Family 189). In August of 1935, Carmel's and Florence's fifth and final son, Richard, had been born and was not yet school-age by the census even though their oldest son had started at Lamar College that year. Eventually, all five sons would graduate from the University of Texas at Austin even though Carmel only received a fifth-grade education, never even "graduating" from elementary school.
Carmel registered on 27 April 1942 as an "old man" during the Second World War but naturally was not called to serve; however, 3 of his sons entered the service: Gilbert served in the Signal Corps in the United States and the Pacific; Floyd served in the Army Air Corps as an instructor in the U.S.; Gerald served in the Army Artillery in the European theater, disembarking during the third wave at Normandy and finishing the war in Germany. Eldon later served in the Army in Germany during the mid-1950s while Richard also served two years in the Army in the late 1950s/early 1960s.
After retiring from Texaco, Carmel began to have heart trouble, suffering several heart attacks. Until his death at age 71, he remained, along with his wife, active in their church, St. Mary's Catholic Church, and as a long-time member of the Knights of Columbus, Santa Maria Council, Lodge 1304.
Siblings
Unknown child (b. and d. before 1890, Italy)
Unknown child (b. and d. before 1890, Italy)
Giuseppe "Joseph" Branda (Jul 1887 - Jan 1919)
Giacomo "Jack" Branda (Jan 1890 - Jul 1954)
Lena Branda Cash (Nov 1893 LA - Aug 1982 TX)
Carmel Branda (1895 - 1966)
Bernadette Branda Bonura (1898 - 1994)
Parents
Stefano or Stephen Branda (1860 - 1902)
Salvadora Teresa Finocchio Branda (1860 - 1905)
Note: Father died after farm accident, likely buried on farm; mother died in epidemic, also buried on farm originally)
Carmel was the first U.S.-born son of his immigrant Italian parents. He appeared with his parents and siblings, under the Americanized surname of "Brann," on the 1900 Census on their farm in Bertrandville Village, Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana (ED 38; Pg 3-B; Family 71) when he was four years old. When he was 6 1/2, his father was killed in an accident on the farm. He wasn't quite 10 1/2 when his mother succumbed to illness (influenza or yellow fever). His older brothers, both Italian born, became his surrogate parents, with his American-born older sister Lena handling household chores.
By the time he was 15, he was working the family farm with his brothers and appeared with his siblings on the 1910 Census still under the surname "Brann" and still on the farm in Plaquemines Parish (ED 50; Pg 3-B; Family 59). As soon as he turned 18 in 1913, though, he successfully petitioned the court to be declared an emancipated minor and soon thereafter moved to Texas, where he registered for the draft in Port Arthur, Jefferson County, on 5 Jun 1917, the same day his older brother Joseph registered in New Orleans. He described himself as having brown eyes and hair; although both of his older brothers had red hair.
Unlike brother Joseph, who was granted a military exemption as the sole support of his family, a young and single Carmel was drafted into the military in 1918 and went to boot camp at Camp Logan (present-day Memorial Park area) in Houston, Harris County, Texas. Unlike his brother Jack, he did not enter the war as the armistice was declared before he received orders. His only battle experience was the fight to remain healthy as Camp Logan proved to be the starting point of the 1918 Spanish Flu Epidemic in the Houston area.
At the time of his registration, Carmel was unemployed but soon found work with the Texas Company (later known as Texaco), where he became a stillman in the oil refinery. He remained with the company for over 43 years, retiring at the age of 65 in May 1960. During his employment, he sometimes solved work problems by inventing new mechanisms; however, due to his employment terms, the patents were held by the company.
Carmel returned to New Orleans and married Florence Olivia Larsen on 30 Oct 1919, and the couple returned to Port Arthur, where they appeared on the 1920 Census on January 14 (Ward 3; ED 108; Pg 24-A; Family 573), mistakenly transcribed as the surname "Brandy." Already, Carmel had earned the position of foreman at the refinery. Later that year, on 7 December, their first of five sons was born.
Three years later (August 1923), a second son, Floyd, joined the family, followed shortly by the third, Gerald (September 1924), and the fourth, Eldon, (February 1926). With a growing family and a steady job, Carmel and Florence purchased a home on Eighth Street in Port Arthur and there appeared on the 1930 Census (ED 47; Pg 47-A; Family 154) and the 1940 Census (ED 123-98; Pg 9-B; Family 189). In August of 1935, Carmel's and Florence's fifth and final son, Richard, had been born and was not yet school-age by the census even though their oldest son had started at Lamar College that year. Eventually, all five sons would graduate from the University of Texas at Austin even though Carmel only received a fifth-grade education, never even "graduating" from elementary school.
Carmel registered on 27 April 1942 as an "old man" during the Second World War but naturally was not called to serve; however, 3 of his sons entered the service: Gilbert served in the Signal Corps in the United States and the Pacific; Floyd served in the Army Air Corps as an instructor in the U.S.; Gerald served in the Army Artillery in the European theater, disembarking during the third wave at Normandy and finishing the war in Germany. Eldon later served in the Army in Germany during the mid-1950s while Richard also served two years in the Army in the late 1950s/early 1960s.
After retiring from Texaco, Carmel began to have heart trouble, suffering several heart attacks. Until his death at age 71, he remained, along with his wife, active in their church, St. Mary's Catholic Church, and as a long-time member of the Knights of Columbus, Santa Maria Council, Lodge 1304.
Siblings
Unknown child (b. and d. before 1890, Italy)
Unknown child (b. and d. before 1890, Italy)
Giuseppe "Joseph" Branda (Jul 1887 - Jan 1919)
Giacomo "Jack" Branda (Jan 1890 - Jul 1954)
Lena Branda Cash (Nov 1893 LA - Aug 1982 TX)
Carmel Branda (1895 - 1966)
Bernadette Branda Bonura (1898 - 1994)
Parents
Stefano or Stephen Branda (1860 - 1902)
Salvadora Teresa Finocchio Branda (1860 - 1905)
Note: Father died after farm accident, likely buried on farm; mother died in epidemic, also buried on farm originally)
By the time he was 15, he was working the family farm with his brothers and appeared with his siblings on the 1910 Census still under the surname "Brann" and still on the farm in Plaquemines Parish (ED 50; Pg 3-B; Family 59). As soon as he turned 18 in 1913, though, he successfully petitioned the court to be declared an emancipated minor and soon thereafter moved to Texas, where he registered for the draft in Port Arthur, Jefferson County, on 5 Jun 1917, the same day his older brother Joseph registered in New Orleans. He described himself as having brown eyes and hair; although both of his older brothers had red hair.
Unlike brother Joseph, who was granted a military exemption as the sole support of his family, a young and single Carmel was drafted into the military in 1918 and went to boot camp at Camp Logan (present-day Memorial Park area) in Houston, Harris County, Texas. Unlike his brother Jack, he did not enter the war as the armistice was declared before he received orders. His only battle experience was the fight to remain healthy as Camp Logan proved to be the starting point of the 1918 Spanish Flu Epidemic in the Houston area.
At the time of his registration, Carmel was unemployed but soon found work with the Texas Company (later known as Texaco), where he became a stillman in the oil refinery. He remained with the company for over 43 years, retiring at the age of 65 in May 1960. During his employment, he sometimes solved work problems by inventing new mechanisms; however, due to his employment terms, the patents were held by the company.
Carmel returned to New Orleans and married Florence Olivia Larsen on 30 Oct 1919, and the couple returned to Port Arthur, where they appeared on the 1920 Census on January 14 (Ward 3; ED 108; Pg 24-A; Family 573), mistakenly transcribed as the surname "Brandy." Already, Carmel had earned the position of foreman at the refinery. Later that year, on 7 December, their first of five sons was born.
Three years later (August 1923), a second son, Floyd, joined the family, followed shortly by the third, Gerald (September 1924), and the fourth, Eldon, (February 1926). With a growing family and a steady job, Carmel and Florence purchased a home on Eighth Street in Port Arthur and there appeared on the 1930 Census (ED 47; Pg 47-A; Family 154) and the 1940 Census (ED 123-98; Pg 9-B; Family 189). In August of 1935, Carmel's and Florence's fifth and final son, Richard, had been born and was not yet school-age by the census even though their oldest son had started at Lamar College that year. Eventually, all five sons would graduate from the University of Texas at Austin even though Carmel only received a fifth-grade education, never even "graduating" from elementary school.
Carmel registered on 27 April 1942 as an "old man" during the Second World War but naturally was not called to serve; however, 3 of his sons entered the service: Gilbert served in the Signal Corps in the United States and the Pacific; Floyd served in the Army Air Corps as an instructor in the U.S.; Gerald served in the Army Artillery in the European theater, disembarking during the third wave at Normandy and finishing the war in Germany. Eldon later served in the Army in Germany during the mid-1950s while Richard also served two years in the Army in the late 1950s/early 1960s.
After retiring from Texaco, Carmel began to have heart trouble, suffering several heart attacks. Until his death at age 71, he remained, along with his wife, active in their church, St. Mary's Catholic Church, and as a long-time member of the Knights of Columbus, Santa Maria Council, Lodge 1304.
Siblings
Unknown child (b. and d. before 1890, Italy)
Unknown child (b. and d. before 1890, Italy)
Giuseppe "Joseph" Branda (Jul 1887 - Jan 1919)
Giacomo "Jack" Branda (Jan 1890 - Jul 1954)
Lena Branda Cash (Nov 1893 LA - Aug 1982 TX)
Carmel Branda (1895 - 1966)
Bernadette Branda Bonura (1898 - 1994)
Parents
Stefano or Stephen Branda (1860 - 1902)
Salvadora Teresa Finocchio Branda (1860 - 1905)
Note: Father died after farm accident, likely buried on farm; mother died in epidemic, also buried on farm originally)
Family Members
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