If you have any further information regarding memories, dates or places for these photos, please forward your input to alice@prairiequeens.com  .

Edward Thomas Branch, son of Nelson Thomas Branch and Nancy Meredith Branch, (brother to Alfred Alexander) and his wife, the former "Jimmer" Lilly. As a young man he went west after the end of the Civil War. His father, Nelson Thomas, had lived in Pulaski County, VA.  He owned fine horses, slaves, a good farm. The war all but wiped them out. After the war, they salvaged what they could and moved to the little place west of Holston, VA. It was called the Knob. The boys, Ed, Leo, Cyrus, all had to strike out for themselves. Edward came to Missouri. He worked on the great EADS bridge across the Mississippi.  Ed and "Jimmer" had four children who died at birth or shortly afterward. The fifth child, Roy, lived, but his mother, "Jimmer", died shortly after. Roy was reared by his grand parents, the Hardy Lillys. Ed never remarried. He farmed in our general area for the rest of his life. He loved horses! In his later years he suffered from pernicious anemia. Uncle Al took him to the Mayo Clinic. When they returned, Mother brought him to our house, caring for him there until he died. He was buried by his wife and children in the Warren Cemetery. Roy married a woman from Hannibal.  They had several children.  Roy's wife murdered him with a crowbar around 1972. 

Photo and commentary courtesy Jackie Gander Deets.  

Photo courtesy Jackie Gander Deets.  

Photo courtesy Jackie Gander Deets.  

Photo courtesy Jackie Gander Deets.  

Bob (Robert) Branch, another of the sons of Nelson Thomas Branch.  I know little about him, except that he remained in the Holston area, living in the house on "the Knob" after his parents were gone. They had six children: Mildred, Malcolm, Ralph, Oleta, Edith and Jimmy. Bob and his wife were buried there on the little farm. In 1977 Roy and I drove through Holston. I visited with Mildred who was still living on the land.

Photo and commentary courtesy Jackie Gander Deets.  

Leola Feathers Carrier, daughter of Mollie Branch Feathers, grew up on a small farm somewhere near Holston, VA. Her sisters were Bessie (M. White) and Ina (M. Leonard).  Leola's mother, Mollie, had married Ike Feathers who had an infant son, Wallace. Sometime after their three daughters were born, Ike "took off" with another woman, leaving poor Mollie with four small children to support.  They had a very rough time. Mollie took in patching and mending - they picked huckleberries and black berries to sell. In the Fall they gathered nuts, walnuts, hazelnuts, etc., spending many hours cracking and picking out the kernels to sell. she kept the children in school - they grew up strong and good.  Leola married Cleveland Tennessee Carrier, a tailor. They had no children.  When Leola and Cleve came to visit us in Happy Hollow in 1924, I thought she was the most beautiful of all women! 

(Mollie Branch was a half sister to Alfred Alexander Branch)

Photo and commentary courtesy Jackie Gander Deets.  

Photo courtesy Jackie Gander Deets.  

Photo courtesy Jackie Gander Deets.  

Photo courtesy Jackie Gander Deets.  

Effie and Leo Branch with Fairy and Denton Pendleton.  This picture was taken in Monroe City in the late 1930's.  It is the only picture I have of Denton.

Photo and commentary courtesy Jackie Gander Deets.  

Photo courtesy Jackie Gander Deets.  

Effie Maiden Branch, wife of Hughey Leo Branch, also from Virginia.  Mother thought she was born in England, They had come to Missouri at about the same time that Alfred Alexander and Ida Frances left Virginia. They had a farm north of Monroe City.  To my young mind theirs was one of the most delightful of all places.  They had spent quite some time in Colorado before coming back to their farm. They had two daughters, Ruby and Pearl. They also took in and raised a foster daughter, Helen Lautier.

Photo and commentary courtesy Jackie Gander Deets.  

Photo courtesy Jackie Gander Deets.  

Photo courtesy Jackie Gander Deets.  

Date unknown

Ruby and Pearl Branch, daughters of Effie and Leo.  Picture probably taken in Colorado.  Pearl died in Colorado and was buried there. When they returned to Missouri to the little farm, it was Ruby who made the place so special. She planted flowers and fruit, spruced up the house. One time I remember my Mother went out to help Ruby whitewash the walls of the old log kitchen. They got white mud (clay) from the creek, mixed it someway and applied it to the walls. When it dried, it looked so clean and fresh. Ruby married Everett Lawson of Monroe City, an electrician. They became widely known for their antique collections, as well as the beautiful gardens they created wherever they lived.

Photo and commentary courtesy Jackie Gander Deets.