Part of the Indiana Biographies Project
Isaiah Branson
Isaiah Branson was born Feb. 25, 1799, in Stafford County, Va., a son of Jacob and Rebecca (Holoway) Branson, the former of English and German, and the latter of English origin. When five years of age he moved with his parents to Belmont County, Ohio, and although so young when he left Virginia his convictions regarding the cruelty of slavery were formed, and in future years caused him to become a prominent actor in freeing the oppressed. He distinctly remembers two small slave children, who showed him their backs which were lacerated with the cowhide and the wounds filled with salt. He grew to manhood on his father's farm in Belmont County, obtaining his education at the subscription schools, but by perseverance he has become a very well educated man. He was married Aug. 25, 1828, to Sarah G., daughter of James and Susannah (Gould) Lawton, who were of English origin, and settled in Washington County, Ohio, in 1798. To them were born eight children — Elizabeth R., who graduated from the Cincinnati Medical College, died in 1878; she also practiced medicine at Boston, Mass., and at Lebanon, Ohio; James L., of Philadelphia, Pa.; Rebecca G., wife of Dr. E. B. Potter, of Paducah, Ky.; Susannah, wife of John H. Hill, of Trinity County, Texas; Jesse, of Cincinnati, Ohio, Martha resides at home with her parents; Phoebe, deceased wife of John H. Hill, of Texas; Jacob, of Chester. At the time of his marriage Mr. Branson was engaged in the mercantile business, in Uniontown, Belmont Co., Ohio, and while there assisted a fugitive family to liberty, which caused him a law-suit of four years. He was successfully engaged in business in Uniontown from 1828 till 1831, and also at Flushing, Belmont County, from 1831 till 1837, when he retired from business on account of failing health. He purchased a farm and followed farming till 1852, when he sold out and moved to Wayne County, Ind., and resided on the Dr. Greer farm till 1859. He then traded his property for a residence and business room in Richmond, remaining there till 1861, when he bought the desirable property near Chester, where he still lives, having retired from active business. Mr. Branson and wife hold to the doctrine of Friends' society, as their parents and forefathers. Politically he is a National. His parents were reared and married in Stafford County, Va. Their home in Belmont County was always a shelter for the fugitive slaves.
Source:
History of Wayne County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884. Volume 2. Page 767 and 768.