Biogrpahy of Fredric and Sarah Brantley

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Biography of Fredric and Sarah Jane Doggett Brantley

(1860—1946)

Fredric Brantley was born July 30, 1860 in Burnet County, Texas. He was the son of Joseph Josiah and Elizabeth Mariah Grosbeck Brantley. His siblings were I Hiram T., better known as Hite, and Oscar. Josiah was born in 1814 and Mariah, in 1834. She found on the 1850 census as a minor in the household of Josiah. It is presumed that for some reason, Josiah had taken her into his household as a child. The date of their marriage is unknown. Joseph Josiah had been married previously to Elizabeth Whitaker and they had two children - William born 1831 and James Perry born 1833. He was married another time to a lady who remains unknown to us. However, we do know that they had two children - Mark and Lou.
Sarah Jane Doggett was born January 18, 1863 in Red River County, Texas. Her parents were Ebenezer M. and Elizabeth Bearden Doggett. Her siblings included Mary, John. Manse!, Bob, Charley and Cicalas. On July 4, 1878, Fredric and Sarah Jane Doggett were married in Hamilton County, Texas.
On May I, 1885, Fred and Sarah and their three children, Alma. Maggie and Roy left Lano County, Texas and headed for New Mexico. Traveling in the party with them was Fred's parents, his brother Oscar who was about 16 years old and his older brother Hite and his wife Bettie along with their four children, Joseph (Monk), Dee, Will and Myrtle. Later, Oscar married Annie Holland and they had two children, Iva and Frank.
Mr. Baird and five of his boys overtook the wagon train and they all continued on the journey. It took them at least two months to make the trip. When the party arrived in the James Canyon area of Lincoln County (now Otero), Fred filed on land in 8 Mile Canyon. Hite chose to settle in Cotton Canyon. Mr. Baird chose to settle a little further to the west. Not being sure which Mr. Baird this record is speaking of, Tate Baird settled in Orr Canyon. Nat Baird at Pine Springs and there was a Baird home stead in the area that would later be known as Baird Canyon. I believe this may have been John Baird who was probably a brother to Tate and Nat. They all helped each other build houses and settle in their new surroundings. When Fred started to build their house on 8 Mile Canyon, he had 50 cents in his pocket and he spent it to buy nails to make doors for the log house.
Mariah died the year following their arrival in New Mexico. She was taken to a doctor at the Indian Agency when she became ill as no other doctor was available and she died there, probably from pneumonia. Mariah is buried in the old Mayhill Cemetery in the portion that is below the hill. After her death Josiah made his home with Fred's family and with Hite's family. He died in 1890 and is buried in the James Canyon Cemetery. Matching tombstones mark it graves in the two cemeteries. However, there is a military headstone honoring Josiah beside her headstone even though he is not buried there.
Mark was the first child born in the new home on 8 Mile Canyon, followed by Monroe, Mamie. Lee and Bettie.
In 1898. Fred sold the homestead on 8 Mile Canyon to John Eddy and purchased a farm east of Mayhill on the Rio Penasco River from James Hunter. This property had been homesteaded by Charles Arthur in 1891 and later sold to Henry Steams from Central Falls, Rhode Island. Mr. Stearns in turn sold it to James Hunter in the later pert of the same year. Mr. Brantley paid Mr. Hunter the sum of $300.00 for the 80 acre homestead. Mr. Brantley had brought his 7B brand from Texas and had it registered in New Mexico in 1895. Many years later, people will recall seeing the brand on the chimney of the house on the Penasco River.
After moving to the Rio Penasco, the family increased to include Robert, Fredric, Nola and Elza. Roy, Robert, and Fredric died in childhood or infancy and are buried in James Canyon.
Alma married Will Clark, Maggie married Tony Curtis; Mark married May Latham; Monroe married Edith Allen: Mamie married Willie Frizzell; Lee married Ethel Brantley; Bettie married John Fleming; Nola married Ed Watson and later Tom Andrews; and Eliza married Wilma Scott. All of the spouses were themselves members of pioneer families of the area.
The Brantley's were of the Christian faith being faithful members of the Church of Christ at Mayhill. They were good friends and neighbors. They were always there to lend a hand, whether it was because of illness, hard luck or just a good neighbor. Mr. Brantley raised fruit mostly apples - vegetables, corn, hay - all crops required for daily survival for the time. They hauled their produce to El Paso or to Roswell to sell it. A trip to
El Paso would take about 8 days. He provided day work for many families who were less fortunate and treated everyone fairly. He was a strict disciplinarian who was loved and respected by his grandchildren. Grandma was a softer touch - she always had a soft lap, a hug and provided a good meal, usually tripped off by a fresh fruit cobbler.
Fred died April 13, 1944 at his home on the Rio Penasco. He is buried in the Mayhill Cemetery. Sarah died May 30, 1946. She had spent most of the two years since Fred died with her daughter Mamie at her home in Mayhill.
They will always be remembered as pioneers of Mayhill, James Canyon, Rio Penasco, Lincoln and Otero Counties.

Written and Contributed by Virginia Stanbrough