BRANCH, Anthony Martin, lawyer and congressman,
was born in Buckingham County, Va., July 16, 1834, son of Samuel and Winifred
Jones (Guerrant) Branch. His father, an eminent lawyer, was in the war of
1812, serving as ensign in the 4th Greenhill regiment of Virginia; son of
Samuel Branch, 2d, of Chesterfield County, Va., an officer in the American
Revolution, who married Jane, daughter of Anthony and Sarah (Holman) Martin.
Sarah Holman was daughter of James Holman, captain of Virginia militia (1745)
from Goochland County, Va. His paternal great grandfather, Anthony Martin,
served in the revolutionary war in Col. James Livingston's Continental
regiment. He was son of Peter and Mary Ann (Perrow) Martin. Peter Martin was
son of John and Margaret Martin, Huguenots. The father of Samuel Branch, 2nd,
was Samuel Branch of Chesterfield County, Va., who was descended from Christopher and Mary Branch
of Kingsland, Chesterfield Co., Va. This Christopher Branch, "gent.," was a
member of house of burgesses, in 1639, from Henrico County, Va., and was first
American ancestor. The maternal grandfather of Anthony M. Branch was John
Guerrant, Jr., of Goochland county, Va., who
married Mary Heath Povall, daughter of Robert Povall, 3rd, of Henrico county,
Va., and
Winifred Jones Miller, daughter of William Miller and Mary Heath; William was son of
Thomas Miller and Winifred .
Mary Heath was
daughter of Thomas Heath and Winifred Jones of Northumberland County, Va. John
Guerrant, Jr., served as lieutenant and paymaster in Virginia Continental line
in the revolution from 1776 to end of war; was in Chas. Scott's brigade from
Goochland County, Va.; was in battles of Monmouth and White Plains. He was a
member of Virginia convention of 1788; was
president of Virginia state council ; as such
was lieutenant-governor (1805); was brigadier-general of 3rd Virginia brigade of
militia (1798). He was a son of John and Elizabeth (Porter) Guerrant, Sr. John
Guerrant, Sr., served with Gen. Washington at Valley Forge, and was lieutenant
of militia, in 1771, from Goochland County, Va. He was the son of Maj. Peter
Guerrant and Magdalen Trabue, the daughter of Sir Anthony Trabue, a Huguenot,
who fled from Lausanne, France, to England, in 1687, and settled in Henrico
County, Va., about 1700. Maj. Peter Guerrant was the son of Daniel Guerrant,
Jr., and Francoise L'Orange, granddaughter of Sir Lorange, of La Rochelle, France; daughter of Jean Velas
Lorange, a Huguenot. Daniel Gueran, Sr. (spelled Guerin and Guerrant), the
first American ancestor, was of a French family of the nobility, from
Champagne, Isle of France, and from St. Nazaire; was a Huguenot; settled in
Virginia about 1700. Anthony M. Branch, the subject of this sketch, was
graduated at Hampden-Sidney
College, Virginia,
1842 ; he was a polished orator, noted for his brilliancy and logic. He went
to Huntsville, Tex., in 1847, forming a law partnership
with Mr. Yoakun, the historian. In 1863 Gen. Sam Houston made him executor of
his will. He served (1859) in legislature ; in 1861 in the state senate.
During the civil war he was captain of company A, of Col. Carter's, Texas
cavalry regiment, until 1863, when he was called from the field to serve in
the Confederate congress. In 1866 he was elected to the U. S. congress, but
was not allowed to take his seat by the dominant party, who objected to all
who had fought in the Confederate army. He was married, in 1849 to Amanda
Smith of Alabama. He lost his children; but in 1865. at the death of his
sister, Martha Winifred Branch, widow of Judge Edward A. Palmer of Houston, Tex., he became guardian of her children. He
died at Huntsville,
Tex., Oct. 3,
1867.
[Source: The
National Cyclopaedia of American Biography Volume 8; By James Terry
White;
Publ. 1898;
Transcribed by Andrea Stawski Pack]
W. H. MORGAN, OF CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, VIRGINIA
CAPTAIN, CO. "F," 2IST VIRGINIA INFANTRY.
The military life of William Henry Morgan is that of one who, after enduring all the physical hardships of a series
of disheartening campaigns, is suddenly cut off when, as it were, he first tastes the actual pleasures of war.
The space allotted to this sketch does not permit a detailed account of the boyhood of the subject; nor is that
of great importance to the purpose before us. Suffice it to say that W. H. Morgan was born in the county of Chesterfield,
on the 1st of September, 1839.
At the age of seventeen he matriculated at the Virginia Military Institute, and on the 18th of September, 1856/entered
the fourth class. The four years of his college-life were most' creditable,—having during that time, in addition
to a fair stand in his class, received each successive year the highest military office in the gift of the Institute.
He graduated on the 4th of July, i860, taking a general stand of thirteen in a class of forty-one, as captain of
"A" Company, having served with merit in each successive grade from that of corporal.
Morgan was a man of modest and retiring disposition, of simple tastes, and uniform temper; taciturn at all times,
yet ready to give a decided opinion upon any subject to which he had given sufficient thought.
>
He was as a cadet enthusiastically devoted to the military portion of his studies, and was most conscientious in
the discharge of the duties of the various grades that he filled. Probably no cadet officer was more respected
by his comrades, nor was there a lack of appreciation of these qualities by his superior officers, for at the close
of his graduating year he was invited to take service on the staff of the Institute as assistant instructor of
tactics. He filled this position with satisfaction to his superiors until his entry into the Confederate service.
The first contribution made by Morgan to his State, was drilling and in other ways fitting for active service a
company of students formed at Washington College. This work was so well and thoroughly done that the appreciation
of the company manifested itself in a suitable present,—a pair of field-glasses, that were carried by the recipient
on many hard-fought fields.
On the 20th of April, 1861, in company with other officers of the Virginia Military Institute, Morgan was ordered
to Camp Lee, the recruiting depot of the army, situated near Richmond. He had been there only a short time when
he was appointed adjutant of Gilham's 21st Regiment, then under orders for West Virginia. On the 15th of August
this regiment, forming a part of the Corps of Observation of West Virginia, was camped near Valley Mountain. From
this time until December he endured with patience all the privations incident to the campaign of West Virginia.
There was little fighting, but worse by far to the young soldiers just entering a campaign, hunger, cold, and disappointment
met them at every turn,—everything, in fact, that could weary the body and harass the mind.
During the month of December the 2d Brigade of Loring's Division, commanded by Colonel Gilham, was ordered to the
Valley to reinforce General Jackson, then operating near Winchester. Morgan was at this time acting assistant adjutant-general.
The brigade reached the Valley in time to participate in the battle of Kernstown. In this action Morgan rendered
efficient service, by the skill and steadiness with which he seconded the efforts of his chief.
>
At the reorganization of the army, in 1862, Morgan was elected captain of Company " F," 21st Regiment.
This placed him at once in a position that he had eagerly desired since his entry into the service,—the direct
line of promotion. He accepted the position without hesitation, retiring from the staff of the brigade.
As captain of infantry in that famous division of "Stonewall " Jackson, he shared with distinction all
the glory of the Valley campaigns, the hard marching and the incessant fighting for the relief of Richmond. From
the banks of the James his command was transferred by rail to Gordonsville.
On the 9th of August, 1862, the advance of Jackson's force had penetrated northward as far as Cedar Mountain. Here
the leading column was checked by Federal troops under Banks. Jackson at once prepared to give battle. Sending
forward the division of Early to develop the strength of the enemy, he placed the division of Winder, then arriving
on the ground, in support Afterwards' it was found necessary to take ground to the left. In doing this the 2d Brigade
(to which belonged the 21st Regiment) was placed on the extreme left of the line, the left regiment somewhat retired.
In support of the 2d Brigade was placed the "Stonewall" Brigade, but unfortunately with so little regard
to true military tactics as to leave a wide gap between the left of the 2d Brigade and the entire front of the
supports. This bad alignment, as will be seen, was fruitful of confusion and disaster. Probably, had Winder not
been killed almost as soon as he reached the field, this would have all been rectified.
The enemy, though driven back somewhat on the right, still held their ground on the left; in fact, had increased
the number of guns in their front The artillery fire was incessant, and the execution among the troops quite destructive,—
the 2d Brigade especially, being on the flank and subjected to a partial enfilade, suffered severely.
Perhaps there is nothing that so fascinates the gaze of the soldier, and diverts his attention from the horrors
of the battle-field and its attendant fears and misgivings, as the spectacle of an officer who calmly and fearlessly
looks death in the face; one who bears himself with the ease and serenity that becomes the drawing-room rather
than the disordered arena of carnage; who, without the least bravado, yet with the high pride and courage that
scorns the base thought of fear, encourages others, and stands with waiting patience to meet his fate; one, in
short, who knows no compromise with duty. In such noble presence even the basest minds must feel the electric effect
of their proximity; it is the one touch of nature that makes all akin, and mesmerizes the mind and body of the
crowd to the strong will of the leader.
Thus it was that Morgan, reckless of his own life, moved with careless ease before his men, whom he compelled to
lie down under the severe artillery fire to which they were exposed.
In the mean time the pressure in front of the brigade had become very much increased; the irregular line of skirmishers
was replaced by solid masses of infantry; the advance had begun, and in a few minutes a fierce force poured down
on the 2d Brigade, overlapping its left flank, and filling the gap between that brigade and the " Stonewall."
The last corps, taken on the flank and in reverse, at once broke, as did also the left regiment of the 2d Brigade.
It was reserved for the 21st Regiment to stay the torrent, and hold in check, for a few minutes only (but yet how
important even that time!), the victorious enemy. In this melee Morgan, ever foremost in action, met a glorious
death, while encouraging his men to stand fast and do their duty.
Thus fell, in the prime of life, a most gallant soldier and virtuous gentleman. Throughout his military career
he never failed either in the comprehension or performance of his duty, and in the high promise that he gave of
future usefulness, it is not too much to say that the scope of his office was for too small to show the extent
of his genius. No greater compliment could be rendered him as an officer than the discipline of his company under
the trying circumstances of his death.
Captain John D. Young.
(Source: Biographical sketches of the Graduates and Eleves of the Virginia
Military Institute who fell during the war between the States, by Chas. D. Walker. Published 1875. Transcribed
and submitted to Genealogy Trails by Linda Rodriguez)
A.
Randolph Wilson
With the
organization of the Amicable Life Insurance Company, of Waco, March 8, 1910,
A. Randolph Wilson came to this city to accept the positions of secretary
and assistant actuary, capacities in which he had
had wide and varied experience in the East. He has
since continued among the business men of Waco, and
has firmly established his right to be accounted one of the progressive
and energetic men of this progressive and energetic city. Mr. Wilson is a native of Richmond,
Virginia, born February 28, 1882, a son of George M. and
Mary F. (Thweatt) Wilson. He is a direct descendant of Captain Francis
Eppes, an immigrant to Virginia in 1625 from
England, and Henry Randolph who immigrated to
Virginia in 1643 from Northamptonshire, England.
George M. Wilson was
born on the Brierfield plantation, in Amelia County, Virginia, January 13,
1842, and has spent his entire life in the Old
Dominion state, where he is prominent in business circles as secretary and treasurer of the Tidewater and
Western Railway Company. He married May F. Thweatt, who was born on the
Eppington plantation, in Chesterfield county,
Virginia, in 1855, and she died at Richmond,
Virginia, in 1908, the mother of six children, as follows: Minnie, who is now
Mrs. J. G. Robert, of St. Louis, Missouri; Richard T., of Richmond, Virginia,
secretary of the State Corporation Commission; Georgia M., who is now the wife
of W. T. Harris, of Richmond, Virginia; Florence E., who is the wife of LeRoy
Roper, of Petersburg, Virginia; A. Randolph, of this review; and Edward L., of Waco, clerk of the Texas National Exchange Bank.
A. Randolph Wilson
was granted excellent educational advantages in his youth, attending the public and
high schools of Richmond, and then entering
the Virginia Polytechnic School, from which he was graduated with the degree
of Bachelor of Sciences, in mechanical and
electrical engineering. After completing his studies he entered the
employ of the Virginia Passenger and Power
Company, as switch and motor tester, and after one year went to New York with the Gray
National Telautograph Company, as inspector, in 1904. When he resigned his
position with that company, three years later, he had been advanced to the
position of manager of the Cleveland (Ohio) office. His next connection was
with the Life Insurance Company of Richmond, Virginia, where he remained in
the actuary department for two years, and he then
became secretary and actuary for the Eastern Life
Association Company of Virginia, at Norfolk, for one year. On March 8, 1910,
he accepted his present position with the Amicable Life Insurance Company when
it was organized at Waco, and at this time he is a
stockholder and director in the company. From
the time of his youth Mr. Wilson has gradually
progressed until he now stands as one of the directing heads of an enterprise
which figures prominently in business circles throughout the Southwest,
and he owes his
advancement to the fact that he has thoroughly mastered every task devolving
upon him, the readiness with which he has recognized and grasped opportunities
and to his
adaptation of new conditions evolved in business life to the needs of the
present day. He enjoys fishing and hunting, and has always taken a keen interest in mathematics, but aside
from these diversions his business and
his home keep him fully occupied, both of which
bear testimony of his careful consideration. His home is located at No. 1919
Columbus Street, in addition to which he is the owner of some valuable real
estate in Waco. Mr. Wilson is independent in his political views, and has had no desire to seek
public office.
On February 28,
1910, Mr. Wilson was married at Christianburg, Virginia, to Miss Gertrude H.
Spindle, daughter of R. B. Spindle, of
Christianburg, a wholesale and retail grocery
merchant. Two bright and interesting children have
been born to this union: Gertrude H. and Mary
R.
[A
history of Texas and Texans, Volume 4 By Francis White Johnson, 1914 –
Transcribed by AFOFG]
