MAGDALENE M.
Wife of R. B. BRANDON
Died May 29, 1891
Aged 76 Ys. 11 Ms. 26 Ds.
epitaph
 

 

From the History of Hancock County, Illinois, 1880, by Thomas Gregg, page 825
(All paragraph breaks added for readability.)

Richard Branden was born in Adams county, Pa., in 1809, and died at the age of 45, near Iowa City.  He was an early settler of this tp., and the father of a family of 11 children, 6 of whom are living.  The mother, who maiden name was Mary M. Favorite, of the same nativity, and of French-German descent, is living, at this writing, in good health, and enjoying a happy life at the old homestead.  The family came from Ohio to McDonough county in 1839, and in '46 to the farm now occupied by Mrs. B., on sec. 15 [sic], consisting of 160 acres.

The oldest daughter, Teresene, is the widow of Daniel Kimport, of Pa.  She now resides in Macomb.

James F., now a widower, is salesman for the McCormick Reaper Company.  He has 3 little children--Ernest, Richard B., and Myrt Mabel.

Lizzie, the third in the family, is the wife of Robert Geddes, a farmer of this township.

Richard B. died in the late war.

Edward E. died in infancy.

Mary A. died near the date of the father's death, at the age of seven.

Elias M. (wife, Susan Hay) has one child, Bessie.

Julia F. is the wife of John Miller, Edward B. is now carrying on the farm with his mother.

George was born in McDonough county in 1842.  His early experience was on the farm and in the common schools.  He was married in 1871 to Miss Laura Geddes, daughter of Col. Geddes, a lady devoted not only to her husband and children, but to her Christian work.  Mr. B. has a family of 2 sons and one daughter--Maud, Royle and Robert G.  The Branden family are Presbyterian in religious faith and Republican in political principles.  George was with the memorable 118th under Col. Fonda; was gone three years, and was discharged when the war was over.  He moved to his farm in 1871, and in 1876 built the neat residence which may be seen three-fourths of a mile south of Fountain Green.  George is a wide-awake citizen, and from his movements does not intend to rest complacently and see the world drive unless he is one of the drivers.

BRANDON.  Entered into rest, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. John Miller, Fountain Green*, Ill., May 29, 1891, of heart failure, Mrs. M. M. Brandon, aged 77 years.  Mrs. Brandon was the daughter of George and Mary Favorite, and was born in McConnellstown, Pa., June 3, 1813**. In 1818, with her father's family, she moved to Dayton, Ohio.  She was married Jan. 9, 1836, to Mr. Richard B. Brandon, of Wayne, Ohio.  The family of Mr. and Mrs. Brandon consisted of seven sons and four daughters, seven of whom whom survive her.  Her oldest daughter, Teresine, died 1889, Richard B. jr. died in defense of his country, at Miller's [sic] Bend, La., James F., George M., Lizzie, wife of Robert Geddes, and Julia, wife of John Miller, all of Fountain Green, Ill., Elias M., of Blandinsville, Edward B., of Hampton, Iowa, and Linn, of Bloomington, Ind.  Mary M. and Eddie died in childhood.  In 1839, Mrs. B., with her husband, came to Illinois, settling first in Macomb, McDonough county.  The old homestead in this county was purchased, and the family settled in 1846.  Mr. and Mrs. Brandon there united with the Presbyterian church at an early age. They were received in the Fountain Green Presbyterian church by letter from the Macomb church.  Both possessed excellent voices and devoted them to the service of the Master.  In September, 1854, she with her husband and three children, left her home near Fountain Green to visit his brother in Iowa City, Iowa.  On the way Mary sickened and died of cholera after a short illness.  Soon after their arrival her husband died, after 30 hours illness, aged 45 years and 7 months. She returned to her home after an absence of little over a week, bringing the news to the bereaved family.  Her health, always delicate from childhood, she was left to raise a large family alone.  Her children were brought up in the faith of the gospel, and she lived to see all of them become members of the Presbyterian church, which speaks well for her work.  The summons calling her to the home and loved ones "beyond the river," found her ready and waiting.  She said to a neice [sic] a week before, "I would be glad if I could go to-day."  Her health was good during the winter, but May 1st an attack of pneumonia alarmed her friends, but her recovery seemed assured. She went to bed feeling as well as usual, coming back at 8 o'clock and begging to sit and rock the baby, saying she slept so sound all night, she felt weak in the morning.  At daylight she called her daughter and said, "raise me up; I cannot get my breath," and in a few minutes was gone.

Loving hands covered her with flowers, and laid her to rest in Fountain Green cemetery, there to sleep until this "mortal shall put on immortality," and the saying that is written shall be brought to pass, "Death is swallowed up in victory."

* The John Miller home was located in Fountain Green Township rather than in the village of Fountain Green.

** Calculating from the tombstone inscription, Magdalene Favorite was born June 3, 1814.

The Brandon homestead is said to have been located in Section 13 of Fountain Green Township. Near neighbors in census records support that.  For a visual representation of the location in relationship to the village of Fountain Green, see Fountain Green Township Section Map.  return to this page with your browser button.

Richard B Brandon, 41, male, farmer, value of real estate 800, born PA
Magdalene, 35, female, born PA
Fericine C, 14, female, born OH, attended school within the year
James F, 11, male, born OH, attended school within the year
Galbrath, 9, male, born IL, attended school within the year
George M, 7, male, born IL, attended school within the year
Richard B, 5, male, born IL, attended school within the year
Mary A, 3, female, born IL
Elizabeth, 1, female, born IL

Magdeline Brandon, 50, female, farmer, value of real estate 3000, value of personal estate 600, born OH
James Brandon, 22, male, farmer, born OH
Teresa, 23, female, born OH
Lineus, 20, male, farmer, born OH
George, 16, male, farmer, born OH
Richard, 14, male, born IL
Elias, 6, male, born IL
Julia, 12, female, born IL

Branden, James, 31, male, white, farmer, born OH, male citizen of the U.S. aged 21 or more
Magdline, 54, female, white, keeping house, value of real estate 9000, value of personal estate 5000, born PA
Linn G, 30, male, white, farmer, born IL, male citizen of the U.S. aged 21 or more
George, 28, male, white, farmer, born IL, male citizen of the U.S. aged 21 or more
Elias, 19, male, white, born IL, attended school within the year
Edward, 15, male, white, born IL, attended school within the year
Lizzie, 20, female, white, born IL, attended school within the year
Julia, 16, female, white, born IL, attended school within the year
Narce, 27, female, white, born IL

Brandon, M M, white, female, 66, widow, keeping house, born PA, both parents born MD
[continued on next page]
Brandon, James F, white, male, 42, son, widower, born OH, both parents born PA
Ernest, white, male, 6, grandson, single, at home, attended school within the year, could read but not write, born IL, father born OH, mother born PA
Richard B, white, male, 4, grandson, single, at home, born IL, father born OH, mother born PA
Elias M, white, male, 29, son, married, farmer, born IL, both parents born PA
Susan C, white, female, 23, daughter, married, keeping house, born MO, father born VA, mother born KY
Bessie M, white, female, 2, granddaughter, single, at home, born IL, father born IL, mother
born MO
Edward B, white, male, 25, son, single, [occupation - Ft ? diner ?], born IL, both parents born PA
Kimport, Mary T [or F], white, female, 13, granddaughter, single, at home, born PA, father born PA, mother born OH
Jones, Sam ?, white, male, 23, farm laborer, single, farm laborer, born PA, both parents born PA
White, Freeman, white, male, 20, farm laborer, single, born IL, both parents born NY