BRACKEN

 

Compiled by: Andrew L. Moore

336 Sarver Road, Sarver  PA  16055

Email: PAmoores@juno.com

Dated: 22 April 2012

 

 

 

 

BRACKEN

 

BRACKEN.  Irish: Anglicized form of Gaelic.  O Breacain ‘descendant of Breacan’, a personal name from a diminutive of breac speckled, spotted.  This is was borne by a 6^th century saint who lived at Ballyconnel, County Cavan, and was famous as a healer; in his honor is named St. Bricin’s Military Hospital, Dublin.  Variations:  O’Brackan, O’Bracken.  Excerpted from A Dictionary of Surnames by Patrick Hanks and Flavia Hodges, Oxford University Press, Oxford NY  1988.

 

 

 

James Bracken

 

James Bracken was born circa 1760 in Dublin, Ireland, and died before 1850 in Beardstown or Bardstown, Marion Co, KY.  He married Mary Reilly in 1788 in Dublin, Ireland.  She was born in Connought, Ireland, and also died before 1850 in Beardstown or Bardstown, Marion Co, KY.

 

Based on NSDAR # 441790 information discovered and provided by John Kenton Thompson
(a descendant of James' son John O Bracken)

From Notes by Edward Richards Bracken dated 1890-1891

 

James Backen born in the city of Dublin, Ireland was a subaltern Officer in the English Navy - married Miss Mary Reilly, and heiress of Connought, Ireland in 1788. John Oliver Bracken their Son was born on June 24, 1791. Their first two Children - Daughters died in infancy and are buried in Dublin.

 

In 1798 James Bracken with other officers were placed on sentinel duty as they expected an outbreak and there were then traitors in Barox. They were then stationed in Doublin where his family lived. The instructions from the superior Officer in prevate Council was that no one should be allowed to pass without giving the pass word and the countersigh not even the General himself.

 

Just before the relief - 12 o'clock am the General approached Officer Bracken's post with another officer and attempted to pass. Bracken halted them demanding the pass word and countersign. The General replied that he had forgotten them. Bracken refused to let them pass saying, "You know General your instructions were no one should be allowed to pass without them not even yourself without giving them."

 

"Yes, but you know me," replied the General. "Yes, you are the General," Bracken replied. "Then let me pass." "No, Sir not without the pass word and countersign", said Bracken. The General then drew his sword and struck Bracken across his face with it.  Bracken knocked him down with his gun. Parties separated them and when the General left he remarked Bracken had been right.

 

At 3 o'clock a.m. friends went to Bracken's quarters and informed him the General would court martial him the next day. Bracken left with his wife and son, John Oliver Bracken, on a small sail boat for Calles, France before daylight leaving his brother, Thomas Bracken, to collect what he could for them and join them there.  And they later sailed for New York, and from there they started for Beardstown, Kentucky. Their second son, James Reilly Bracken was born in route at Warm Springs, Virginia in 1799.

 

Their other children, Charles, Hughe and William were born at Beardstown, Kentucky. John O. Bracken was intended for a priest, but when he was old enough to take his orders he objected. Before their death, his parents started him to Ireland to attend to their interests there, but he was wrecked off the Island of Cuba, losing papers and everything except the night clothes he had on.  His mother, Mary Reilly Bracken, had inherited other property after leaving Ireland, and there is now an immense estate coming to her there.

 

Col. John Reilly was a cousin of John Oliver Bracken. He was Minister of Plenipotentiary to the Court of St. James from the Republic of Texas. He had spoken to me frequently about the property urging me on my father's death to attend to it. Just before the War, there was an advertisement in the New York Commercial relating to the Reilly Bracken property in Ireland. I answered the advertisement, but the blockage stopped the correspondence. I met Col. Reilly in Galveston as his Command, Sibley's Brigade, was moving from Arizona to Louisiana.

 

He asked if I had answered the advertisement. I replied that I had, but the blockage had broken up our correspondence. He replied he would go over and attend to it himself for me as he knew all about it.  I never saw him again as he was killed in the Louisiana sector. I have made several attempts since the War to get it up, but in vain.  

 

My Grandparents, James Bracken and Mary Reilly Bracken, are both buried at Beardstown, Kentucky.

----------

 

John Oliver Bracken was in the War of 1812 & 1815 on the Canadian Border with his Father, James Bracken, under General Duncan McArthur. At the battle of Elliott Mills, the General wishing to send a dispatch to another part of the field and upon which depended the fate of the day, but regarded the ride as one of almost certain death, refused to order a Courier to go but left it up to a volunteer.

 

John O. Bracken made the ride without injury to self or horse. In 1839, General McArthur, whilst in Mississippi, stopped at my Father's hotel in Columbus and remained some three weeks.

 

During the time my Father gave the General a Dinner and in giving his toast, the General narrated the foregoing circumstances more minutely however than I give it here winding up with, "Ladies and Gentlemen, my Boy courier who made the ride of death as it is called, you will find in our esteemed friend and host, John O. Bracken."  I was a Boy in my 11th year at the time and the General made a great pet of me.  

 

From Notes by Edward Richards Bracken, 1890-1891.        

 

The children of James and Mary (Reilly) were:

 

1.       John Oliver, born 24 June 1791 Dublin, Ireland, married an Ann Grymes Richards on 20 Nov 1828 Robertson Co TN, and died 26 Sept 1848, Galveston, Galveston Co TX.  Ann, born 26 Mar 1803 Milton, Caswell Co NC and died 7 May 1882 Austin, Travis Co TX, was the daughter of Durett and Mary (Moore) Richards.  John and Ann had one child: Edward Richards Bracken, born 26 Aug 1829 Caswell Co NC, died 20 Mar 1896 Ogarita, Travis Co TX.  Edward married Sarah Ann Watkins 07 Aug 1856, Rusk, Cherokee Co TX.  She was born 22 Aug 1831, Wilcox Co AL and died 15 April 15 1868, San Marcos, Hays Co TX.

2.       James Reilly, born circa 1799 Warm Springs, (Bath Co) VA, died circa 1876, Crockett, Houston Co TX.

3.       Hughe, born circa 1800 VA (according to the 1850 Marion Co KY census).

4.       Charles, born circa 1801 "Beardstown KY".  (a Bardstown is in Nelson Co KY).

5.       William R, born circa 1810 "Beardstown KY", married Elizabeth Schneider.  Elizabeth was born circa 1821.

 

 

Hugh Bracken

 

According to the 1850 Marion Co KY census, Hugh Bracken was born circa 1800 in VA.  Unsuccessful attempts have been made to determine his ancestry.  Attempts have been made to determine his whereabouts prior to 1840 (where he is listed in the Marion Co KY census), in either KY, VA or elsewhere – also with no success.  He must have been in KY for at least 20 years prior to this as he married a Kentuckian named Sarah Daugherty in circa 1830.  Because of the ongoing Civil War, the Marion Co KY courthouse was burned to the ground in 1862.  As a result, all records from County inception (1834, when Marion was part of Washington Co KY) to 1862 were tragically lost.  One of those records was most likely their marriage information – which probably listed Hugh’s parents.  Fortunately Hugh’s will, written in 1863, was one of the first probate records on file since the burning of the courthouse.

 

Sarah is the daughter of Samuel and Chlore (Latimore) Daugherty.  Samuel Daugherty was born circa 1770/1775 in VA or KY and married a Marylander named Chloe/Chlore Latimir/Latimore on 5 Oct 1795 in Mercer Co KY.  Samuel died prior to 1850.  Samuel was the son of Lt. James and Rebecca (Cunningham) Daugherty.  James, who was born circa 1737 and died in Mercer Co KY prior to Dec 1812 (when his will was probated), was an immigrant from Dublin Ireland.   James’ will is recorded in the Register of the KY Historical Society, Volume 54, page 361, dated 1956.  According to DAR records, James assisted in the American Revolution in Charlottes Co VA  “in the capacity of Patriot”.  He was reimbursed 21 pound sterling for 42 days wagonage, team and driver.  His presence in Charlotte Co is confirmed by Charlotte Co VA Deed Book 1765-1771, page 81, Deed Book 1771-1777, page 49.  His service in the American Revolution is listed in VA Revolutionary Publik Claims Vol I, page 236, Jarrice L. Abercrombie and Richard Slatter.  For more information on the surname Daugherty, please see the chapter so entitled.

 

By 1850, when the first complete census including family members was taken, Sarah’s mother Chlore (then aged 70) and Sarah’s “idiot” brother Samuel (aged 45) were living with Sarah and Hugh.   As both Sarah and Samuel were both 45 in 1850, I can only assume that they were twins.  Sarah and Samuel had at least one sibling, a brother named John, who was born in 1817 and who died of cholera on 26 July 1852 “near Linchburg, Marion Co” KY.

 

Note: A William R. Bracken was located in the 1850 Marion Co KY census, age 40 (born 1810 KY) and married to an Elizabeth, age 29 (born 1821 KY).  They list one child, Albert J, age “1/12” (born Aug 1850).  William listed his Real Estate owned at $1700.  According to the 1850 Slave census, William listed a slave couple and their 7 children as their slaves.  It is not known if this Bracken is related to Hugh - but could possibly be his brother.

 

Note: Also listed in the 1850 Marion Co KY census are several other Brackens, all KY born and relation unknown.  They are listed in the household of Kentuckian Elizabeth Morguson (sp?), age 47 and who listed herself as a “Merchant” and owning $2450 in real estate - a considerable sum in those days: William C Bracken (28), Mary Bracken (16), James Bracken (26), Charles Bracken (17). 

 

Note: A biographical sketch on a “George A. Bricken” was located in the History of Kentucky, Illustrated, Edition 4, page 801.  George was born in Marion Co KY on 16 May 1841 and was a dealer in grain, seeds and implements in Lebanon, Marion Co KY.  George A. married Miss Elizabeth V. Johnson on 11 Jun 1867. George’s father was William M. Bricken who was born in Washington Co KY in 1817.  William married Miss Ellen Cunningham and they had two children: George A. and Samuel B.  William M.’s father was “William G. Bricken, a native of Virginia, born near Richmond, where he grew to manhood and married a Miss Hardwick, afterward (in 1797) he came to Kentucky and settled in Washington Co.”  I am including this information here due to the geographical proximity to our Bracken family.

 

Hugh Bracken’s Will

Marion Co KY

Written 21 Jan 1863, probated 2 Oct 1865

 

Hugh Bracken’s will was written on 21 Jan 1863 in Marion Co KY and was probated 2 Oct 1865 in the same county.  In his will, Hugh Bracken:

 

a)       Asks that a “rongfully obtained note of hand from me for five dollars some several years ago for the support of the College at Lebanon Tennessee this was some Agent and he was limited to take no note for less than ten dollars and I wish this not to be paid as the building was converted into a fort and some of our men were injured”.

b)       “bequeth to Thomas J Bracken oldest son the sum of five dollars”;

c)       “to my son Granville Bracken five dollars”;

d)       “to my daughter Jane now Skinner five dollars to be handed over 18 months after my departure”

e)       “bequeth one-third of my estate to my daughter Ann now Haydon”

f)         “all so to my daughter Cinderella the one third of my estate”

g)       “to my son Finley Bracken one third of my estate”

h)       “and him (Finley) and Cinderella to remain and cultivate the farm for their own benefit or have it rented out or so much of the ground as is suitable until Finley arrives at the age of 21 then after he is of age he may hold and cultivate the farm for the benefit of himself and Cinderella for five years...and provided my daughter Ann Haydon should happen to be left a widow and chose to live with those on the farm there will be a sufficient  to support all three of them by good economy”

i)         something regarding the schooling of Finley (difficult to read)

j)         “that they (the three) keep as little stock on the farm as they can get along with”.

k)       Hugh appointed John Riley, Jr Executor and Guardian of his minor children and appoints him “to see to the renting (and) collecting the same (rent) and that to conservative men if possible”.

l)         “furthermore it is my will that Cinderella have one bed to weigh fourty pounds with all necessary bed clothing and her choice of bed stand, the two shears I have in the ???”.

m)     “I will that my son Finley a horse, saddle and bridle”

n)       “my wish that Cinderella and Finley keep all the house hold and kitchen furniture, farming tools on the premises if they proper.

 

The known children of Hugh and Sarah (Daugherty) Bracken were:

 

1.       Ann, born circa 1832 KY, married _______ Haydon.

2.       Thomas, born circa 1833 KY.

3.       Granville Mansfield, born 22 May 1835 Lebanon, Marion Co KY, married Elizabeth Brady 1 Sep 1862 (or 22 Jul 1863 depending on source) Washington Co KY, died 4 Jun 1921 Salt Lake City UT, buried Eastside Cemetery, Hutchinson, Reno Co KS.

4.       Jane, born circa 1837 KY, married John Skinner (s/o Richard & Lucinda Glascock Skinner).

5.       William, born circa 1841/1843, Lebanon, Marion Co KY.

6.       Cinderella, born circa 1845, Lebanon, Marion Co KY, married James Hagan 16 Jan 1866 Lebanon, Marion Co KY.  Cinderella was married at the home of J. Schackt, the Catholic priest in Lebanon KY.  The marriage record states she was 22 years old, age proven by her brother Finley, both of her parents were born in Marion Co, as were the groom and his parents. 

7.       Finley, born circa 1846, Lebanon, Marion Co KY.

 

 

Granville Mansfield Bracken

 

Granville Mansfield Bracken was born on 22 May 1835 in “Le Banon” (aka Lebanon), Marion Co KY.  He is listed in the 1850 and 1860 Marion Co KY census’ as living with his parents.  In the 1860 census (age 24), he listed his occupation as “Farming”.  By 1861, according to his obituary, Granville was involved in the overland freighting business between the Missouri River and Salt Lake City and personally made the journey that year.  His obituary states that on his return trip, he sold his interest in the freighting business and moved to Utah.  He must have temporarily moved back to Washington Co KY (a neighboring county of his home county of Marion) where he married Elizabeth Mary Brady.  The Washington Co KY Marriage Book #5, which lists his marriage, has an incomplete record of their marriage: No information other than their names is listed.  The entry before the Granville/Elizabeth entry is dated 21 August 1862 and the entry following is dated 4 Sept 1862.  So, unless the marriage certificate can be located, they were married in 1862 between 21 Aug and 4 Sept.  Other Bracken researchers list their marriage year as 1863 (as listed at the LDS - source unknown) and his obituary lists their marriage year as 1867 (source also unknown but if this date is to be believed, they had their first two children out of wedlock, a highly unusual event in those days).

 

After his wife died in 1879, Granville did not remarry and raised his four remaining daughters.  They continued to live in Hutchinson Reno Co KS for a time.  Barbara Mitchell Moore remembers that Granville worked for Will Hutchinson, for whom the city of Hutchinson was named. 

 

Granville could not be located in the 1900 and 1910 Federal Census records, but he does appear in the 1920 Salt Lake City UT census living with his daughter, Mattie, and her husband William D. Prosser.  Granville died on 4 June 1921 in his daughter’s home in Salt Lake City.  His body was removed to Hutchinson KS where he was buried in the Eastside Cemetery in southeast Hutchinson.

 

Granville’s wife, Elizabeth, was the daughter of Milton Anderson and Eliza Smock Brady and was born on 17 July 1840 in Springfield, Washington Co KY.  She died on 2 Dec 1879, possibly giving birth to their sixth and final child Eva Carter, who also died that year. For more information on the surname Brady, please see the chapter so titled.

 

His obituary and death notices below reveal some of the history behind this man. 

 

Granville Bracken Obituary Notices

 

Granville’s death notice was listed in the 5 June 1921 Salt Lake Tribune:

 

“Granville Bracken, 86 years of age, a resident of Salt Lake for twenty five years, died yesterday at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. W. D. Prosser, 955 East Seventeenth South Street.  Mr. Bracken was born in Lebanon, KY, May 22, 1835.”

 

 

Granville’s obituary, and a photograph of the bearded gentleman, was posted in the Salt Lake Tribune on 6 June 1921:

 

“Funeral services for Granville Mansfield Bracken, 86 years of age will be held at the home of his daughter, Mrs. W. D. Prosser, 955 East Seventeenth Street at 4:00 o’clock tomorrow afternoon.  Internment will be in his old home in Hutchinson, Kansas.

 

Mr. Bracken was born in Lebanon Kentucky.  He grew to manhood in his native state, and when a young man moved to Missouri, where he engaged in overland freighting between the Missouri River and the west.  In 1861 he personally made the trip to Salt Lake.  On his return trip, he sold his interest in the freighting business and moved to Utah.  He married Miss Elizabeth Brady of Springfield, Kentucky in 1867 (incorrect - 1862/3). 

 

He is survived by four daughters, Mrs. (Sallie) Frank Bebout of Craig, Colorado; Mrs. Lucy B. Mitchell, of Arlington, Kansas; Mrs. (Elizabeth) J. R. Cushman of Pinegree, Idaho; and Mrs. (Mattie) W. D. Prosser of 955 East Seventh South Street, Salt Lake.”

 

 

Granville’s funeral notice was listed in the Salt Lake Tribune on 7 June 1921: 

 

“Funeral services for Granville Bracken, who died in this city Saturday, will be held at the home of his daughter, Mrs. W. D. Prosser, 955 East Seventeenth South Street, at 4 o’clock tomorrow afternoon.  Internment will be in Mount Olivet cemetery (Correction: he was buried in Eastside Cemetery in Hutchinson KS).”

 

 

His initial Kansas obituary appeared in the Arlington (KS) Enterprise, Friday June 10, 1921, front page:

 

“Grandpa Bracken Dead.  Body Will Be Brought to Hutchinson for Burial.  Mrs. Lucy Mitchell received a telegram from her sister who lives at Salt Lake City, Utah, announcing the death of her father Mr. Bracken.  The body will be brought to Hutchinson for burial.  In our next issue we will endeavor to give the obituary in full.  Mr. Bracken will be remembered by the people of this community as he lived a few miles southwest of town for a number of years during the early days, and has lived with his daughter Mrs. Lucy Mitchell, a portion of the time for the past few years.  His death came as a surprise to the people of this community, although it had been known for some time that he was in poor health.”

 

 

A week later on Friday June 21, 1921, front page, the same paper wrote the following full obituary:

 

“Granville M. Bracken.  Was Born in Kentucky and was Engaged in Freighting in the Early Days.  The funeral of Granville Mansfield Bracken, 86 years of age were held at the home of his daughter, Mrs. W. D. Prosser, 955 East Seventeenth Street at 4:00 o’clock Tuesday afternoon June 7th.  Internment will be made in his old home in Hutchinson, Kansas.

 

Mr. Bracken was born in Lebanon Kentucky.  He grew to manhood in his native state, and when a young man moved to Missouri, where he engaged in overland freighting between the Missouri River and the west.  In 1861 he personally made the trip to Salt Lake.  On his return trip, he sold his interest in the freighting business and moved to Utah.  He married Miss Elizabeth Brady of Springfield, Kentucky in 1867 (incorrect - 1862/3). 

 

He is survived by four daughters, Mrs. Frank Bebout of Craig, Colorado; Mrs. Lucy B. Mitchell, of Arlington, Kansas; Mrs. J. R. Cushman of Pinegree, Idaho; and Mrs. W. D. Prosser of 955 East Seventh South Street, Salt Lake.

 

We publish the above notice from the Salt Lake Tribune, and it gives a short account of the funeral services and points of interest in Mr. Bracken’s life.  The body of the late Mr. Bracken was brought to Hutchinson from Salt Lake for burial, and arrived in Hutchinson Sunday afternoon, accompanied by one of his daughters, Mrs. Cushman.  The burial was in the Eastside Cemetery.

 

Mr. Bracken was well and favorably known in this city, having resided here for a time during the early days, and during the years has been here several months at a times staying with his daughter Mrs. Lucy Mitchell.”

 

 

The known children of Granville Mansfield and Elizabeth Brady Bracken were:

 

1.       Charles Lee, born 4 Dec 1864/5KY and died in infancy.

2.       Mattie John, born 29 Oct 1865 KY, married William Davies Prosser 1895 St. Joseph MO.  According to my father W. B. Moore, both Mattie and Will were school administrators/teachers.  They had one child, Mary Elizabeth, who married Griffin Jenkins, a banker, and they lived in Malad City, ID.  Elizabeth and Griffin had one child, William Griffin  who married a Jeanne Naffziger.  William (aka Griffy) died in 1978 and Jeanne remarried an Eldon John and continues to live in Malad City, ID.

3.       Sallie Lee, born circa 1867, married John T. Easley in Kingman KS.  According to my father W. B. Moore, Sallie and John had two sons, Jim and John--who lived in Craig CO in the 1930s.  Sallie Lee later married a Frank Bebout.

4.       Mary Lucy, born 3 Jul 1874 Little River KS, married Carl Mitchell 4 Jul 1895 (one day after her 21st birthday) Hutchinson KS, died 15 Oct 1936 Arlington KS, buried Arlington Cemetery, Arlington KS.  See the Mitchell chapter for more information on this couple.

5.       Anna Eliza, born 9 Mar 1875, Kingman KS, married John Rease Cushman circa 1895, died 24 Aug 1940 Blackfoot ID.  According to my father, Anna and John operated a ranch near Pocatello ID and my father’s mother, Barbara Mitchell Moore of Arlington KS, would visit Anna and John by train in the early 1900s in the summer as a teenager where she rode and witnessed the capturing and training of wild horses as a source of ranch revenue. 

6.       Eva Carter, born circa 1879 KS, died same year.

 

 

Mary Lucy Bracken

 

The following is a chronology that my father, William B. Moore, compiled regarding the lives of Lucy Bracken, her husband Carl Mitchell and their daughter Barbara Morma Mitchell and her husband Claude Sorency Moore.

 

1871

·         Carl Mitchell was born on 9 Sep 1871 in Centerville, Appanoose Co IA.

 

1874

·         Lucy Bracken born July 4th in Little River, KS.

1892

·         By age 18 Lucy must have been living in Hutchinson KS with her father Grandville Bracken and her sisters.

·         There is no record of a high school education, but living in a relatively large city she probably did attend high school.

·         By now or in the next year or so she would have met Carl Mitchell, her future spouse, of rural Arlington KS.

·         In the post-high school - not yet an adult phase she must have started spending more time with her older sister Mattie Bracken Prosser, married and living in Salt Lake City where she and her husband were school teachers and later administrators.  I think I have seen some reference to her teaching in SLC???

1895

·         Lucy Bracken and Carl Mitchell (son of Alexander and Mary Mitchell – see Mitchell chapter for details) are married on July 5th, the day after her 21st birthday, in the home of a mutual friend [Holloway] in Hutchinson KS and over Granville’s apparently strong disapproval.

·         We read in the wedding announcement that the couple intended to move to SLC after a month in Arlington.  They apparently spent that month at the farm home of Alexander & Mary, Carl’s parents.  They never left this farm as a couple, probably due to his fragile health and resultant inability to independently earn a living.  We know he helped on the farm [a doctor had recommended lighter work] and participated in community activities [we have his cornet which he played in the Arlington Community Band].

 

1896

·         Barbara Mitchell is born 6 June at the farm.

 

1900

·         Carl dies from internal bleeding caused by his undiagnosed restricted and damaged arteries.  The census of this year shows Alexander and Mary Mitchell, and Carl, Lucy and Barbara all living together. 

 

1910

·         By this year Lucy she is boarding with the Eaton family in Arlington while Barbara her daughter was still living with her grandparents Alexander and Mary Mitchell.  So presumably, at age 13/14, Barbara is still living on the farm and had just finished grade school. [I had always assumed she had moved to ‘town’ earlier ? ?]

·         My guess is that this is the year in which her mother rented the house on the NW corner of our Arlington/Algona Street home location [SW corner].

·         The Eaton’s, where Lucy would have been boarding, lived on the SW corner.

 

1910 / 1911 / 1912

·         There was not a high school in Arlington until about 1913 or 1914.

·         Barbara must have moved into town [Arlington] during the summer of 1910, immediately after finishing grade school.

·         That fall she must have been taken by her mother, Lucy, to Hutchinson, where she was enrolled in high school, and where she boarded with friends while she attended school.

·         If she said the name of the host family I have forgotten it. Possibly the same ones, Holloway’s, at whose home Lucy was married?

·         I have heard Mother (Barbara Mitchell Moore) say that she came home to Arlington most weekends on the train.

·         She would have been about the same age as Lindsay Moore (granddaughter of William B. Moore’s). This reminds me that Lindsay looks very much like Mother in the old pictures of her as a teenager].

·         Immediately upon the completion of the new Arlington KS high school, Mother returned to Arlington to attend her junior and her senior and graduating year.  This is the same school and building from which LuAnn, Bud (siblings of William B. Moore) and I graduated. It was torn down in the 1960's when Reno County schools were consolidated.

 

1912 / 1913

·         In about the same year that Barbara was returning to Arlington to finish high school, her future husband, Claude Sorency Moore, would have been finishing four years of boarding in the nearby town of Nickerson where he attended a high school that also offered the opportunity to earn a teaching certificate.  This was apparently the only other high school in the county except the city school in Hutchinson, which probably was not set up for the Teaching Certificate possibility.

·         I know of only one other Arlington youth, a boy also, out of what must have been many, who made the effort and the sacrifice of living away from home to attend the Nickerson (KS) school.  The school must have provided boarding facilities.  It would have served an area about 30 or 35 miles square, i.e., all of rural Reno County.

·         How did Claude get back and forth?  By buggy or train via Hutchinson?

·         How often did he get to come home?  Probably not often.

·         Claude graduated at about age eighteen and was teaching alone in a single room school west of Arlington [1.5 miles from his family's farm home] at age nineteen [there are pictures].

·         I have heard him say some of the students were older and bigger than he.

 

1920     [and the Ungles' relationship]

·         The store where Lucy worked was owned by a Mr. Ungles and a Wallace Moore [no relation].  I guess this is where 'we' (the Mitchells and Moores) met the Ungles family. They had three boys, Ben, Jim, and Tom who were like brothers to Barbara.  Ben was killed in WW I.  Jim was a doctor in that war, serving also in Europe. Tom, a pharmacist, suffered from severe asthma and was exempted from service. Tom and Nora's only son is one week older than I.  I usually call him on his birthday. He attended Ft. Hayes State College, has never married, has always lived in Satanta, and has never enjoyed good health – possessing his father's asthmatic condition.  In the mid twenties, Dr. Jim and Tom and their wives moved to Satanta, KS.  Dr Jim delivered most of the babies born in that area and in that era. Jim ran a drug store and pharmacy.  We visited them once a year.  They prospered. Jim especially bought lots of land in the depression years when no one else had any money and land was cheap.  That is when Claude and Barbara Moore acquired the western Kansas land.

·         Sometime in the early 20's, Wallace Moore moved to Oregon, selling his interest to Lucy. This store, on the SE corner of Arlington and Main, was a two story building with the Masonic Hall on the second floor.  It burned in the late 20's or early 30's and was rebuilt as a grocery store with the Masons again on the second floor.  I worked at the same store - another story - as did Bud.  Lucy never returned to the business after the fire.

 

1936

·         Lucy Bracken Mitchell died at our home on 15 Oct 1936 after initially recovering from a goiter operation. The death occurred on a Saturday morning while I was practicing baseball two blocks north of the house on the city diamond.  When I walked in the house I knew something was really wrong.  My mother was lying down ! . . . .on the living room sofa.  Dad was trying to comfort her.  I had never before in my eleven years seen her lying down, anywhere, anytime, for any reason. If she was ever sick we never knew it. She was buried Arlington Cemetery, Arlington KS .

 

 

 

 

Federal and State Census Records

 

 

1840 Federal Census, Marion Co, KY  (page 313)

Hugh Bracken 

Under 5:            2 males, 1 female

5 to 10:             1 male, 1 female           

            15 to 20:           1 male

            20 to 30:           2 males

            30 to 40:           1 male (Hugh), 1 female (Sarah)

 

1850 Federal Census, Marion Co, KY  (Household 440)

 

1860 Federal Census, District No. 2?, Haysville PO, Marion Co, KY  (Household 502)

 

1880 Federal Census, Hutchinson, Reno Co, KS  (Household 23)

 

1900/1910 Federal Census - location of Granville not determined.

 

1920 Federal Census, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co, UT  (Household 212--955 17th South St)

 

(*) Granville is living with his oldest daughter Mattie J. (Bracken) Prosser.  Mattie and William D. Prosser were the parents of Elizabeth (Prosser) Jenkins, who was the mother of William Griffin Jenkins.  We've been in correspondence with Jeanne N. Jenkins, his wife.

 

 

 

 

Bracken Information

(relation to our Bracken ancestry, unless noted in bold, is unknown)

 

 

 

The following Bracken listings appears in the Virginia Federal Census and/or Tax Listings:

 

 

 

1.       Robert Brakin married Elizabeth Mappin in March 1797, Bourbon Co KY.

2.       Theophilus Bracken married Mary Kincaid 16 January 1800, Bath Co KY.

3.       Per Washington Co KY Historical Society, no Bracken marriages prior to 1847 (my request).

4.       Washington County KY Settlement Records: Charles Bracken (H-404).  Heirs William C, James G, Matthew Graves.  They brought suit against Administrator.  1833 suit possibly in packet 412: Bracken Vs Bracken.

5.       Other Washington Co KY Bracken suits appear in 1807, 1808, 1824 and 1826.  No first names given in index.

6.       Washington Co KY Deeds: (a) Edward Bracken and wife Mary (C-281), 1807.  Edward Bracken agrees to support Michael Fagan during his existence.  Fagan conveys192 acres on Rolling Fork for their natural lives, (b) Charles Bracken-bill of sale to Peyton Hayes (J-156), 1828, (c) John O and Charles O Bracken – mortgage to Charles March (G-246), 1821.

7.       Washington Co Guardian Bonds: None from county inception to 1834 (Order Book A).

 

 

 

Kentucky Federal Census and/or Tax Listings

Bracken References

 

 

 

1) Granville Brackin, born 10 May 1816 Sumner Co TN (father James and Jane Clark Brackin), married Lucy Ann Colclough (Ancestral File).

2) Granville Benjamin Brackin, born 31 Dec 1853, Sumner, TN (father Granville and Lucy Ann Colclough Brackin), married Ella Brackin and two others (Ancestral File).

 

 

 

BRACKEN SOURCES

 

·         Genealogical and historical research I conducted.

·         Research conducted by Jackie Kimberlin Higdon (JHigdon@Bellsouth.net), 2001.

·         1^st generation information (James Bracken, the Immigrant) from John Kenton Thompson of Texas, 2004.  His sources include: Family Genealogy of Blanche Bracken Phillips, compiled by Edward Richards Bracken written in 1890 & 1891, transcribed and certified by Notary Lolla Peterson on June 6, 1950.  This source document was filed in Washington DC under NSDAR # 441790 for Mrs. Edna Earl Jones Womeldorf  (Basis: John De Jarnette).