Abraham and Elizabeth Bragnnier, the parents of our subject. Were natives of Franklin County, Penn. The husband was of French extraction, and the wife of German lineage. In 1836, the family moved to this county, landing in Delphi in April. Mr. Bragnnier at once purchased the farm east of this city yet owned by J. J. Bragnnier. On this farm, in an old house yet standing, John was born, July 3, 1838. He received such an education as the common schools of his day afforded, and worked with his father on the farm. January 1, 1859, his father died, and his mother was called to her long home, April 16, 1867. John remained on the farm until the civil war broke out, when he promptly enlisted, September 18, 1861, in Company A, Forty-first Regiment Indiana Volunteers (Second Cavalry). The regiment as soon as properly equipped, was ordered into service in Kentucky, where it did excellent and constant work in the varied duties devolved upon the cavalry ram of the service. Its first engagement was on the bloody field of Shiloh, April 6 and 7, 1862, and it was present at the evacuation of Corinth. From the latter place the regiment was ordered back to Reynolds Station, whence it served guarding wagon trains through to Athens, Ala. Afterward the regiment started in pursuit of the rebel Gen. John Morgan. The command found him at Gallatin, Tenn., and as Mr. Bragnnier says got soundly thrashed. Thence the regiment was ordered in front of Murfreesboro, where the armies on both sides were concentrating preparatory to one of the decisive and most disastrous battles of the war. Mr. Bragnnier was not permitted to participate in the final struggle at Stone River by reason of a serious mistake; which sent him to the hospital. On the night of September 8, 1862, his company was ordered out on a reconnoitering expedition. When returning about midnight the company was carelessly fired into by the Union pickets, and he received a rifle shot wound in the wrist of his right arm. He was taken to Hospital No. 8, at Nashville, Tenn., where he remained for five months, and during this period of suffering on several occasions his tenure on life was exceedingly frail. By reason of his wound, which left his arm comparatively useless, he was honorably discharged from the service February 5, 1863, when he returned home. In 1864, he engaged in the hat business in this city, but pursued it about a year only when he sold out and engaged in the dry goods business with M. Simpson, under the firm name of Simpson & Bragnnier. This line of business he pursued less than a year, when disposed of his interest and returned to the farm. He continued farming until July, 1881, when he returned to Delphi and engaged in the undertaking business, forming a partnership with Clayton E. Cox. This copartnership is still existing.

Mr. Bragnnier has been an active member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows since February 27, 1868, when he united with Carroll Lodge No. 174. He was elected Noble Grand October 7, 1869, and March 31, 1870, was elected Representative to the Grand Lodge. He united with Delphi Lodge No. 28, January 27, 1873, by card, and represented that lodge in the Grand Lodge in the May sessions of 1878 and 1880. Joined Carroll Encampment in 1868, and was a charter member of Adina Lodge, No. 79, D of R. He has repeatedly represented his Encampment in the State Grand Body. He was married, April 18, 1865, to Sarah A. Halsey. The family ties were broken by her death November 9, 1879. Mr. Bragnnier is regarded as one of our best citizens.

County Coordinator: Suzy Sprague suzyq.wa@worldnet.att.net