40. JAMES LAWSON BRANDON
was born on 23 Oct 1829 in JASPER CO., GEORGIA. He died on 8 Nov 1902 in
THE ROCK, GEORGIA. JAMES LAWSON BRANDON, was born on the Brandon Plantation,
near Montecello, Georgia in Jasper Co. on October 23, 1829, the 10th child of
James and Annie Horsley Brandon.
After his schooling days he farmed with his father until he was married to Amelia
Cornelia Brown in October 25, 1855, shortly afterward James Lawson acquired his
own acreage in Upson Co. Georgia.
This property is believed to be part of the grant deeded to his father-in-law
Valentine Horsley
by means of The Cherokee Lottery of 1838. (Land acquired by Treaty with the Cherokee
Indian Tribe before they were moved to Indian Territory, now Oklahoma.)
James Lawson and Amelia Brandon had started their family. Sarah Frances b. 1856,
and Minnie Erdell b. 1860, when the Civil War broke out, at which time James
Lawson volunteered for The Confederate cause.
********************************************
Records from the " Department of Confederate Pensions and Records "
indicate--------
JAMES LAWSON BRANDON
Private, May 7, 1862
Member of Gibson's Battery
Georgia Light Artillery
Spaulding County, Georgia
also called Griffin & Scrogins Battery
James Lawson Brandon was captured by the Union forces during the "Battle
of Missionary
Ridge" near Chattanooga, Tennessee on November 23, 1863. Listed among several
hundred Georgia, CSA soldiers that were sent to Rock Island Prison Compound
in Illinois.
After 15 months of the worst conditions from lack of food and severe winter cold,
he was
Transferred from Rock Island, Illinois Prison for exchange on February 25, 1865.
after the close of the War.
Received at Baulware's Wharf, James River, Virginia on March 5, 1865.
Note * Family tradition states that while in prison camp, conditions were very
poor and many died of cold, malnourishment and exposure; James Lawson said that
to avoid freezing he and his buddys took turns pushing each other in a wheelbarrow.
After being exchanged in Virginia , he walked home to Georgia, stopping off
briefly in South Carolina to visit and rest up with cousins there.
The " Lamar County Georgia History" page 91, lists James Lawson Brandon
as a Mason.
James Lawson Brandon, died November 8, 1902, and is buried in the Old Brandon
Family
Plot on his Plantation in Upson Co. Ga., along with his wife Amelia, who preceded
him April 14, 1899. Buried there along with his mother Annie Horsley Brandon
is his Mother-in law, Mary E. Henderson Brown.
James Walter Brandon, the only son had already moved to to Indian Territory (later
Oklahoma) in 1898, as a result the Old Plantation fell into the hands of James
Lawson's
daughter Mary Annie and son-in-law John J. Moore.
The James Lawson Brandon Plantation has now been partially divided up in smaller
parcels.
The owner of the old home-site (1985) was a family named "Berry".
The old home is not standing but another is built on the same foundation.
The directions to the place are: -------------------.
About 2 miles north of the community of The Rock, Georgia on the Barnesville
hi way # 36
is a crossroad station called Topeka Junction, turn East on Fambro Rd.go approximately
1/2 mile to Rest Haven Rd. Turn right, go 1/4 mile then turn left on Bailey
Mill Rd. Go approximately 1/2 mile to fork in road , leave Bailey Mill Rd. by
taking left fork, called Dawson Rd. go 1/4 mile more . The old cemetery is on
the left about 50 yards off the road
near a house, it has a fence around it with tall trees shading the graves, the
stone markers are all flat and easily read. The old home-site is about 50 yards
further down the road passed the cemetery plot. The covered well was still standing
in the front yard.
He was married to AMELIA CAMILLA BROWN (daughter of ROBERT
BROWN JR. and MARY E. HENDERSON) on 25 Oct 1855 in GEORGIA.
AMELIA CAMILLA BROWN was born on 14 Sep 1840 in ELBERT CO, GEORGIA.
She died on 19 Apr 1899 in UPSON CO. GEORGIA. JAMES LAWSON BRANDON and AMELIA
CAMILLA BROWN had the following children:
43 i.
SARAH FRANCES BRANDON was born on 8 Oct 1856 in THE ROCK, GEORGIA.
44 ii.
MINNIE ERDELL BRANDON was born about 1860 in THE ROCK, GEORGIA. She died
in 1901 in GEORGIA.
45 iii.
ANNIE MARIE BRANDON was born on 11 Apr 1866 in THE ROCK, GEORGIA. She
died about 1940 in GEORGIA.
+46 iv.
JAMES WALTER BRANDON.
47 v.
LUCY HORSLEY BRANDON was born on 29 Mar 1872 in THE ROCK, GEORGIA. She
died in GEORGIA.
48 vi.
GEORGE LAWSON BRANDON died in infancy.
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