46. JAMES WALTER BRANDON
(4) was born on 1 Mar 1869 in UPSON
CO. GEORGIA. He died on 23 Apr 1919 in MINERAL WELLS, TX.. He was buried in
CHECOTAH, OKLAHOMA. JAMES WALTER BRANDON, 4th child and only son of James
Lawson and Amelia Brandon, was born on March 1, 1869 in Upson Co. Georgia. Commonly
known by family and friends as "Walter". Being born only 4 years after
the close of the Civil War, the "Reconstruction Years" was a hardship
factor on all Georgia farm families in those days,
and no doubt played a part in his determined spirit as was related by the members
of his immediate family.
By description he was about 5 ft. 10 in. tall, muscular with dark hair and brown
eyes, weighing about 185 lbs.
He met and married Annie Mozell McLean of Barnesville, Georgia on April 23,
1890, (recorded in Zebulon Co. Ga.)
She described him as "very handsome" and a prize catch of the community.
In 1898, Walter decided to move to Indian Territory, for whatever reason. His
oldest son Charles related that it was because one of his "old girl friends"
and her husband had moved there , was perhaps the biggest reason. Or maybe it
was the pioneering spirit that he inherited from his Grandfather James Brandon,
who chose to pick up and move his young family from South Carolina to Georgia
in 1816.
Walter went ahead, and when he felt he had found the ideal place, made arrangements
for wife Annie and children Charles and Nellie to join him there. Grandma Annie
told of how they packed their trunks, said their "good byes" and boarded
the train to start their westward journey to a country she knew very little about.
Starting from Atlanta to Birmingham Ala. up to
Memphis , Tennessee to Little Rock and on to Fort Smith, Arkansas with hundreds
of stops in between. Because of scheduling delays and other circumstances, in
Fort Smith she chose to use her ticket on a freight train (in the caboose with
the crew) in hopes of getting
on to Muskogee sooner, which turned out to be added misery to a very tiresome
trip.
Walter and Annie found life in the frontier country of Indian Territory somewhat
different from the culture that they grew up in the "Old South".
Oklahoma Statehood was not to come until some 9 years later (November 16, 1907)
Walter Brandon was a farmer as was all of his ancestors in America before him,
and immediately set about establishing himself a good farmer.
Growing mainly cotton and corn on land rented from the McIntosh Family, an Indian
family who descended from Scotchman William McIntosh. Until at such time he was
able to purchase his own farm.
Note*------.
William McIntosh, a Scottish Highlander, who came over with Col. James Oglethorpe
became a trapper and fur trader among the Creek Indians of Georgia, later marrying
the Indian Chief's daughter. The son of this couple in time became the Chief
of the Creek Nation
and was instrumental in negotiating the peace treaty with the U.S. Government
for the resettling of the Creek Tribe to the land across the Mississippi, to
be known as Indian Territory. For his part in this, he was considered a traitor
by some in his tribe and was ultimately killed by his own people. The McIntosh
family continued to provide chiefs for the tribe and as a result were instrumental
in acquiring large holding in what was designated as the Creek Nation in Oklahoma.
----------.
Besides growing cotton and corn, Walter built a grist mill to grind corn and
wheat for himself and custom grind for the neighborhood with a small steam engine
that he bought for the project.
An interesting side light concerning the mill was related by Tim Cook an old
black man that had worked for Grandpa Brandon for years, who later moved to Queen
Creek, Ariz. and helped with chores around the farm until his passing in about
1952.
He said that after Grandpa had finished the mill and had things working well,
some "Drunk"
came riding up on his horse while Grandpa was busy milling corn. decided to just
ride his horse through the Mill, in the front and out the back. Grandpa ordered
him off the property and not to come back to which the "drunk" responded
by riding back through again.
As he came riding through the second time , Grandpa jumped on the horse behind
him , and using a pair of "Brass Knucks" let him have it full force
behind the ear and knocked the "drunk" off his horse , and drug him
outside to "come to" some time later. Old Tim's description of Grandpa
was that he was a honest man that treated everyone fairly, strict in his dealings
but wouldn't take "guff" from anyone.
Another incident that occurred in Grandpa's life shortly after Mom and Dad had
gotten married. It seems that a pistol that he was carrying in the buggy seat
fell to the floor of the buggy and accidently discharged hitting him in the
wrist, which caused severe bleeding before getting him to a Doctor. When asked
why he carried a pistol with him when he left home; Dad explained that in earlier
days there in Indian Territory that Grandpa had some harness stolen from his
barn. He notified the Marshall to come and investigate the matter,
on arrival it was determined which way the thieves had left by their tracks in
the mud.
Where upon Grandpa was deputized and together they set out tracking the culprits.
After some time they came across where the harness and other items were hidden
away. It was decided that they would stake out the spot and wait for their return,
which shortly occurred.
The two thieves were ordered to halt and lift their hands, the thieves went for
their guns, the Marshall and Grandpa returned the fire before the men made their
"get away". It was rumored that one of the men ultimately died of
his wounds and the other had sent word that the Marshall and Grandpa were marked
men and would soon "get theirs". After that Grandpa felt that the
safest thing was for him always be prepared. The threat proved only a threat
as nothing ever occurred afterward.
Grandpa Brandon was a strong community leader, a member of the Masonic Lodge
and took part in political affairs, often going on speaking trips, campaigning
on behalf of his friends who were running for public office. Was himself elected
and served several years as
McIntosh County Commissioner.
Grandpa, after enjoying good health all of his life, began experiencing weakness
and shortness of breath as he tried to keep up with his work in the fields. As
his condition worsened he decided he would go to Mineral Wells, Texas and take
hot baths which had been recommended to him. He took the train and after a few
days there, he had thought he was feeling some better when on the morning of
April 4, 1919 as he was returning to his hotel room he suffered a fatal heart
attack at age 50. His body was shipped home and he was laid to rest in the Checotah
Cemetery in Checotah, Oklahoma.
Charles M. Brandon, his oldest son, was in the Army serving in France in WW I
at the time and was unable to come home until after the War was over, even though
he had applied for a "hardship" release, in order to care for his widowed
mother and her younger children as well as manage the farm for her..
Grandma Annie remarried a few years later to J.W. Hughes, a store merchant
there in Checotah, he too preceded her in death and she died May 31, 1956 at
the age of 83, in Tallahassee, Florida, as she was then living with her daughter,Nell
Middlebrooks.
She was also active in her church work (Baptist) and was a long time member
of the Eastern Star, enjoying traveling and meeting people. She is buried along
side of Grandpa Walter
Brandon there in Checotah. Oklahoma.
He was married to ANNIE MOZELL McLEAN (daughter of JOHN PERRY
McLEAN and CORNELIA CAUTHEN (DOZIER)) on 23 Apr 1890 in BARNESVILLE,
GEORGIA. ANNIE MOZELL McLEAN was born on 27 Jul 1873
in MILNER, GEORGIA. She died on 31 May 1956 in TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA. JAMES
WALTER BRANDON and ANNIE MOZELL McLEAN had the following children:
+49 i.
CHARLES MARCELLUS BRANDON.
+50 ii.
NELL CORNELIA BRANDON.
51 iii.
MAYBELLE BRANDON was born on 12 May 1897 in THE ROCK, GEORGIA. She died
on 21 Jun 1899 in BRUSH HILL, McINTOSH CO., OKLA..
+52 iv.
FRANK SANDERS BRANDON.
53 v.
JAMES LAWSON BRANDON was born on 10 Jul 1907 in BRUSH HILL, McINTOSH CO.,
OKLA.. He died on 10 Jul 1907 in BRUSH HILL, McINTOSH CO., OKLA..
+54 vi.
ROBERT LEE BRANDON.
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