BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, BELMONT COUNTY, OHIO

"History of the Upper Ohio Valley" Vol. II, 1890.

Presented by Linda Fluharty from hard copies provided
by Mary Staley & Phyllis Slater.


Pages 498-499.

DAVID BRANSON is a son of Smith and Jane (Frame) Branson, the former a 
native of Virginia, and the latter a native of Maryland. They were married 
in Flushing, and always resided there. They had nine children; seven of 
them are now living: Lydia, wife of John Hoge, a resident of the state of 
Iowa; David; Rachel, wife of Israel Sidwell, a citizen of this county; Asa, 
now living in Iowa; Elizabeth, also a resident of Iowa; Mary Jane, wife of 
Nathan Steer, a resident of Belmont county; and Smith, a citizen of 
Flushing. David was brought up on his father's farm, and having received a 
common school education, he worked for his father upon his farm and in the 
grist-mill, situated on Wheeling creek, which was run by his father in 
connection with his farm. This mill was at first operated on rather a small 
scale, but as the needs of the community increased, the business of the 
mill increased also. David was of great service to his father, being able 
to do most that is required about a mill. He was united in marriage to Miss 
Sarah B. Holloway, daughter of Jacob and Martha Holloway. The Holloway 
family was from Virginia; Martha, mother of Mrs. Branson, whose maiden name 
was Bye, was a native of Maryland; her family migrated to Ohio, and it was 
in that state that Mr. Holloway and Mrs. Warfield were married April 29, 
1813. Mrs. Branson was one of six children: Daniel, born March 4, 1814, 
died April, 1873; Eliza, born May 5, 1816, died April 8, 1842; William, 
born December 23, 1818, now a resident of Bridgeport, Ohio, and president 
of the bank of that place; Martha, born December 11, 1820, died in 1825; 
Jacob, born March 6, 1823; Mrs. Branson, born April 10, 1827; and there is 
also a half-brother, John, and two half-sisters, Mary and Maria Warfield. 
Mr. and Mrs. Branson have been made happy by the birth of six children: 
Martha B. Hobson, wife of Dr. J. A. Hobson, born August 24, 18.51; Anna 
Eliza, born January 23, 1854, wife of Henry Hall; Mary Ellen, born August 
14, 1856; Lizzie M., born January 14, 1859, wife of Nathan R. Smith; Emma 
J. Branson, born November 21, 1862; and Myra D., born March 3, 1869. Mr. 
Branson has served his township and county in various honorary positions, 
and is at present the president of the Flushing & Uniontown Pike, being one 
of the original projectors of that road. He is also one of the organizers 
of the bank of Flushing, and at present a director. Mr. and Mrs. Branson 
are members of the Society of Friends, and the entire family have 
birthrights. Mr. Branson has 495 acres of land under the highest 
cultivation, and now, that he has retired from active life, he can live 
comfortably from the fruits of his energetic labors. He is one of the most 
influential and one of the most highly respected of Belmont county's 
citizens.