Bio: Benjamin G. Brantly, Bienville Parish La Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana The Southern Publishing Company, Chicago & Nashville, 1890 Submitted by: Gaytha Thompson ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ ************************************************ BENJAMIN G. BRANTLY Farmer & Cotton Planter Arcadia, La Mr. Brantly is a successful planter of Bienville Parish, and it is, perhaps, not to be wondered at that he should devote himself to agricultural pursuits, for, in looking back over the career of his ancestors, we find that the majority of them were honest tillers of the soil. Mr. Brantly is the owner of 240 acres of land situated four and a half miles from Arcadia, and everything about the place indicates to the beholder that a firm hand is at the helm. Mr. Brantly is a native of Georgia, born January 7, 1839, and his parents, Larkin and Malinda (Miller) Brantly, were natives also of that State, the former born about 1806, and the latter in 1810. The father can remember the War of 1812, and was called on to defend his home against the Indians. The mother died when about fifty -eight years of age. Of the twelve children born to their union eight are now living, and are named in order of birth, as follows: Martha J. resides in Webster Parish, La., and is the Wife of C. Turner, a farmer), Rebecca (resides in Collin County, Tex., and is the wife of William Torner, a planter), Cynthia E (resides in Webster Parish, La., and was the widow of Mr. M. Miller, deceased, who was a planter by occupation), Frances (resides in Collin County, Tex and is the wife of a planter by the name of Miller) Benjamin G., Mary (resides also in Collin County Tex., and is the wife of Josiah Miller, who is a planter and county official), W. D. (married and engaged in farming in C]aiborne Parish, La.) Joseph H. (who resides in Fayette County, Tex, is married, and is a farmer, carpenter and joiner by pursuit). Those deceased are: Philip (who died - A the age of twentv-four), Levenia (died at the age forty-two years), Amanda (died at the age eight years) and Ophelia (whose death occurred when about four years of age). In addition to a common school education, Benjamin G. Brantly took a ten months' course in Minden Academy and this has fitted him for the practical life he has since led, When twenty years of age he began for himself as a tiller of the soil, and worked for his or two years, at the end of which time he enlisted a Wimberly's cavalry, which acted as a provost guard and Courier of the general's escort. They were sent to Grand Junction, remained there wo weeks, and then were ordered to Corinth where they participated in both battles. After being in Southern Mississippi for some time, they were engaged in the battle of Courtland, raid of West Tennessee, and in a great deal of fighting along the route. Mr.. Brantly was present and saw his command kill Col. Hogg, of the Union army. Mr. Brantly was at Atlanta and in the general siege. He acted as courier to Gens. Crosby, Jackson, Johnson, Hood and Walthal1, and it was a very dangerous position to fill. During his entire army service Mr. Brantly was never wounded or captured, but the terrible privations he underwent for the bare necessities of life would fill a volume. Mr. Brantly was always on hand for work, and the only time he missed was when he was sick for eight months in Mississippi. His company was sent from Atlanta, Ga., to Vicksburg, Miss., to intercept the Union pickets, and many hairbreath escapes can Mr. Brantly enumerate, but he was never wounded. Gen Hood then took all cavalry troops and endeavored to go to Nashville, Tenn., and Mr. Brantly was in the deadly engagement at Franklin, where he found it almost impossible to prevent his horse from treading on the dead and wounded as he rode over the field. His company returned to Mississippi, and while there heard of the surrender of Gen. Lee. As soon as he received his parole, he, with the rest of the soldier boys, came home, and found what be had accumulated in the two years before the war was all gone. He then had to start at the beginning again. In 1861 Mr. Brantly was married to Miss Burnet, a native of Louisiana, and to this union was born one child Mattie, whose birth occurred in March; 1862. She is now residing in Bienville Parish, and is the wife of E. P. Youngblood. Mr. Brantly lost his wife March 29, 1862, and January 9, 1867, he was married to Miss Tallula Adelia Buys, a native of Georgia, born September 28,1844. Mrs. Brantly received a fine education in Mount Lebanon University, and is a lady known far and near fur her benevolent and humane spirit. Mr. Brantly's second marriage resulted in the birth of five children~three daughters and two sons: Alice (resides in Bienville Parish, and is the wife of S. W. Anders, who is a native of Louisiana, and a cotton planter by pursuit), Joseph B. (resides in Fayette County, Tex., and is a carpenter and joiner by trade, although in connection he also carries on farming), Philip (eighteen years of age, is attending Arcadia College), Maggie Myrtle (aged thirteen), and Isora Kate (aged eleven years). Mrs. Brantly's father, James Buys, was a native of Alabama, and a physician and surgeon, also a Baptist minister; he died in 1867. The mother, whose maiden name was Rachel MeEver, was a native of Georgia. She is also deceased, having passed away in 1886. Mr. Brantly and wife and family are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and are earnest workers in the Sunday-school.