Beckham County, OK - Obits: John F. L. Branham, 1923
25 Sep 2007
Submitted by: delma25@pldi.net (Delma Tindell) 

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BRANHAM, JOHN F. L.
(5 Apr 1923, Elk City News-Democrat, Elk City, Beckham Co, OK):
DIED AT THE AGE OF 103.  Church Member 86 Years and Mason For 70 Years.
Mrs. B. D. Branham received an issue of the Atlanta, Mo., Express in which
was a picture of her father in law and also the announcement of his death,
which occurred March 17th, at the age of 103 years.  He was grandfather of
Mrs. Frank Carpenter and Mrs. W. Y. Edwards of Elk City.
As the family are so well known here and his age so remarkable, we are
publishing the notice as we believe it will be of great interest to our
readers:
Mr. Branham Is No More.
John F. L. Branham passed from time to eternity on March 17th, 1923, full
of years and honors.
On Sunday, after the beautiful services at the Baptist church in Atlanta,
Mo., conducted by his pastor, Rev. D. Griffith and the impressive and good
ceremonies by Lodge of Truth No. 268, A. F. & A. M., the body of this
grand old man was laid in Mt. Tabor cemetery by the side of his life
companion, who had preceded him some fifteen years.
John Branham was born in Scott county, Kentucky, October 5, 1819.  At the
age of seventeen he joined the Baptist church at Stamping Ground,
Kentucky, and was baptized by Rev. James D. Black in the Elkhorn river.
In 1844 he was married to Eliza Hockensmith of Frankfort, Kentucky, and
they lived long and happily together until 1908, when his dear and
faithful wife was removed from this to a better life.  This union was
blessed with ten children, six of whom are living.  They are:  James M.
Branham, Lexington, Oklahoma, F. L. Branham, Central City, Colo., Dr.
George H. Branham, Menard, Texas; I. O. Branham, San Antonio, Texas; David
P. and Miss Kate Branham of Atlanta with whom the deceased made his home. 
The children who preceded him in death are:  Mrs. Maggie Wright, Mrs.
Lloyd Frazee; B. D. Branham and John E. Branham.
Mr. Branham joined the Masonic Fraternity at Old Bloomington in 1853 and
has been a true mason for 70 years and a church member for over 86 years.
Uncle John Branham came with his family to Missouri in 1849 and settled in
Bloomington the next year.  He and his wife put their church letters in
the little church south of Callao, in the Perrin neighborhood, called
Union Grove Baptist church.  They were charter members of the Atlanta
Baptist church, being members of this church for nearly fifty years.
Uncle Branham has been in feeble condition for several years.  There is no
doubt but his life has been much prolonged by the splendid care and
attention given him by his daughter Kate and the kind companionship and
devotion by his son Deck and wife and grandson John B. Wright.  But the
kind hand nor the sympathetic heart cannot for always stay the grim
monster, and so this grand old pioneer had to go.  He leaves a host of
friends and admirers who will long point to him as the upright man. 
Despite the blizzard that was raging Sunday a large number gathered at the
church to pay their last respects to this fine old gentleman.  The music
was furnished by a double quartet from the Baptist church choir.
The out of town relatives and friends present at the funeral were:  Mrs.
J. W. Moore and daughter, Miss Helen of Macon; Dr. C. W. Reagans; Earl
Edwards, Macon; James Abbott of Moberly.
The pallbearers were: W. J. Dearing, D. H. Steele, A. C. Godding, C. F.
Depew, Homer Hawkins, Morton Meisner, all members of Lodge of Truth, No.
268, A. F. & A. M.