Nansemond-Isle of Wight-Charles City County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Branch, John J.S., 1949 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/vafiles.htm ************************************************ JOHN J.S. BRANCH John Branch Dies After Long Illness; Once Oldest Officer John J.S. Branch, until several months ago the oldest law enforcement officer still active in the State of Virginia, died this morning at 5 o'clock. He would have been 93 on his next birthday, June 27. Branch had been critically ill for several months and had been near the point of death for severeral weeks. Earlier this year, however, he still reported to the Nansemond County jail for a night of duty. He had been serving as a constable and deputy sheriff on the county force for 51 years. During this time, before the advent of the radio squad car, Branch was famous in many states for his bloodhounds. With these hounds he solved many large cases, Sheriff J. Frank Culpepper stated today. Judge N.T. Gray of the Nansemond County Trial Justice Court recalled that Branch had served with him in the court since 1916. Sheriff Branch was born in Charles City County on June 27, 1856. He received his early schooling in a log cabin school in Isle of Wight County. Having lived through four wars Branch on his 90th birthday said that he could recall the Civil War "as if it were yesterday." In 1946 the Credit Women's Breakfast Club named Branch for the "birthday of the month." A Mason for 66 years when he was 90, he had missed only two sessions in that period of time. He held active membership in Hiram Lodge 140 and honorary membership in Smithfield Lodge 18 and Harmony Lodge 149 in Drivers. He was also a member of Royal Arch Lodge 20 in Suffolk. Survivors are one daughter, Fanny Gilkerson [sic; Gilkeson] of Suffolk, a son, J.T. Branch of Norfolk, three sisters, Mrs. S.W. Edwards and Miss Sadie Branch of Suffolk and Mrs. W.E. Vassar of Fort Prince, Florida, and one brother, William Branch of Fort Prince, Florida. The body was taken to the Hill Funeral Home and will remain there until Thursday at 2:15 o'clock when the funeral procession will leave for the First Baptist Church for services at 2:30 o'clock. Dr. E.D. Poe will conduct the rites. Burial will be in Cedar Hill Cemetery with Masonic rites. ******************************************************************************* JOHN J.S. BRANCH BURIED THURSDAY IN SUFFOLK John J.S. (Hurricane) Branch, for 59 years a peace officer in Nansemond County, was buried Thursday afternoon, April 7th. Last rites were held Thursday at 3 p.m. at the First Baptist Church. Burial with Masonic Rites, took place in Cedar Hill Cemetery in Suffolk. Dr. E.D. Poe, pastor, conducted the services. Mr. Branch compiled a record as peace officer that was hardly equaled in Virginia History, but he was better known for his work as a detective and tracker of criminals with bloodhounds. In 1891, two years after he was appointed high constable for Chuckatuck Magisterial District, he bought two thoroughbred English bloodhounds, which he dubbed John and Tiger. The names became bywords in law enforcement circles of Virginia and neighboring states. Mr. Branch was a Mason, besides belonging for many years to the Odd Fellows, Red Men, Heptasophs and Woodmen of the World. A Mason for 21 years, he attended at least 67 sessions of the Grand Lodge of Virginia, including the 1949 meeting held early in February. He was an active member of Hiram Lodge No. 340, Suffolk and Royal Arch Lodge No. 20, Suffolk. He was an Honorary member of Smithfield Lodge No. 18 and Harmony Lodge No. 149, Driver. He was the son of James Branch, Confederate blockade runner and secret service agent. His mother, the former Mary Shelley died when he as 3 years old. His family moved to Isle of Wight County during his boyhood. In 1880 while he was in his early thirties he came to Nansemond County and began farming. He married Delia Williams in 1881. After the death of his wife he was married again to Ella Mae Kitchen of Windsor, who died 2 years ago. He is survived by two children, Mrs. Fannie B. Gilkeson of Suffolk and J. Taylor Branch of Norfolk; a brother William Branch of Fort Pierce, Fla., three sisters, Mrs. S.W. Edwards and Miss Sadie Branch of Smithfield, and Mrs. W.A. Vassar of Fort Pierce; three grandsons, John A. Gilkeson of Silver Springs, Md.; J.T. Branch, Jr. of Akron, Ohio, and Hugh W. Branch of Fort Worth, Texas and three great grandchildren. Pallbearers were Jesse Taylor, Ross Minton, Philip Edwards, Ryland Edwards, Wallace Edwards, John Henry Powell, J.F. Culpepper, and Joe Bryant. Honorary pallbearers were members of the Business Men's Bible Class of the First Baptist Church. John J.S. "Hurricane" BRANCH, retired detective & constable, b. 27 Jun 1856*, Charles City Co., d. 5 Apr 1949, Suffolk, interred in Cedar Hill Cemetery (Block F, Lot 43*), Suffolk, 7 Apr 1949, "Suffolk (VA) News-Herald," Vol. 26, No. 1, Tues., Apr. 5, 1949, p. 1; "Smithfield (VA) Times," Vol. 31, No. 45, Wed., Apr. 13, 1949, p. 3, col. 1-4 An obit also appeared in the "Portsmouth Star," Apr. 5, 1949. *Cedar Hill list, an extension of the Southampton County Historical Society {SCHS} Cemetery Project: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/nansemond/cemeteries/cedar_a.txt A photo of his monument - added by bmccredy - is posted with Find a Grave Memorial #189490064. The plot is shown overgrown by a large gardenia. D.Cert. 8132 (Suffolk #83) The 1900 Census - Chuckatuck Dist., Nansemond Co. - gives b. Oct 1849. An article ("Suffolk News-Herald," Nov. 12, 1929, p. 8) on his first 40 years of service is posted at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/nansemond/newspapers/19291112nh.txt His second wife's obit ("Suffolk News-Herald," Apr. 14, 1947, p. 3) is posted at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/nansemond/obits/b652e4ob.txt Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Carolyn Keen (VAHistoricHouses@aol.com) & Mrs. Bruce Saunders (bs4403@verizon.net), and re-formatted by File Manager. file at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/nansemond/obits/b652j12o.txt