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 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, detective, former 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, "The Smithfield (VA) Times," Vol. 31, No. 45, Apr. 13, 1949, p.3, col. 1-4 *Cedar Hill list, an extension of the Southampton County Historical Society {SCHS} Cemetery Project: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/nansemond/cemeteries/cedar_a.txt His second wife was beaten & robbed at home, 7 Sep 1939. Articles ("Suffolk News-Herald," Vol. 17, No. 143, Sep. 8&9, 1939, p. 1) posted at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/nansemond/newspapers/19390908nh.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