Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1872-12-19
john Bratton-A Pioneer sketch.
TFrom tbe zsnesvIlle Signal, DecaSthJ

Tor j vocation 10 now dHo enOA WI ~
away from the more stirring duties OF
his profession, and from the men OF a
later to those of an older generation,
and lot down and put on record sketch
es of the lives OF those who battle1
with pioneer hardships, and planted
and nursed our civilization in the VIII
derness.
In the whirl and excitements of the,
intense life we lead, we are apt to forget
our obligations TO the brave men who
wrested from wild nature and savage
men, our fair heritage of fruitful ieidS,-
with their golden haryeSts, pleasant
homes, and the thousand and one bless
|ings of our daily life. In their comfort
able enjoyment we forget that they are
the peaceful fruit of many stormy
planning, the summer harvest. gafter
long winters of pioneer struggle, danger
and deprivation. 30 !. In - i
Among the few early pioneers of this
section, yet living, is the subject Ofthis
sketch, Mr.. John Bratton. He was
born in in Miffiin township, in what Is
now Juniatta county, Pa, March "A,
1888. and with his parents, first crossed
tthe Ohio river at Wheeling, December
4 1898, now about three-quarterS OF a
century ago. The family first moved
| ON to lands on McMahon'S Creek, Bel
mont County, seven miles Southwest
lof where st. Clairsville now stands, ana
icamped near spot called Big Lick,
where buffalo and elk were wont to re-
sort. John and his elder brother Ed
ward, {yet living near Cambridge,
IagefSS years and over a few days after
going into camp at this i4pk, found in
| the vicinity a gigantic elf's head and
i horns. the latter 50 long, that when
/ placed on the ground, inverted, men
Isix feet high could walk under the
skull. ..st--,.-f..,,.s.
In 1903, Mr.. Bratton's father leased a
4 place on the old Wheeling road, (then
called Zane's Trail, seven miles west
of st. Clairsville, on which he remain.
ed two years. In 1905, the father. en-,
tered two quarter sections on the
J lBrushy Fork of Wills Creek, then in
i Muskfngum county, but now in Madi'
lson township, Guernsey county, and on
1.-THE Steuhenville road. Their nearest
lneighbor to eastward was fifteen miles
distant, and the nearest westward, al
d iCambridge, where there. was then but
lone house, that Of John Beatty, who
kept a ferry. .s.Fl =
The family remained on Brushy
Fork seven years, when the father solo
t out. John remaining two years longer
| and continuing to keep the. public
I house of his father, in company witt
his widowed sister, whose husband
Robert Warnock, had been killed ,hy
a the Indians, In 1872 he went Into tht
farmy as Orderly Sergeant of a Compa
Inv, and was engaged against, the Sen
ieca Indians, and is still receiving /
ri pension from the government for hi,
, services. In 1915 he was married to hi
|, ,lcousin, Elizabeth BrattonF After re
siding on Brushy Fork from 1873 t.
1885, when his wife died, and having
4 married his SECOND wife, Ann Smith
: he sold his property. in Guernsey coun
ty. and bought Peter Livengood's NIL
! and farm on Salt Creek, Salem town
1lship, this county, in 1886. zo.f3 .T,.
Il BY the way, as q .digressiop, thi
: Peter I,iyengood was the man who car
!, Tried sixteen bushels of wheat, at once
e Ito-wit: one bag on each shoulder, on
! ION his back, and one on his. breast, i
VI Mr. Bratton's SECOND wife,s ,healtl
z failing, in 1859, he rented his mil, AM
= leaS0u q utVSrIl lH Audltlo lf46, Z. LUZ n
vi this year he lost a son BY his first wifi
another by his second, daughter b.
= the same, and also fisIwife, the daugh
4 ter dying on Saturday, one of the son
lion the following, Sunday and his Wit
n on the following "Wednesday, thu
. breaking up his family, and leaving i
!. his charge an infant child. The caus
= of these terrible, bereaveme ments wa
i scarlet fever and erysipelas. In 1S4
: he moved back to the mil, and, in 184
he was married., for the third time, I
lei the widow Hinman, of Lanesvilie, wh
ofi still survives. By this last !, marrfag
asi one child, daughter, was born, who
ID married and residing in Illinois; ST
ltl children and two wives having 9epar
u ed this life. eaf.f l5-stleet,sfi ....jl.
s. John Bratten, himself, still lives,
OF hale, hearty man, intelligent and
as vigorous mind, and able to narra
1T many "reminiscences of interest, 4
rs voted the first time for Thomas Jeffe
son; has taken the Democratic paper
r-tthis county ever since the first one pu
ofl lished by David Robb, and his Sign
at is paid for well into the. year 1873.