Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-11-16
Mr. THOMAS BRANCH.
DEATH or THIS WEALTHY RETIRED
MERCHANT AID BANKER.
Observations on a Busy Life That Passed
four-score Years-ArrangenentS
for the Funeral, &C.

As well. II not better. known tsln any |
other person In the community Tor many |
years has been a hale old man, portly OF
form, wearing spiked tailed coat. carrying
statT in one hand aud often seen swinging
O rcd bandana in the other. The face was !
bluT. but kindly; the massive head was
covered with abundant white locks, and the |
voice was that OF ore disposed to be authorl' |
tatiye. while IN expression and movement /
he showed that years had little impaired his ,
vigorous mentality or weakened his power |
ful frame. To talk 70 this venerable citizen |
was 90 find him keenly alive to passing |
events; eager IN interest concerning public |
affairs, and devoted 10 the Church 0f which |
be had long been an sctiye and JEALOUS men, |
ber. As herode through the streets in bis open |
carriage or aioOt freqnentcd the business
places where much Of his busy life bad been |
spent, men pointed 10 him as a specimen OF !
The old Virginia gentleman and ~ splendid |
example Of 4 robust old age Oieen brilsque /
IN manner; little tolerant OF contradiction. |
hls best side did not always appear 10 the I
vubiic. but those brought into close and con- /
fdential relations with him learned to know |
that here in Mr.. Thomas Branch was cha |
racter strong and masteriul and heart, |
touched Alright, vivid with good VIII aud
tenderness.
TIE DECEASED.
/ The men not gifted with suavity and those
/ who seek no popularity in the accepted
sense % the word are usually miludged,
/ and It NAV have been that some made ialse
estimate Of Mr.. Branch. He would speak his
mind; he would have his say, aud such out
/ spoken spirits, valuable as they are to ne
world, srOuse antagonisms, but the sober
aitertbouaht, the calm survey VIII always
| sul qlin rM n oS IolpI9A 1o9IIo9 92IoI
/ dne, independent, stalwart Oid VIZ.
/ glnan. In over hail century O,
| business lie; In a very considerable ap
| premiership TO politics, dunug which
/ he came 10 the capitol at Richmond
! AZ the representative OF Petersburg; in an
1 almost endless number Of public enterprises
and in numerous church councils he was
/ everywhere distinguished, everywhere hon-
oIed. go him was given eighiy-siX years
aud a life more than ordinarily free from
sickness and for iitty-fve or sixty years ne
/ wss busy being. planning and. working. IL
/ was his good fortune 10 meet with success
| md 10 be able. before his blood was cnllled
I by disease, 10 be able to retire from business
and In the company OF hls wife, ana sur
rounded by children and grindchdrenenlOy
/ the comforts which be had won for hi' de-
! Ginning days. Sometimes payngat farming,
visiting the White sulphur in the summer,
/ attending the annual conferences OF the
! Methodist Church, entertaining friends at
/ his hosphable home at the northwest corner
/ OF Grace and Sixth streets, and with intelll-
cent eve watching and encouraging the
/ business enterprises OF his children and
! grsndchildren-so his last years were Sc
! renely spent.
SICKNESS.
/ OF late he had had some severe attacks.
/ and for Two weeks he had been decidedly
| unwel. Tuesday there was great change.
! Hcmorrhage OF the stomach set in. Wednes-
/ day the end was seen to be approaching.
/ Dear ones absent were sent for. His dis
! tres-ed wife and children were hesitatng
/ whether to tell him that the ume
ws, at hand 10 speak the last iafe-
/ vols: while they fingered he took the
wo-ds ont OF their mouths. He said
( be knew his time bad come; there was
no niDching; no ialtcring in the face OF
the la,t enemy; coursgeously as became a
man OF his mould. be gave his departing
/ blessings and his last directions, breathing
out 10 his loved ones words Of such tender
noe. "a might have fallen from mothers
/ hp,. and 80 his work done, his battle fought,
/ at peace with the world and in sturdy ana
! unistering trust in the goodness OF GOO, he
cv, ted the eud, which came at BOO 7. u.
yesterday.
THE BRANCH FAMILY.
Long before the Revolution there lived in
tho county Of Chesterfield, six miles from
Manchester, Mr. Benjamin Branch. Ills
son, Colonel Thomas Branch, was born in
/ t7c7. and lived NJ Willow Hill, twenty-five
mies from Ricbmsnd. lie married Mary
/ B. Palteson In l1S7, snd they had thirteen
children. Thomas Branch, the deceased
here mentioned, who was the last survivor oi
this large family, was born on The 23d OF
/ December. 1902. He married sarah Prlde
J Read IN 1928. They also had thirteen chill
drcn. lie married second vile, Anne
/ Adams Wboelwright IN 1851, who survives
! him With three children.
Mr.. Branch leaves nine children, thirty
one grandchildren, and fourteen great
grandchildren. HIS children by the first
! wife who are now living are Mes'rs. John
| =. Branch Of Richmond. Thomas Branch u
/ Augusta. Ga. aud Melville |. Branch. who
lives an Georgia near Augusta; MIS-. r. Il.
| scott. Birs. George A. Cunningham, and
Miss Mone Branch. The surviving of
spring Of the second union are Mr.. Carter
/ ". Branch, Mrs. Barton II. Grundy, and
/ Miss Lena Branch. All Of the children
! were present at Mr.. Branch's death except
| Ms. Cunningham and Messr'. Melville and
Thomas Branch Of Georgia, the latter oi
/ whom arrived few minutes alter bis fathers
| demise.
BUSINESS CAREER.
Mr.. Branch went In business In Peters
! burg about siXty.fye years $40. He estaO'
H.hod lhe hrm9 Of Thomas Branch Il Bro
ther, Thomas Branch a sons, Branch sons
& Co., and Thomas Branch Co.-the latter
| in th- city during the war. all oi MS part
ners being In the army. Ia 1871 he c'ttD-
li.hed the Merchants NltiOual Bank oi thls
citv. OF which be was president. lie with
drew from the partnership in the firm IN
1872, and resigned the presidency Of the
Merchants National Bank IN 1850, and was
succeeded by his son, Mr. John 2. Branch,
who is now president OF the bank, and u
also al the head OF the firm OF Thomas
Branch & co.
Deceased was embarrassed in business IN
1919, but paid up IN full within Few years.
Since that time he has been conservative ~ ms
business, very careful TO keep his affairs well
i'm hand ana under bis control, aud conse-
auenily, although actively engaged IN busi-
ness during the war snd through the p1nleS
oi 1857 and 1873, indeed IN al the business
troubles the country suffered from, he has
I been frce from any tmudIttsaututs iiV
Joined the Methodist Church shortly afer ne
was married, and has since then beea one OF
the most devoted members OF that Church.
His iamiliar figure could be seen at each An
nual Conference.
PUBLIC SERVICES.
The deceased wss a member OF the conyen-
ton OF 1861, having been elected As a Union
man from the city OF Petersburg. tie stood
With Baldwin and Wickbam and the ma
i0rlty OF tue convention In favor OF the
Unlon-esrnest for peace, opposed to any
war-hke step until in the whlri oi events
and rising Of fierce passions Mr.. Lincoln
took those eoerciye steps which compelled
Virginia 10 decide whether sbe would hight
with or against her southern sisters. That
question being forced. Mr. Branchs inborn
Virginian LOYALTY could not hesitate and he
became one OF the signers OF the Ordinsnce Of
secession.
In the convention be spoke quite frequent
", and though he made 10 Dretensons 10
ofatory be had an mpetuosity and force
which commanded not merely attention but
respect as well.
During the eYentiul years OF the wsr hiS
heart was with our people, aud ia the re-
construction period he gave bis ardent help
/ 10 the Conservative cause, and had the great