The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-01-25
REV.J.O.BRANCH DEAD
LAS PROMINENT METHODIST d.
VINE.
FIFTY YEARS IN THE PULPIT.
,,rn WHILE ON VISIT TO CHURCH
AT MOULTRIE.

of AbIest Men in Methodist
cburch, sOuth-Had Three Times
served on Savannah Charges-Held
vonx ImDortnnt Positions at Time
- His Dcath-President of Trus-
zoos Of wesleyan COIIege-Savan-
,.b Methodist Churches Will Hold
ZION Memorial Service-Tribute
,row Rev. A. Nj. Williams.
,,ouItrie. Ga, Jan. 24.-Dr. I. o.
pranch. presiding elder of the Val
5,sta district. died this morning at
-ha home of Rev. J. c. Flanders,
os+or of the Moultrie Methodist
fn,,,rcb from heart failure. He came
- Moultrie to preach and to hold
z,,ortarlv conference. He was attack
"A at the supper table. and after a
night of broken rest passed away at
o'clock. He was attended by Dr..
Williams and several friends.
His remains we're taken to Dixie his
old home this afternoon. Dr.
prorch was one of the strong
est men in the South Georgia
conference, and was greatly beloved.
Among his surviving children are Rev.
. H Branch of Decatur. Ga, Rev.
q. W. Branch of Dixie. Lee Branch
of ouitman and Mrs. Conner of Cor
dele.
Rev. I. o. Branch. D. D.. was one
of the best known ministers In the
South Georgia Conference and had
f,iends throughout the entire state.
Three times he was stationed IN ga
vaunah, once pastor OF Trinity Metho-
dist Church. and twice serving VI
Wesley Monumental. A memorial
service will be held here this week.
Fifty Years "A Minister.
DR.. Branch was 81 years of age He
was born at Abbeville Court House
s c. in 1887. He early prepared lor
the ministry and when only II years
of age was admitted to the Florida
conference. beginning his duties as
uastor in that conference in 1884. he
served with distinction in FLORIDA I'M
til 1859, when he was transferred TO
the South Georgia Conference, where
he was serving as presiding elder OF
the Valdosta district at the time OF MS
death.
Wesley Monumental Church, serving
there three years. when he was trans
ferred to Trinity Church, where he
served a three-year pastorate. From
there he was sent to the Mulberry
Street Church in Macon. He was
then stationed at the leading charges
i'm the conference at different times,
and in 1898 was again returned to Wes-
ley Monumental Church, where he
served one year. For the remainder
of the time he has served the con-
ference as a presiding elder.
Held Important Positions.
His great ability as a leader and his
wisdom in business affairs secured him
many high places at the command of
the conference outside of the real pas
toral work. He was president of the
board of trustees of Wesleyan College
at Macon; president of the board of
trustees of the Orphans Home at Ma
con. president of the legal conference
of the South Georgia Conference, and
president of the board of trustees of
the Wesleyan Christian Advocate. To
all of these duties he gave his best at
tention and ability, and did much for
them in all lines.
Early in his career Dr. Branch mar
ried Miss Caroline Hentz of South Car
DINA, a daughter of the well known
novelist, Caroline Lee HentZ. OF this
union six children were born, four sons
and two daughters: Rev. c. H. Branch
of Decatur, Ga, Rev. o. w. Branch OF
Dixie, Mr.. Lee w. Branch, an attor-
ney of Quitman; a son engaged in
farming at Dixie, the cid home of Dr.
Branch; Mrs. Conner of Cordele, and
one other daughter.
Tribute from DIR. Williams.
Rev. A. NJ. Williams, pastor of Trim.
To- Afe.f G,I oct
night of the death of DR.. Branch. II
speaking of his life and work DR.. Will
Hams paid a high tribute, characteriz-
ing him as one of the most prominent
ministers of the Methodist Church
South.
Il am much grieved to learn of his
death" he said, "as he was a warm
Trend of mine and one whom l have
known since boyhood. He was my
mothers and fathers pastor and was
greatly loved by them. He was well
known to all the members of the South
Georgia Conference and his death will
ne universally regretted by them.
DR.. Branch was one Of the ablest
and strongest men in the South Georgia
conference and has been a member of
me last five general conferences of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
ne was clear, strong thinker, an able
leader, and an earnest, upright, Chris
tlan man. universally loved and adj
Inlfed by all who knew him. His UNI
lirlhg efforts have done much for the
Church, much good to humanity, and
ms work for the church institutions has
been very great and very successful"
Dr. Williams stated that while his
ueath had been sudden that it was not
%together unexpected. DR.. Branch
ndd been falling in health for some
LiIne and 1t was generally known that
ne was suffering from heart trouble. At
me last conference, held in Sanders
me his condition was remarked upon
death
To Hold Memorial Service.
union memorial service will be
neid in Savannah early this week by
me congregations of Wesley Monu-
mental and Trinity Methodist churches.
owing to the lateness of the hour at
winch the dispatch announcing the
ueath of DR.. Branch was received, no
arrangements could be made last