The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-09-24
f. rrown Resident or KlCn-
...oi,u Vas Almost Four
Score Years Old.
SERVED IN THE CIVIL WAR.
HELD NUMEROUS POSITIONS, ONE
OF THEM BEING AUDITOR OF
WAYNE COUNTY, WAS HIGH
DEGREE MASON.

+. Thaddeus w. o. Braffett, ex-audi-
tor. and one OF the best known men
in Wayne county, died Monday night
at seven o'clock at his home on South
Thirteenth street at the age of rs
years, five months snd eleven days.
He was always connected prominent
ly with the Masonic fraternity and
was the only surviving charter mem
ber of the Richmond Commandry,
legion of friends, Mr.. Braffett is sur
vived by a wife, Elizabeth J. Braffett,
three daughters, Mrs. A. l.. Reed and
Mrs. Oliver A. Leftwich of this city
and Mrs. Ida Shade of Newport, KY.
Frank Braffett of this city is the only
surviving son. Mrs. j. II. Wasson Of
Columbus, o., is sister to the deceas-
ed.
The funeral will be at the First Pres
byterian church Thursday afternoon
at 2:30 o'clock. The casket will not
be opened at the church but will be
open at the house Wednesday after
noon and evening. Burial will be in
Earlham cemetery.
Sketch of His Life.
Capt. Braffett, as he was Familiarity
known among his friends was born in
Bradford county, Pa, April II, 1929.
of parentage of French and English
descent. In 1881 his parents removed
to Ohio, settling near old Fort Black,
built as such by General William
Henry Harrison, near New Madison.
o.. subsequently moving to Braffetts-
vile in the same county and in 1889
moved to New Paris.
Mr. Braffett received commercial
school education and was a merchant
with his father until 1855. For the
next three years he was connected
with mining interests in California
returning in 1860. While engaged in
the merchandise business at Geneseo.
ILL.,, the first gun of the rebellion was
fired on Fort Sumpter and he at once
offered his services to the government
and enlisted as a private soldier in
Company B, Ninth Illinois Cavalry.
He was rapidly promoted to Sergeant
anu SdpIdlu VI aAlcI
several preliminary encampments he
first saw bloodshed in the battle with
the guerilla bands of Colonel Pickett
the rebel. In the subsequent engage
ments, the command of General Cur
tis, with which Capt. Braffett was con-
nected, was badly cut to pieces. The
march was directed to Helena, on the !
river, on arriving at this |
point the command went into camp
on low grounds and disease easily |
took hold of the men and here one |
third of those soldiers under Capt |
Braffetts command, who had survived |
the onslaughts of the guerilla bands, |
died from disease. Captain Braffett |
contracted malaria and laid at Helena /
two months almost dead, but rallied |
sufficiently to return to his home at |
New Paris. After a short furlough he I
again returned to his regiment, but /
he old disease again took hold of |
him prostrating him more than it had |
he first time. On account OF this
disability he reluctantly rendered his
He was discharged in January 1862,
Held Public Office.
In 1865 Capt. Braffett was elected
assistant clerk of the Indiana House of
representatives, also assistant clerk
If the special session of that body the
'ame year, and journal clerk of the
indiana state Senate in 1869 Subse-
Iuently he became travelling agent for
he wholesale grocery house of Will.
lam Glenns and Sons, Cincinnati, O.,
whom he represented for several years
nd afterward connected himself with
he New York house of Francis H
4eggett & Co. In 1880 he resigned his
eputy clerk of the Wayne Circuit ;
ourt, position which he held three {
ears, having been in the meantime |
lected auditor of Wayne county. Cap ;
ain Braffett was a Mason of high rank Z
aving taken all the degrees given by Z
hat order in the United States, with :
he exception of the thirty-third. He :
Tas also a member of the Independent .
)rder of Odd Fellows He was mar ,
led in 1S49 to Sarah A. E. Ireland of ,
few Paris, who died in 1855, leaving !.
hree children. In January, 1862, Cap 4,
ain Braffett, while in the army, was .
larried to Miss Elizabeth J. Mitchell !.
f Oxford, o. Capt. Braffett was an |,
ctive member of the Presbyterian
hurch.