The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-10-09
JOHNP BRANCH, STILL IN HARNESS.
CELEBRATES HIS 8OTH BIRTHDAY
Banker Gives Interesting Ac-
count Of His Long Service
in Virginia.
JUST AS ACTIVE NOW AS EVER
Recalls Facts From Long Ago,
and Tells How Hard
Work Counts.

John p. Branch. one OF the fore
most citizens OF Richmond, will reach
his four score years to-day. Eighty
years Of earnest living, of hard work OF
labor for his own and of planning for
others. have whitened his hair and
wrinkled his face, but time has failed
In it's efforts to rob him OF his keen
and active mind, OF his bodily strength,
of his ambitions for the public veal.
No display will attend his elghtictn
birthday to-day. There was no cere-
mony yesterday. Mr. Branch went to
his office as usual, attended directors
meeting, cleaned up the business on
his desk. az he does every day OF his
life But kilograms of congratulation
poured upon him by the score.
His Celebration.
This morning he will go to Centenary
Church, to worship under the auspices
of the Methodist fold, with which he
has been connected for sixty-six years.
with him to-day But he will take the
day as he takes all days-another OPP
portunity for discharging the daily
tasks OF life and chance to do some
thing for the world In which he lives
and in which he has attained distin-
guished position.
The republic was young when John
p. Branch was born. 1t is still In its
cradle. according to political scientists.
Yet the octogenarian who celebrates his
eightieth birthday to-day has seen
such a growth as 1t is given to few
man to view. His outlook on the past
and the present generations tell the
spirit OF the man more than another
can do.
Born October 9. 1880. Mr.. Branch was
a son OF Thomas Branch, a successful
business man of Petersburg during the
carly part OF his life, and later of Rich
mond.
Formed Church.
John p. Branch. with others. formed
Market Street Methodist Church, in
Petersburg. organized by DR.. John E.
Edwards, who took Mr.. Branch to Eu-
rope in 1856. Mr.. Branch was COM
rnissary and quartermaster IN Colonel
Archer's Forty-fourth Virginia Battal-
ion. which was of General John B. Cor
don's Division toward the close OF the
war.
In 1883 Mr. Brandt succeeded his
father on the board of trustees OF Ran
dolph- Macon College, to whose endow-
ment he had largely contributed. He
donated $4,000 to establish the Mary
Louisa Merritt Branch Students Loan
Fund. the purpose of which is to aid
young men who need help to secure an
education. This was in memory of his
wife. in whose honor he also built and
equipped the Branch Dormitory at Ran
dolph- Macon College, at Ashland.
Offers to Aid.
Since that time Mr.. Branch has
made a proposition to add dollar for
every .wo given by others toward the
endowment of the Randolph Macon
system. This has brought out more
than $1,000 already.
He is known as a liberal contributor
to every public charity and eleemosy-
nary work in Richmond. He is
steward and trustee of Centenary
Church. trustee of the Methods,
Orphanage of Virginia and of the
Methodist Institute for Christian Work
in Richmond.
He succeeded his father, who was
the first president of the Merchants
National Bank of this city. and his ad-
ministration has been extremely sucl
cessful
You ask me-" said Mr.. Branch last
night, ito give you resume OF IN.
life on my eightieth birthday. do not
know where to begin or end.
One of Thirteen.
IT am one of thirteen children, ter
of whom lived to years of maturity
but now there are only three of US
left. L was carried to Sunday schoo
when five years old, and Joined the
Methodist Episcopal Church sixty-sia
years ago.
I'm the same year 1S4D the sepa
! ration OF this church was forced upor
those. members who lived south o:
| Mason and Dixon's line because theil
Northern brethren demanded that NJ
bishop Of the conference should owl
negroes. At that time OF the 81,
| bishops. Bishop Andrew. of Alabama
was the only one who lived South
and he owned only one negro. BishoI
| Andrew very promptly came forward
and said that he would gladly set hin
free
This. however. was not satisfac
! tory to the Northern brethren, be
| cause Bishop Andrews wife was tn
owner of number Of negroes whic
| she had Inherited from her father, an
the Northern brethren demanded tina
J they also should be set free. TIL
Southern members then arose in thei