The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-10-09
'J0HhP. BQllCh02.
.HARSOLOIO-Oly
Writes "Reminiscences OF long
and Successful Life ior The
1imes-Dispatch.
SAVED PART OF EARNINGS
Made Thrift Rue I'll Life Would
Change Name - His
Church.
SAVED PART OF EARNINGS

citizen Of Richmond and one OF the,
wealthiest men in the South. lis eighty
two years old to-day. HE ~ IN good
health. strong pin sicai!y well as
mentally. AS usual. he will spend the
day at his Office, attending to has mui-
Hilarious business interests, ana re-
cefving the congratulations Of his
friends. lie is busy every day.
For The Times D,spatch Mr.. Branch
writes some interesting "reminiscences.
1t has been the privilege OF this paper
to secure some OF his recoilections each
year. On this occasion he touches
briefly on several points. including his
religious training. mis- political expert
ences. his war service. and the finan-
cial rule OF his lie. This Is that "a
penny saved Is a penny earned"
Mr.. Branch, one OF the few survivors
OF the conference held in Petersburg.
in May, 1876. when the sosr;lcla Metho-
dists formed a separate organization.
now desires to see the name changed
to that of The Methodist Church"
He writes as follows:
Thanks PrsvsAesee.
You ask me for some OF my rcrni-
-niscences. II should attempt to give
you very many Of them they would
MI columns of your paper. but few
may interest your readers.
God has permitted me to live eighty
two Years, and l feel that His good
ness and mercy have followed me all
the Gays Of my life. Next to Gods
goodness I am indebted to my father
and mother for having inculcated In
~. high and holy aims. Up to the
time / was thirty-two years old-the
year Of my marriage-my fathers
house was my home. and at all times
] had the advice and counsel OF my
parents up to the time OF their death.
and they were always my models
They Joined the Methodist Church be-
fore l Was a year old. and l am In
debted to them for the good that 10
IN me- having been blessed and innu-
enced by their example.
was born in Petersburg. the Cock
ado City Of Virginia. In 1880. NY
education was begun In Aetnodist
Sunday school when I was four years
old, ard It was continued In the pub
lie and private schools Of PETERSBURG.
Va obtained the balance OF my
educa ton a. clerk In my fathers
Office, which ] entered over sixty-four
years ago. afterwards becoming nis
mariner in the mercantile and banking
business.
vste fer Several DaJs-
started my political career when
how N registrar OF the votes cast Al
the public elections. The law At taaS
time was, II the election was held ON
a rainy day the polls should be Kept
open for two moro days. and tne
qualification Of q voter was tnae ne
should live in the town. city or county
in which he voted, and should pc =
housekeeper fknown rs "boaier OF =
r.
ties or cities. This enabled some men
~ vote a. many - dvc times the
same DAY in different towns, cities and
eounties. was Q WING up 70 the
time Of the close Of the civil war.
Since then I have been . Demo0at.
hut their politics have not aAwaSs
been TO my liking.
NV father was . delegate to the
Secession Convention. and opposes se-
cession By every means possible mp 20
the time that President Lincoln issued
a proclamation on Sunday. the 18th OF
April. 1851, calling on the various
States to furnish troops 70 whip eousn
Carolina into submission The Southefu
troops on the 18th day OF April 1881:
fred on Fort Sumter. The Federai
troops commanding the fort surrendef-
ed the next day. When Mr.. Lincoln
called on the various States North and
south to whip South Carolina. then my
father said II he must night he wouid
tight on the side Of South caroiins. and
on the 18th day Of Apre. 1851, voteo
for accession. Many members OF the
secession Convention said that the
Yankees would not fight ana that the
war would not last sixty days. Cen
eral Toomos Of Georgia. said he would
drink all the blood that was shed IN
tho war. NY father said that the
Yankees would fight. and that the war
would be = long and biaer one. and
much Of the fighting would be done on
Virginia soil
War Re0an1Oee0ces.
NY father had Ia all hve sons ana
,bree .ous-in-law. all OF whom were
in the Confederate service l was IN
General Lees army the latter par on
IT, w.r and was captured when he
surrendered at Appomattox Court
house. virginia. and stin have my
parole that was given to me oy ofoer
v