State

Three Generations In Congress And in addition to serving in tlial distinguished capacity, members off the Branch family in North Carolina were active in many other branches of public service. By R. C. LAWRENCE SO far as my invest igations have extended, the famous Branch family of Halifax enjoys the dis¬ tinction of being the only one where three successive generations have served the state in the halls of Con¬ gress; and to this should also be added the additional record of almost unparalleled office holding. The family was of ancient lineage and were aristocrats of agriculture, owning a barony of land in Halifax and adjoining counties, which they cultivated with the aid of the hun¬ dreds of slaves they owned. They maintained a lavish hospitality, and the Branch manor house and planta¬ tion constituted an almost self-con¬ tained empire. The first John Branch was himself eminent in the public service. По served in the Assembly both before and after the Revolution; and he was also High Sheriff of Halifax, an office in early days of much greater dignity than it now enjoys. Tie was vigilant in running down Tory sympathizers and bringing them before the Provincial Congress, where he prayed that con¬ dign punishment be imposed upon them. An Unparalleled Record The second, and most famous John Branch, has a record for office holding almost unparalleled in our annals, as at some period in his long career he occupied practically every office in the state. He was one of the early graduates of the University, of the class of 1801, and although he read law, he never practiced that profes¬ sion, but engaged actively in the su¬ pervision of his extensive plantations in the short intervals when he was not occupied with the cares of official life. He began his public career as Sena¬ tor from Halifax, in which capacity he served five sessions, becoming Presi¬ dent of that body in IS 10. While serv¬ ing in this capacity, he was elected by the Legislature as Governor of the state, a post he occupied for two years. He retired to the life of a country gentlemen on his Halifax plantation, but his respite from the enres of office was but brief, for in 1823 he was elected to the United States Senate, and was reelected six years later, but resigned his seat to accept appoint¬ ment. as Secretary of the Navy under President Jackson. He was the first cabinet officer from North Carolina, and it is a most singular fact that all five of the cabinet officers from this state have occupied the portfolio of the Navy — John Branch. James C. Dobbin. William A. Graham. George E. Badger and Josephus Daniels. As will he seen later on, another mem¬ ber of the Branch family was tendered an appointment ns Secretary of the Treasury; and President Lincoln tendered a cabinet appointment to Congressman Gilmer, both of these appointments being declined because of the imminence of the Civil War. Branch was not long to peacefully enjoy the high honor of his new rank. Secretary of War Eaton soon married pretty Peggy O’Neill, daughter of a Washington tavern keeper, whereup¬ on social and official Washington went inloan uproar. The President quickly came to the aid of his cabinet officer, but this marriage caused not merely an upheaval in the social life of the capital, but in official circles as well, as several of Jackson’s cabinet, re¬ signed their posts, including our Caro¬ linian John Branch. No sooner had Branch returned to his Carolina home than he was again returned to Washington, this time as a member of Congress, where he served until 1833. He was also an outstanding member of our Constitu¬ tional Convention of 1835, which wrought far-reaching changes in our fundamental law. Under this new Constitution, the election of Governor was taken from the Legislature and placed in the hands of the people. At the first elec¬ tion held under this new arrangement. Branch was the Democratic nominee, but suffered defeat at the bands of bis Whig opponent, Edward B. Dud¬ ley of New Hanover. In 1843, lie was appointed by the President as Governor of the Terri¬ tory of Florida, and many of bis de¬ scendants reside in that state today. This was the last service of a most remarkable public career. The third member of the Branch family to attain to political promi¬ nence was General Lawrence O’Bryan Branch, a nephew of John Branch. He was left an orphan at an early age and was reared under the tuition of his uncle John on the Halifax plantation. Like his uncle, he had a most colorful career, one which cov¬ ered widely different fields. He was a graduate of Princeton, where he took first honors in his class. In his early manhood, he saw considerable mili¬ tary service, adventuring in Florida, where he served upon the staff of General Reid during the war against the Seminole Indians. In the early ’50’s, he became presi¬ dent of the Raleigh and Gaston Rail¬ road and served in this capacity until 1S55, when he became a member of Congress from the Wake District. Пс remained in this capacity until the secession of his state in 18C1. Such prominence had he attained in the po¬ litical life of his day. that upon the resignation of Howell Cobb as Sec¬ retary of the Treasury, Branch was tendered appointment to that office bv President Buchanan. Branch declined the appointment, as he foresaw that Civil War was inevitable. Upon the secession of his state, he was promptly commissioned as Quar¬ termaster and Paymaster General, an office which he accepted with reluc¬ tance, as ho preferred service in the field. He therefore resigned the fol¬ lowing September to become Colonel of the 33rd North Carolina. In IS62 he was commissioned by the President as Brigadier, and his command participated in the defense of Newbern when that city was cap¬ tured by the Federal forces under Burnside. His brigade actively par¬ ticipated in the severe fighting of the Seven Days around Richmond, where ( Continued on page twenty-four ) 12