Husband Hon. William Patton Braham 1 2 3
Born: 6 Jan 1824 - Hickory Twp, Mercer Co, PA 4
Christened:
Died: 27 Aug 1907 2
Buried:
Father: Samuel Braham (1789-1874) 1 2 3
Mother: Mary Ann Patton ( - ) 1 3
Marriage: 1845 4
• Residence: View of the residence of W. P. Braham from The History of Butler County, PA, 1883; pg. 396x: Butler Co, PA.
Wife Nancy Rebecca Snyder 2 3 5
Born: 29 Jul 1825 6
Christened:
Died: Dec 1904 2
Buried:
Father: Philip Snyder (Abt 1774-1857) 5
Mother: Deborah Fannehill ( - ) 5
Children
1 M Philip Melancthon Braham 6
Born: 1846 6
Christened:
Died: 1855 6
Buried:
Spouse: Did Not Marry
2 F Mary Anne Braham 6
Born: 1847 6
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: W. H. Orr ( - ) 6
Marr: 1871 6
3 F Deborah Jane Braham 6 7
Born: 1849 6
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: John Orr (1848- ) 6 8
Marr: 17 May 1870 or 1871 6 7
4 M Samuel Luther Braham 2 6 9
Born: 26 May 1851 - Butler Co, PA 2 6
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Martha Louisa Cochran (1851- ) 9
Marr: 12 Mar 1872 6 9
5 F Sarah Jemima Braham 6 10
Born: 1853 6
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Dr. David J. Washabaugh, M.D. (1845-1917) 6 10 11
Marr: 7 Sep 1875 - Harrisville, Mercer Twp, Butler Co, PA 6 10
6 F Hanna Isabelle Braham 6
Born: 1855 6
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: A. M. Davis, M.D. ( - ) 6
Marr: 1875 6
7 F Nancy Rebecca Braham 6 12
Born: 1858 6
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: William Edgar Brown (1855- ) 6 12
Marr: 31 May 1877 12
8 F Margaret Angenetta Braham 6
Born: 1860 6
Christened:
Died: 1863 6
Buried:
Spouse: Did Not Marry
9 M William Patton Braham 6
Born: 1863 6
Christened:
Died: 1865 6
Buried:
Spouse: Did Not Marry
10 M Charles Sumner Braham 6
Born: 1866 6
Christened:
Died: 1866 6
Buried:
Spouse: Did Not Marry
11 F Ida May Braham 2 6
Born: 1867 6
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: John R. Black ( - ) 2 13 14
Marr: 1897 - Harrisville, Mercer Twp, Butler Co, PA 15
General Notes: Husband - Hon. William Patton Braham
He came to Butler County, Pennsylvania, with his parents in 1834. His father followed farming, and William remained at home, assisting him in his work and obtaining an education, until his marriage in 1845, and the following year moved to Connoquenessing Township. He began life under most adverse conditions and circumstances, which might well have discouraged a less resolute man. When he went to Connoquenessing Township, his worldly possessions consisted of a total of one horse, one cow, six sheep and 52 cents. He moved his wife and child into a log house on the farm of Israel Gibson and began farming on shares. His first year's crops were a failure. By dint of much perseverance and hard labor, he had succeeded in sowing thirty acres of wheat; and on account of the ravages of the fly, the entire field did not yield a single bushel. In the succeeding winter, he engaged in threshing with a flail, for every tenth bushel; also in day labor, for which he received 31 cents per day. In the spring of 1847, he moved to a log cabin on the farm of Alexander Graham, where he remained two years. During the three years which he spent in Connoquenessing Township, notwithstanding various disadvantages, he managed to save about $200. This sum he had earned principally by making rails at 40 cents per hundred, by clearing and other kinds of day labor, at from 30 to 50 cents per day. In the spring of 1849, he invested his small capital in land, purchasing the first farm he ever owned from Ebenezer Beatty, in Mercer Township. Removing to the farm the same spring, he engaged in farming and dealing in cattle. He continued in this business until 1872, driving cattle to New York state in the spring and to eastern Pennsylvania in the fall of each year. During the Civil War, he dealt quite extensively in wool and horses, and contributed largely of his means to suppressing the rebellion. Finding the stock business dull, in 1872 he closed it up and began dealing in oil and coal lands, which he continued for several years. His real estate eventually consisted of 1,000 acres of land. In 1880, he was elected a Representative to the State Legislature and served during the sessions of 1881-82. Independence of character for which he was noted was strikingly evinced in the election of United States Senator in 1881. While the Senator from his district and his colleague in the House went into caucus with the majority, he being of opinion that, under the then existing condition of things, it was not for the best interests of the Republican party or welfare of the state, and that he might more effectually carry out the will of his constituents in electing the best man for the office, he, with fifty-five others, Senators and members, declined to go into caucus on the election of a candidate for United States Senator. This action was heartily endorsed by a large majority of his constituents, and gained him many warm friends. In politics, he was a strong Republican, and was identified with the party from its origin. A rigid abolitionist, his first vote for President was cast for Martin Van Buren. In 1852, he voted for Hale, and in 1856, for John C. Fremont. He was brought up in the Reformed Presbyterian Church and connected himself with that organization in 1845, under the pastorate of Rev. Josiah Hutchman. He continued a member of that church until 1870, when he united with the Presbyterian Church of Harrisville, of which he was soon afterward elected an Elder. He contributed largely toward the support of the Gospel, and all other branches of church work. [HBC 1883, 402]