Hector Saurin Braden was born on 22 November
1830 in Clinton Co., Indiana, the oldest son of Burr and Mary (Jenners) Braden. He was probably named for two of his uncles: Hector Wright Braden (brother of his father, Burr) and James Saurin Jenners (brother of his mother, Mary). On 8 September 1831, Hector was described as
having blue eyes and fair hair. His mother
wrote: "Our little boy grows fast, can crall [sic] over the floor &
said to resemble your family, has blue eyes and light hair." His nickname was “Hec” or “Heck.”
In
a letter dated 6 June 1832 from Ann Jenners to Elizabeth W. Braden, Hector was
described as healthy. Ann said he could
"... talk considerable." In a
letter dated 20 January 1833, Ann wrote to Elizabeth that, Burr "has given
her [Mary] a fine son [Hector] who loves his papa and Grandma [Deborah Young Jenners]
better than anybody else."
In
a letter dated 15 April 1833, Ann Jenners wrote to Elizabeth Braden,
"Little Hector is as smart a child as I ever saw. He loves his Papa better than he does his
mother." On 17 November 1833, Ann wrote
to Elizabeth that "Mary's children grow finely. Hector has had the chills.... Burr is very
well and looks like the other Hoosiers."
On
23 April 1835, Ann Jenners wrote to Elizabeth Braden that "The children
grow quick. Mary has learned Hector
until he can spell in five letters...."
Hector was four years old.
Hector’s
father, Burr, ran a store and post office in Jefferson, Clinton Co., Indiana
and Hector worked there while growing up.
Between 1849 and 1851, Hector studied at Wabash College, Crawfordsville,
Montgomery Co., Indiana.
He
appeared on the census of 1850 in the household of Burr Braden in Jefferson,
Clinton Co., Indiana. The household consisted of the following: Burr, age 47, merchant, $6050 value of real
estate, born VA; Mary, age 41, born VA; Hector, m, age 19, merchant, born IN,
attended school that year; Robert, m, age 16, born IN, attended school that
year; William, m, age 12, born IN, attended school that year; Alba, m, age 10,
born IN, attended school that year; Mary J., f, age 8, born IN, attended school
that year; Addison B., m, age 6, born IN, attended school that year; Fanny M.,
f, age 3, born IN.
So far, I have found no photographs of Hector. However, the family does have a photo taken in Crawfordsville that is identified as "Hector Braden's dog." I am guessing the legs and feet are Hector's.
Hector
attended the mercantile college in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1851. On 30 November 1851 in Cincinnati, Ohio,
Hector wrote a letter to his mother, Mary. The letter follows:
"Cincinnati,
Sunday Nov 30, 1851
Dear
Mother, It's now the seventh day since
I left home, to try my frail bark on the great & ever shifting ocean of
life, & in that time I have experienced various vicitudes. I had a most painful & unpleasant trip
from Kirklin to Indianapolis & indeed I fear that I am affected by it yet,
for my right knee has pained me so much & is so sore that it is with great
pain that I change my position - but I hope it is nothing serious & will be
better in a few days. I am now writing
in the sitting room of my boarding house, where I have taken up my abode for
the present, I pay two dollars and a half for board & a bed to sleep in
& I hear talk of its being raised to 2 3/4.
If it should I shall strike, for it is just as hard a place as I can
stand on several accounts at present rates.
No good boarding can be obtained in the city for less than 4 dollars per
week or more if fire & lights are furnished. I shall however put up with any & everything,
for I can do it, as I am determined to do something or other. I was very pleasantly rec'd by Mr. Neff &
sons & have no doubt that they will treat me right if I do as I should. Mr.
Morrison one of the house will most likely be out your way in some ten days or
two weeks. I have been on very much of a
study to determine what to do in regard to attending Mercantile college. About half say go & the other half say no
& I am between hawk & buzzard.
Mr. Neff says he does not think much of it, but yet thinks I had better
go as it will benefit me a little at least.
Now I don’t feel much like paying $50 for tuition & some $40 for
board if it is only to benefit me a little; tell papa to let me have his advice
as soon as possible. I had determined to
start tomorrow & will yet do so if I can make some arrangement so as to pay
only for the time I go. I miss a light
& fire at night very much at night as I have no place to read or write for
I cannot go down to the store on two or three accounts. 1st the store is closed & next I am
afraid to run around at night as not a night hardly passes that someone is not
knocked down & robbed or beat nearly to death, & as to staying in the
parlor with the other Borders, I do not like it, for there is nothing in the
house to read & their only amusement is playing checkers - or what you
would call worse. But as I said before I
will try & do the best I can. I feel
the need of time piece also very much, as I have to go to my meals at a certain
hour each time in the day - or go without & also have to be at the school
& store at a certain time - as all the clerk's have their stated times to
go & return from meals. I wish you
would enclose & send me twenty five or thirty dollars, which will get me as
good an one as I need - at least it will do for the present. I to day went to the Wesley chapel &
heard the Rev. Dr. Durbin deliver a most able discourse from the first clause
of the 17 teenth chap 1st Corinthians.
He is the most carefull [sic] to cou[can't read word] reasons & most
lucid explainer that I ever heard & yet he is the plainest man you ever
heard. He makes no attempt at display &
yet he displays more real talent & ability than any man who preaches in
this city. The house was densely crowded
from aisles to galleries. Many seats
& chairs were carried in, yet numbers stood up in the aisles &
lobby. After the discourse a collection
was taken up for the Foreign Missionary society. The Dr. lectures on the subject of missions
on next Thursday night. This morning I
walked down to the River before breakfast, with Mr. Morrison - who went after
his sister, who was expected from Louisville & while on the boat who should
come in view but my old friend & school mate Wm Pool. I was very glad to see him, & he was
us. We talked our old times and doings &
among others the name of John McClelland was mentioned. I went to church & after, I went to the
Dennison House to see villain [? not sure of word], who should I see but Wm
& the said John seated in the corner in earnest conversation. Our recognition was mutual &
cordial. It was like an oasis in a
desert. Wm is on his way home & by
him shall send this letter. John remains
in this city. I have written all that I
think worthy of mention. Has Debby gone
to school? How has Mack got? How did the concert go off? Give my love to all the children & feed
Jim & tell Bill & papa to take good care of Kate. Please answer my inquires & grant my
request & believe me your obt & loving son H. S. Braden
P.S. Do not think me dissatisfied for however much
I may dislike things, I am determined to be satisfied. Heck."
On
15 January 1852 in Cincinnati, Ohio, Hector wrote to his father, Burr. The
letter follows: "Cincinnati, Jany 15th, 1852
Dear
Father, Agreeably to my promise to
Mother in my letter written on Sunday - which you have not yet rec'd, I now try
to write to you again to give you the history of my case. Since Sunday there has not been much - if any
change in my case that I can divine - I have sometimes felt better & the
worse. I have not lain in bed all of any
day - for they make me get up so that they can make the bed & clean the
room. I have not yet been able to loose
my cough - & consequently the pain in my breast & sides is still as
severe as ever. I have taken large
quantities of all favorite remedies - but without benefit - for instance, I
took 3/4 an oz Ant wine in two hours, & it only produced slight nausea
& had no effect on my cold. I next
fore noon took 1 oz syrup of Squibb & 1/2 oz of Ant Wine - yet they did no
good. I have made two lots of Mothers
syrup - & in the last one put instead of her form 3/4 oz Ant Wine, 1/2 oz
Paregoric, 1 oz Gum Arabic & 1 oz Liquorice - yet with all this tartar
&c I am satisfied that every time I took it it tightened my cough. I can account for this in no way. Sometimes my cough seems a little loose in
the morning - but getting in a room where there has been no fire for weeks, to
dress with the Thermometer at or below zero - makes it tighter than ever, if
possible. It has been remarked to me by
one or two of the boarders "What a place to be sick" & so I find
it. Last night I requested some hot
water to bathe my feet, thinking it might help me. They said it would be ready, on sending for
it, the fire was out & the water cold & I had to go with out - for
Aaron (who they seem to think is all the assistance I need) would not hear of
warming more. He is very willing
sometimes to do any little thing - but he is so thoughtless & has so many
trumps & schemes of his own that he is as much annoyance as advantage. This cold hurts me more under the present than
it would under some other situations - for I am here paying heavy expenses,
loosing time, will not be ready for examination, my mind unsettled as to my
course after getting through school for since my sickness I have imbibed a
violent dislike to this city & vowed to leave it at the end. All these together are not healing balms for
constant meditation. But enough of this
cant. The fore part of the week was very
cold, so much so that the Steam Boats were stopped for the past two days by the
ice - in consequence of which my letters mailed by you on Monday did not reach
me when due (this morning). The
sleighing was fine from Sat - till yesterday.
I suppose they had some of the same sport at N. Orleans, as there was 11
inches now there on or about the tenth.
It has been moderating here for the past two days & we now have
indications of a thaw. As this is the
Seventh day since I have been confined to the house I can give you no items of
trade or anything else. I have not been
able to read with any comfort either for when I coughed it seemed though I
could not endure it. The most acute
& severe pain I have had has been in my head - & the times that I felt
better was when partially free from this.
You would have hardly knowed me for last week for I have been a most
wretched looking object - unwashed, unshaved, uncombed, no change of linen -
for I did not dare venture to do so in that miserable cold room. This morning I procured some hot water &
bathed my feet lying in bed & drank some hot sage tea & put my head
under a mountain of stinking comforts - (for to my knowledge there is not a
blanket in the house) & there sweat for near an hour - till I was wet all
over. I then had the covering removed
gradually & let it evaporate. My
shirt smelt [can't make out next word] & I looked like I had been through a
bleaching mill. I got up went to a fire
& washed & dressed this afternoon, a sip of water every 4 or 5 minutes
- Mr. Morrison's prescription. He has
been very kind. Now I must stop. Tell mother, who I hope is much better by
this time, to write me when conv't. Bob
to write weekly & send the news paper.
Give my love to all the children & tell them to be good. Take good care of Kate. Write as you find it suitable or conv't &
believe me truly you ob't & loving son
Hector
You
will get this on next Wednesday - the one I wrote Mother day after tomorrow -
Sat. H
The
influenzah [sic] is prevailing here to a great extent. H."
Hector
graduated in 1853 from the mercantile college, Cincinnati, Ohio. After graduation, he moved to Crawfordsville,
Montgomery Co., Indiana. In
Crawfordsville, Hector became a partner in the firm of Lee, Gilkey & Co.
which built a large elevator and did business of 50,000-75,000 bushels of grain
and 15,000 barrels of flour annually between 1853 and 1863.
Hector's
upcoming marriage to Mary Elston was mentioned in a letter dated 9 July 1855
from his brother, Robert, to their sister, Sarah: "I was down to
Crawfordsville a short time since on a visit.
I got there at a [unreadable] and was compelled to return to J[?] that
evening and was sorry that Hec had an engagement as I wished to see him [unreadable]
but he could not stay. "They"
say that his marriage with Mati is a settled thing, and you may expect shortly
to see in the City papers, the announcement: "Married on the --inst, Mr.
H.S. Braden Esq'r, by the Grace of God, and his own good Etc., to Miss Elston,
daughter of Major Elston "[several unreadable words] "The happy pair
&c, &c---."
On
4 July 1858 in Omaha, Nebraska, Hector wrote a letter to his father, Burr. The
letter follows: "Omaha, July 4th,
1858
My
dear Father Your kind letter of June
21 came to hand yesterday and besides it's being the longest letter I have ever
known you to write - (for which compliment I'm much obliged) I was also glad to
hear that farming prospects are improving, and I still hope to hear that the
season will yet be sufficiently late to insure you good crops of corn. But in relation to what I am doing let me say
that I would not have gone into business at all could I have afforded to remain
here idle, for I do not consider the times such as would justify a man doing
business for the purpose of making money, for so far as I know the majority of
the business men of this place and everywhere else (dry goods men) are
struggling to pay expenses. I took an
interest in this firm in order to pay my expenses, and nothing else, and I
think we have done so up to this time - whether we can do so from this on
remains to be seen. In the last three
weeks our trade has been down considerable, going one day as low as $40 -
yesterday we sold $164 and thus it has been since I was here. We sell for cash only - trusting nobody and
it is the only place I know of where one could do business and not trust
someone but here the population is so generally transient that no one can get
mad if you refuse to credit them. Men
are hard up here. You never knew a place
where money was as generally scarce for persons who think themselves worth
twenty five thousand dollars are very much troubled to buy the necessities of
life. Men here are buying nothing but
what they are compelled to have, and as it will be four months before the corn
crop comes into market - the only grain of any amount that will be raised this
season - they will not have much money to buy even this with. There are no real estate speculations going
on now - no lands changing hands except for debt and I do not suppose that any
one has money here to invest in lands, and all are awaiting with much
impatience the 6th of September which is to bring them someone to buy their
lands. A considerable portion of the inhabitants of this Territory is that
roving class of persons always found on a frontier who squat on a piece of land
with no intention of remaining there but will sell out at the first opportunity
and go further west. - My idea of the
matter is first this, Get a Map and you will see that Omaha stands some 12
miles north of the mouth of the Platte River, a stream that is unfordable [sic]
and at wet seasons is dangerous to pass even in a ferry boat. It is by far the largest town in the
Territory north of the Platte and the only rival she has is Nebraska City, and
it being South of the Platte does not interfere with Omaha's trade. Omaha is to all the Territory north of the
Platte what Winchester Va was to the Valley and we have sold a considerable
amount of goods to little traders who took them up the river and back in the
interior a hundred miles or more. It is
also on the best route to California & Utah and the town sells a good many
goods to the trains going over. We sold
one company some $400 - they were Mormons.
It is only from this fact that there is anything doing here at all, but
now Omaha handles about all the money that is used in the Territory - which is
not very much. Now this may continue, or
it may not, I don't pretend to say whether it will or not, but some town north
of the Platte must sell the goods and handle the produce for a large extent of
country, and as Omaha has had a tremendous amount of money expended on it in
the way of buildings, and is also the Capitol of the Territory, it is natural
to conclude that she would stand as fair a chance as towns that have not got
any houses in them yet, and are only to be seen on paper. Another advantage is
that she is directly opposite Council Bluffs and the towns are working together
very hard to procure a Rail Road of which I send a paper which will tell you
what they are doing in the matter. Now I
do not think that will be worth a $100 per acre here in a year or two or in a
long time, but I think this, It is on a stream that is navigable from March
till November, 20 cts will ship corn to St. Louis - a better market than
Cincinnati, - and besides that has a [unreadable] and to emigrants & trains
& United States troops that will keep up the price of all kinds of grain. [no signature] [written upside down in corner of first
page:] You say DN Clark paid you $5.46
John writes me he paid $6.46."
By
1860, Hector was back in Crawfordsville when he appeared on the census in Hotel
Virginia House, Crawfordsville, Montgomery Co., Indiana. He was shown as H. S.
Braden, age 29, produce merchant, real property $1,100 and personal property
$2,400, born Indiana; living at the Hotel Virginia House.
Hector
worked an internal revenue service collector during President Lincoln's
administration.
On
24 September 1861, Hector wrote a letter to his mother, Mary. Hector was in
Crawfordsville, Indiana, and his mother was in Jefferson, Indiana. The letter reads:
"Crawfordsville,
Sept. 24th, 1861. My Dear Mother,
Yesterday morning's mail bro't me your welcome & affct letter, written on
sat'day, & while I was glad to hear from you all, yet I can never but feel
a deep tinge of sadness injected [?] with my emotions when news from home has
to come so weighted with acct's of Father's sad condition. From letters to Alba, & his reports of
them to me, I had been hoping Father was really improving, & indeed, after
reading your history of his present condition, it does seem to me that a proper
& [unreadable] followed with treatment would overcome those night sweats,
now that chills & fever have disappeared & appetite returned. Is he still using that [unreadable]? Be sure
to not let him get out of it. The address
by which to order more you will on card, on end of Keg. I, of course, would be at home if I could,
but I am tied here now, as if with chains, & can't leave for some time yet,
unless very urgent, but will come almost any day, if absolutely necessary, say
to him I will do so, & come informed all about his bus., & give it all
the attention possible at the earliest moment.
I think there will be no sale for mules at all this fall, if any will be
at very low prices [?] say 18 cents to 25 cents & I regard it a good fall
to buy, if prepared to winter them. The
demand for Mules, old enough to work is good, & must continue so, for
Govn't purposes. Robt's defection was
quite as much a surprise & news to me, as to you all; & of it, I am
both glad and sorry, - glad he went under such favorable auspices, & Sorry
to Know, of course, that his life is so jeopardized. Have heard from him twice, 1st at St. Louis,
where I wrote him & sent him some gold & in reply to that had letter
from him yesterday, written on Board, as was en route from St Louis, up to
Lexington. - where I fear there will be a terrible conflict: & so he seemed
to feel, though wrote in apparent good spirits.
I will write him as soon as can esteem him long enough in one place for
a letter to reach him. I now have all
the burden & care & responsibility of his business which he left in a
very perplexed & incompleted [?] state; & what I am to do with it I
have not yet been able to figure out.
From Alba I hear almost daily. I
had him down a few hours one day last week, but as I was unable to be up, could
not enjoy or make pleasant his visit. I
have been quite sick for many [?] weeks, up & down most of time; but the
past several days, & have had to take & am still taking much
medicine. Charlie Thomas (Sallie will
know him) was my physician & she will be glad to learn he is here, in a
good practice & the most scientific man in the place. My disease has been simply a cold in my head
but it got bad after intense fever & inflammation, & the most intense
suffering I ever experienced; so severe that opium had no affect to stupefy
me. I have been better for past two
days, but so reduced in flesh & strength can scarce go about. hope, however, with care & attention to
soon recover. Jen is to be married tomorrow
to a woman he knows about as much of, really, as you do & the entire family
are not our style, He is a bigger fool
about the matter of course than any young man would be, - which is best
evidenced by fact that he is going to marry her. He is much disappointed that Sallie, at
least, did not come down - why didn't she? I can't write more, am done down [?]
out. Give to Father my best love &
wishes, tell him to let me know all his
wants & wishes that I can in any way serve or answer. Love to all children, & for self except a
full share. Your affect son, Hector."
Hector’s
father, Burr Braden, died on 6 December 1861 in Jefferson, Clinton Co.,
Indiana.
Hector
was mentioned in a letter dated 11 January 1862 from his brother, Robert, to
their mother: "...I received a letter from Hector written on the 28th of
last month in which he spoke of the girls having paid him a visit, making
LaFayette and Crawfordsville each a visit during the holidays.... I'm glad to hear that Addison has taken a
liking for books and trust that he will not be so much trouble to you in the
future. Hector writes me that he intends
giving him an opportunity to study book keeping with him, which I think may be
of benefit to him."
On
5 April 1862 in Crawfordsville, Indiana, Hector wrote to his mother, Mary, regarding
the business of his father, Burr's, estate.
The letter follows:
"Crawfordsville,
Apr 5th, 1862.
My
Dear Mother,
Your
so kind & welcome letter sent by Alba, I rec'd in due time, & while
ever glad to hear from you, am truly grieved to learn you are still so poorly -
when the weather can become settled, warm & pleasant, so that your pores
will be thoroughly opened & you can take abundant outdoor exercise, I do
trust you will materially improve; I still have abiding faith in fresh air,
especially if taken on horse-back, & insist that you try it
constantly. As to bu's [abbrev. for
"business" ?; can't read word] - I wish you, of course, to give it
all the attention you can conveniently, but don't let it worry you; I will come
up as soon as the weather & roads Settle, & give affairs all the time
& attention possible. I left notes
with Mr. Azers [?] to the amount equal to his claim, assumed to pay Carson, so
did not expect you to pay that am't. We
have orders to sue the parties - Yonkey [?] & G. Thomas if not paid
soon. Ask him how the matter
stands. As to Debtors believing they
will be sued if do not pay, I am perfectly reconciled to their entertaining
such opinions - with some it will certainly prove true, if payment is not
speedily made; as to all indeed, it is better to collect, as the money can be
equally safe in other investments, & made to pay better than 6 perct'
interest. I was in Laft' [Lafayette] on
Thursday, saw co's Jen & Henry.
Annie Jenners had left for N.Y.
While there I learned that the money could now probably be made on a
note signed by Carmi [?] Jones; there may be two, but I think but one. The note was not among those in "Pocket
Book", but is there somewhere, & be sure you find & send it to me
at once, - or both if should be two.
Smith, the Tenant at Last has paid part of his rent; paid taxes, &
gave me an order on some men here to whom he sold Sash [?], & I will get
some more the same way. I am holding
what got from him to send, in part, to pay taxes on lands in Kansas - but as
yet can learn nothing in regards to the matter - long since wrote fully to the man
Bob directed me to & have written Bob to that effect. I will write to the men who attend to our Mr.
Gilkey's [?] bu's there, if don't hear soon from Bob's man. I talked with man
about selling him the mule named price &c, but did not know he was going
'till learned he was gone, or would have written you by him - for you might not
have believed I sent him. I am very glad
the sale was affected. Now Mother I have
another subject to say a few words on, & while I have not fully my own
consent to the matter yet as I see no other hope for me, & the anxiety of
mind & its wear on my body, is killing me by inches, I am willing to try
almost anything. You have several times
told me that it was dear Fathers wish that he had let me, if could do so, use
the Laft' lot to get me a little home here with & I now have a faint
prospect of being able to make such an exchange. I have through a friend offered to trade that
for a house & lot here, & the owner proposes to go up on Monday &
look at it. I am not sure such a
transfer can be made, but think it can, with your consent as guardian of the
minor children & the consent of those of age, in their own right. - it
would not be selling, only an exchange & I would pay you & the children
with you the same rent that the lot in L. brings, above taxes &c. Of course I will do nothing final 'till hear
from you - may not then, indeed think it most uncertain, but if I should be
able to make a good exchange with consent of all, I think it very probable it
might be the best think for all.”
Hector
was mentioned in a letter from his brother, Robert, to their mother, Mary, written
on 17 August 1862 from the camp of the 26th Indiana, Springfield, Missouri,
where Robert was stationed. Robert
wrote, "Hector wrote me that he had at last made up his mind to commit the
sin of matrimony and in the same letter wrote me about the draft, - rather
interfering with his arrangements. I
hope everything will work together for the good, and that his long deferred
marriage will not be interfered with....
If is possible I intend coming home when Hec is married."
Hector
Saurin Braden married Mary Elston, daughter of Major Isaac Compton Elston and his
wife, Marie E. (Aiken) Elston, on 16 September 1862 in Crawfordsville,
Montgomery Co., Indiana. Mary was born in
February 1832 in Crawfordsville.
Hector
was mentioned a letter from his brother, Robert, to their mother, Mary, written
25 September 1862 in Springfield, Missouri.
It stated, "I... am very sorry to think that while Heck has so
agreeably disappointed you by getting married, that Alba will not do likewise
by going into the army. He should do it
by all means though I do not blame him for staying out as long as he can avoid
it. I received a letter from him today
stating that Heck was really married and giving me quite a merry description of
the wedding, Heck's costume, etc. I am
really glad for the honor of the family - and my interest - that he is at last
married, for should I ever live to get home the girls will see that I belong to
a marrying family and will not be so offish as they were when I left
home.... I would have much liked to have
been home at Hector's wedding, but the affair was utterly impossible, as
"leaves of absence" were granted to no one, and so I did not
try."
Hector
was mentioned in another of Robert’s letters, this one to their sister, Sarah
Deborah Braden, written 27 October 1862 from a camp near Osage Spring,
Arkansas. Robert wrote, "...I
received a letter from Hector written while he was at Jefferson, and even his
great happiness, honeymoon happiness at that, could not counter-balance the dire
vexation caused him by the heavy rain which descended while he was there,
causing much mud and heavy roads, all of which had to be encountered by his pet
Dixie [his horse]. Terrible indeed for
"Sister Mary" [his new wife]. "
Hector
was mentioned by Robert Floyd Braden in a letter to their mother, Mary, written
9 November 1862 in Spring River, Missouri.
Robert wrote, "...Another matter which probably tends to increase myself
gratulation [sic] is the perfectly good terms you and Heck are now on, he having
removed the "cause of contention," that so long formed the text for
those late-at-night lectures which you were want to give him, in which the
individual perfidy of the aforesaid Hector and the general depravity of the
whole Braden family in regard to "trifling with the feelings of poor
woman" was fully touched upon in all their various bearings, and from
which you rose up with the declared intention of writing to the "poor
girl" - and he, of that being the last time you would ever corner him to
tell him of his sins. But that is all
over now - the young (?) man has nobly cleared himself of all the charges
preferred against him, and as "my daughter Mary" is "all I could
ask her to be" your mind is relieved of a great load as far as one member
of the family is concerned, - the only thing you can reproach him with being -
"why in the world did you not do so sooner?" But O, me miserum! (translation in Prayer
Book) when I think of the condition in which I am placed I am horrified at the
idea of ever encountering you again. I
was securely shielded by his dereliction, for of course as long as a brother
three years older remained single I could be excused for following his example;
But now he marries - invites you down to see him, a snug house, everything comfortable
about them, the couple live like two doves. - You come home more in favor (if
possible) of your children marrying than ever, and wo! unto the unlucky chicken
that fails to go and do likewise. Nought
will be heard but the superior comfort, happiness and contentment and all the
other extras of life which Hector and Mary enjoy, compared with what those
unfortunate people who are not doubled and a brilliant contrast will be drawn
between Hector as he was and Hector as he is! I had intended to resign and come home,
but the prospect of being arraigned for "neglect of duty" frightens
me and I have no notion of taking Heck's place in those Chimney Corner
conversations. Why I could not ask
for a piece of pie or a clean shirt without having Hector's case cited and
being told that I might have all these comforts, if I ever married. I believe I
will stay in the army - it is the safest place.... I know you will have a pleasant visit at
Crawfordsville. Mrs. Mary will do
everything in the world to make your stay pleasant, and Heck also - provided it
does not interfere too much with his private comfort."
Hector
worked as an agent for the American Express Company between 1863 and 1878 in
Montgomery Co., Indiana.
On
10 February 1863 in Crawfordsville, Indiana, Hector wrote a letter to his
mother, Mary. He wrote: "My Dear
Mother. Yours of the 10th inst. is
just rec'd, & am truly sorry to learn of your again being so afflicted - am
almost sure you run about too much in this bad, wet weather, & you must try
& learn to make the children save you such steps. Alba & I each rec'd letters from Bob two
days since, but they were written far more than a month since, - yours seems to
be much later, - am truly glad to hear of his continued good health, do wish he
would come home. Bettie is not here, has
not been, but will come, she writes to Alba, whenever he is ready to go up to
see you with her. She had rec'd a letter
from Coz Lizzie, & said had one from Jeanette to send to Annie, so I
presume you have learned all the news from Loudoun. I had a long letter from Will, in reply to
one from mine, two days since - in relation to mules, marrying, farming
&etc. Am sorry to learn he is so
afflicted with eye & chills, think it probably the former is caused by the
latter. I do trust his proposed marriage
will be for his good - I know it will take a great burden off you, & be in
many respects, if not all (as I hope it will) far better for him. Mary gave him a pressing invitation to come
down & make us a visit just after married, but he replies will not have
time. If possible, we will come up then, but can't foresee so for now. I wrote him I thought he did not value mules
high enough, but it is possible they are not as good as such I rated from. I advised him to buy all he could, and buy
corn to feed them, as the demand seems likely to be large in spring, at high
rates - so too of horses. I think it
would have been far better to have had "Jimmie" &
"Andy" at farm with Colts all winter, as had no use, of amount for
them, at town, & feed costs too much this winter. If Stewart will give anything like fair price
for horse, sell to him. He is not a
horse that would sell at all to strangers.
Jimmie Wm might Sell at Laft [Lafayette], to livery, all here are
full. I wrote Mr. Bowen [?] to attend
to the matter he advised you of - & trust he will give you all required
advice & aid - follow implicitly his instructions - & be careful how
you follow Wm's - he knows but little about bu's [business] affairs - thinks
knows all, & besides will consult his own interest & comfort rather
than yours. I, by all means advise the
sale of the store room & lot to McNutt, if can be affected at fair
value. You should, at this term of court
have appraisers appointed, & you can then at anytime sell it legally - you
might sell for part down - the bal' on long time, if he so prefers, with
interest on deferred payments paid annually.
I should think it worth some $400 or $500. You should be governed, in regards to renting
field to Stewart, or other person, by the probabilities of Addy's farming it
next summer or not. If he will not tend
it, then, of course, let it on best terms you can, making the keeping up of
fences & ditches well open a positive part of contract. William can have the two horses spoken of, to
plow next summer, if he buys them - not otherwise. I wish it was possible for you to get a home
elsewhere, where you could live far easier & have your cares much decreased
- but I can't now see how you would have income sufc't to live upon, unless you
could turn your present home into the new one, either by a good tenant for one
you leave or making it buy you another.
Can you do either? Mary read your
letter, thanks you most heartily for your loving kindness & says hopes to
hear from you very soon. We will both
write her serene highness Miss Nettie soon, as she won't it seems accept our
former reply as answer to her dear little letters to us. Alba is well, tolerably contented, & as
easy as usual! Much love from us all to
you all. Let us hear from you soon &
often. Every your most affc't Son Hector."
Hector’s
mother, Mary (Jenners) Braden died on 5 September 1863 in Jefferson, Clinton
Co., Indiana.
On
15 February 1864 in Clinton Co., Indiana, estate papers were filed stating that
Hector S. Braden and Mary D. Braden were the executors of Burr Braden's
estate. Mary died in September
1863. In January 1864, Hector sold part
of Lot #41 in Lafayette, Indiana that was part of the estate. Hector sent his cousin, Abiel Jenners
Bradfield, a receipt (written on American Express Co. letterhead) for taxes
paid on Kansas lands of William Jenners' estate on 9 February 1865.
On 25 January 1866, Hector wrote a letter
from Crawfordsville to his brother, William M. Braden. From comments in the
letter, it appears that Will and Hector had been disagreeing about Will's
handling of the family farm. Hector's
letter follows: “My Dear Bro Will, Our letters seem to be mutual in their
effects, you tell me mine "astonishes" you. I assure you yours produced a like effect
upon me. As to terms of contract, I
don't see them as you state, that’s not important now; but I do remember, as
you state, that because we are one family, the children of a departed father,
whose virtues it would be an honor & a joy to imitate, that we deemed no
written contract necessary, nor anticipated any misunderstandings, or trouble -
God knows I want none, & you must admit, giving me but the most common
instincts of humanity, as I cannot possibly make anything thereby, or gain any
point, I am but placed in a position, where all reasons, call on compel me to
be just & correct, to & for others.
Now, let me ask you to read my last letter again, & if you can
remember your answer & you will see that you torture & misconstrue my
letter & don't at all answer what I wrote.
I wrote much in relation to your selling Stock off the farm to which you
deign no word of reply. This point must
be satisfactorily arranged & explained.
You have much to say about my requesting you to collect notes &c due
estate; I did not mention notes. You say
I wrote for you to "hire someone to collect the Timmons claims - as if
afraid to trust you," How false & unjust you are, & ain’t you
ashamed of it now - you should be for you know I wrote asking you to do it if
had time, & if could not, get someone else.
Now let me state in fewer words, what I mean by my much writing, as to
collections & payings out, for the estate.
Understand then once & for all, that the Court will not allow or
recognize any disbursement unless a proper voucher, made by the party paid to,
is presented with the acc't when I offer it for settlement - Your accts, (as
with any others) correct no doubt though they were, would be thrown out as if
not there at all, & the result would be the estate could not be
Settled. Just so with money you recv',
I have not ever been written to by you, that you had rec'd any much less, rec'd
any proper vouchers therefore, yet the evidence of such sums having come into
my hands, is in possession of the court, & will be exacted from me at
settlement. Right here let me disabuse
you of another impression you write as if had - viz that "I wrote as if
deemed you dishonest," - I know I
have intimated ever, no such thing, I have ever thank God been fully able to
trust fully in your intentions to do right - what I have to except to is the
want of proper attention to details, to reach the right - you must constantly
bear in mind that all that we do for the estate cannot be settled as you &
I could settle our individual matters, but has to item by item go before the
Court, on paper, with a legal voucher for every cent rec'd & paid out. Let me show you where you are, you, of
course, report to me, as executor, for certain sums of money, collected from
aspects of the said estate, - when you came to show what became of these sums,
you bring your "Book," & show paid out certain sums to certain
parties, but only the Book, not a dollar would be allowed, so presented &
your recpts would be a legal & [?] get away from chg against you - think of
these things Wm & I know you will see in a different light, what I wrote
you & why. I am positive I told you
of the imperative necessity of taking recpts, in name of exectr, for all you
paid out for estate, as such need has ever been before my mind since exectr
& as wrote you, you must, at once get such for every $ disbursed, - in case
of dead man, get someone to sign his name, that was aware of the fact, or make
sum to statement of the fact that you paid him such amt & that he died
before you could get voucher. With
these, also make out statement of amts and sources, of all moneys by you coll'
from estate assets, & send in recpts form to me, as exectr, all these
recpts; if owe $20, must have 2 c stamp attached. For your own sake, far more than mine, attend
to these things promptly for the money you have rec'd can readily be shown into
your hands, but out of them, for your cr, only by manner above stated. I made no allusion to your having attended,
or not attended, to the affairs & interests of the farm & estate, or
failed to perform your contract, no remark of the kind & yet you write
pages as if had. I know you have been
unable to do so & therefore you have had my offer to do all I could to aid
you, now you write my aid is only like dead sea fruit - ashes to the eater. I have asked nothing from you but proper statements
of funds you rec in & pay out. What
in God's name, less, could I ask brother mine, I cannot allow you to ruin
yourself, & involve me & my sisters in endless loss &
litigation. As to "Frank",
where I suggested the selling him, I did it, as thought if best for all - if
you can make it profitable to keep him, do so by all means, but be reasonably
certain of it - some years hence he will be too old to sell at all. As to your remaining on the Farm, that, I
want you to be fully advised of all the pros & cons, then take the course,
that to you seems best. I have no wish
to conceal my desire to have you stay on it - for two reasons, I think it best
for you, & don't want to see strangers on it, nor to sell the place that
gave us birth, as long as it can be avoided.
As to the purch's of the Hart farm, I am sorry to hear of it, for though
know nothing of terms or price, would not consider it a good investment at any
price, as the land is very poor, wet & flat, & will never be otherwise
- let me beg of you Will, to look well at the thing ere you take it. Despite your insisting that I have so worryed
you & hurt your feelings, I must try to assert that I neither thought of
doing so, nor can I imagine why you so construed it. Nor will I admit either, that I withdrew any
offers of aid, or made such offer a nullity, by what last wrote. - I again
repeat such offer, in the same good faith & kind feelings of a desire to
aid you when unfortunate, as felt when first made it. I know too, that we have both written more,
in all the points discussed in these late letters, than sounds [?] to [?]. Our views, as to agreement must be the same,
- I will try to state them brief & in full.
I told you, as I am sure you will admit, that my whole object was to
make the estate self-supporting - to pay its reaping [?] expenses, & keep
it up, personal & real, to am't & value of [hire you on contract]. Based on such idea, my proposition could be
but this, The whole net proceeds of lands &c were to be used for such
purpose, & the bal' necessary you were to pay - what the expenses of the
estate are, there can be no question about, viz taxes, of all kinds, proper
am't to support & educate minor children, & keep the lands in like
repair, as to fences, ditches &c, & keep the quantity of live stock, up
to average, in value & number. Now
Billy is that not stating the matter fully & fairly - it is not, I can't,
nor will I attempt to. You say I have
forgotten as to terms of keeping Frank - it makes no sort of difference whether
you claim to have 1/2 his profits, all of it, nor none, - in either case, you
& the estate would pay & rec'v just same - as all his profits, if used
by me for the estate, would have up from you - if you took all, you would have more
to pay for uses of estate, & just so with any other item. As to "use of Stock," while I don't
exactly know what you mean, I have stated how it is to be used, its nett [sic]
profits are to be sold, or valued, as given for use of estate, just so far as
will have of that kind of stock a full average no. & value, on the estate.
Now if I haven't stated all the points fully & fairly, you must get someone
else to do it, I have done. Let me once more remind you to, at once get up all
vouchers for money paid out & recd by you, & send to me, - this done,
& you keeping in mind my idea as to no. & value of live stock to be
kept on estate, you have my wishes as to your doings in such connection. As to the money that has been & may be
expended for minor heirs, desired from other sources, than profits of the
estate, that matter will be easily arrived at & settled when we make up
acct's. I know you have had no money, of
course, to spare, oweing [sic] to going there with none & failure of crops,
to pay out for their or your own expenses, & I have not, therefore, asked
you for what you so rec'd - only for the proper reports of it; - of your
furnishing these, I trust I have shown you the absolute necessity. And now, we have both written long, if not
well, & I trust, when the smoke clears away, will find we were not as much
hurt as irritated. I return you your
letter that you may read it, & my from me, & see how you missed mine
where you shot at it. Let me hear from
you fully as to any & all matters that you may want my aid or opinion
of. Write me soon, & send vouchers,
&c Love to all, Your Bro, affect'ly Hector
Cough
surup [sic] recpt.
1 oz paregoric
1 "
Autimonal [sic] wine,
1 " gum Arabic, - boil latter in pint
syrup, & add two [?unreadable] when cool.
Take table spoonfull [sic] often - not too often, or you'l [sic] see
what you saw at your last meal! I trust
it will do whoever its for much good - I have great faith in it, H”.
Various
receipts related to the estate of Burr Braden show Hector acting as executor
from 1866 to 1868.
Hector
and Mary Braden appeared on the census 1870 in the 3rd Ward, Crawfordsville, Montgomery Co.,
Indiana. The household was: Braden, H.S., 39, M, W, Commission Mer., born IN;
Braden, Mary, 37. F, W, Keeps house, born IN.
Hector wrote to his brother, Will, "Crawfordsville,
Apr. 5th, 1871 Dear Bro Will - Have yours 1st inst. & note it
fully. You are mistaken as to am't rec'd
by me from "Estate." There is
chg'd to me in "Will" $600.00.
I rec'd since was exec'tr $1100.00 from sale of lot in Lafayette, but
have paid over to Heirs much more than both these sums together, (besides all
other sums rec'd as exec'tr of estate).
So much for that. I will get full
at facts as to mules, and (?) say more as to them. I know, nor care nothing as to your &
Addison's division or settlement. I look
to you for all sums you collected of funds belonging to the estate & they
must, at time suggested, be forth coming.
As to appraisers, I before wrote you to get any suitable persons, say
such as George Aughe, Taylor Heavilon, John Vansickle, or other such, as can
[?word unclear] get together to be sworn, select 2 & let them select the
third. Your letter to Alba gave us the
first intimation of the new scion that follows the parent stock. It seems fitting, though possibly burdensome
to you & Laura, that the name & fame of the "House" should
thus have promise of being kept alive in the Land, as some of rest of us are
doing aught toward such result! Mary
joins me in kindest congratulations, & hopes for both Laura & little
one, the best of success. When the Rail
is down to this place, you surely will bring all down to see us. Weather lovely, & I know is doing your
farmer's heart and eyes good. As ever,
your affctnd Bro Hector”.
Hector
was a member of the Crawfordsville city council, occupying a chair in the
public and finance committee from 1874-1878.
On
5 November 1874 in Clinton Co., Indiana, a quit claim deed was signed by all
Burr's children which sold the title to all Burr's land to Burr's son, William
M. Braden, for $6,000.
During
the building of the Indianapolis, Bloomington & Western railroad, Hector
was general manager, and then he was the local agent at Crawfordsville.
Hector
purchased the Sand Creek coal banks in Montgomery Co., Indiana, in 1878.
Hector
and Mary Braden appeared on the census of 1880 in Crawfordsville, Montgomery
Co., Indiana. The household was: Braden, Hector S., wm 50, Nov., married, coal
dealer; Braden, Mary E., wf 47, Feby., married, wife, keeping house; and a
servant, Catherine Sullivan.
The
1881 Montgomery County History says
this about Hector: "Hector S. Braden, coal dealer, insurance and railroad
agent, Crawfordsville. Among the active
business men of Crawfordsville, and those who have aided in improving the city
both in individual and public service, Mr. Braden occupies an important
place. He is a native of Clinton Co.,
Indiana, having been born there November 22, 1830, and is the son of Burr and
Mary (Jenners) Braden. His father was a
merchant in Jefferson, Indiana, so that young Braden served some years behind
his father's counter. He attended Wabash
College two years, then entered a mercantile college in Cincinnati, and in 1853
graduated. Mr. Braden now came to
Crawfordsville and became a partner in the firm of Lee, Gilkey & Co. This firm built a large elevator, 60x100,
four stories, with railroad track passing through it. For about ten years this firm carried on a
business of 50,000 to 75,000 bushels of grain, and a commission trade in flour
of about 15,000 barrels. Throughout
Lincoln's administration Mr. Braden filled the office of internal revenue
collector. In 1863 he was appointed
agent for the American Express Company, which position he held until 1878. From 1874 to 1878 he was a prominent member of
the city council, occupying the chair in the public and finance committee. During the building of the Indianapolis,
Bloomington & Western railroad Mr. Braden was general manager; then for
several years was local agent at Crawfordsville. In 1878 he purchased the Sand creek coal
banks, and is now proprietor of the same, with a commodious office in
Crawfordsville. In connection with his
general coal trade he also carries a commission business in flour, is agent for
the Union and National Through Fast Freight lines, and agent for New York
Underwriters' Insurance Company. He is
president of the Crawfordsville and Yountsville Gravel Road Company. It is needless to comment upon the activity
of a life so fraught with business. Mr.
Braden was married September 16, 1862 to
Mary Elston, daughter of Maj. I.C. and Marie E. (Aiken) Elston. Mrs. Braden is a native of
Crawfordsville."
In
1884, Hector bought the Isaac Elston home place from his wife's sister and her
husband, Aaron Blair. He lived in that
house until his death. According to the
Montgomery Co. Monthly newsletter, "By the end of the century, the old
Elston home place was being referred to as the Old Braden Place.... By 1912,
when Hector Braden died, the dignified old mansion had lost its front lawn and entrance
to the north, and the house itself had been neglected and was in sad need of a
face-lift."
Hector
and Mary had no children. Mary (Elston) Braden died on 18 February 1898 in her
home at 409 E. Main St., Crawfordsville.
She was 65 years old. She was
buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Crawfordsville.
Her obituary was published on February 21, 1898: "Friday, February 18, 1898: Death of
Mrs. H.S. Braden - She Passes Away Last Night at Her Home After an Extended
Illness. - Mrs. Mary E. Braden, wife of Hector S. Braden, died last night at
midnight at her home on east Main street.
Mrs. Braden had been in poor health for some months but had rallied and
was improving until a few days ago.
Yesterday she began failing rapidly and her relatives were summoned,
being present when the end came. Mrs.
Braden was a daughter of Major and Mrs. Isaac Elston, pioneer residents of
Crawfordsville. She was born here
sixty-five years ago and was married in September, 1862 to Mr. H.S. Braden, who
survives her. Three sisters, Mrs. Lewis
Wallace, Mrs. A.H. Blair of Indianapolis, and Mrs. H.S. Lane and a brother,
Col. I.C. Elston, are living. Two
brothers, James and Frank Elston, and two sisters, Sylvia Elston and Mrs. Eva
Smith, are dead. At an early age Mrs.
Braden united with the Methodist Episcopal church and continued through life as
a devoted communicant of that denomination. Not only was she consistent in her
duties to the church but she carried her religion into her everyday life where
her many acts of charity and kindness betokened that she highest esteemed the
creed of good deeds and works. Possessed
of a brilliant mind and a kindly heart she attracted to herself a circle of
warm and enduring friends with whom her memory will ever live as a most
pleasant one. In accordance with her
own request the funeral will be private and friends will kindly refrain from
sending flowers.
Monday, February 21, 1898: Funeral of Mrs. H.S. Braden - The funeral of Mrs. Hector S. Braden occurred
this morning from the family residence on east Main street. The services were short and simple and upon
their conclusion the relatives and a few immediate friends followed the remains
to their last resting place at Oak Hill."
Hector
appeared on the census of 1900 in Union Twp., Crawfordsville, Montgomery Co.,
Indiana. Hector was listed as widowed, born Nov. 1830. There was a 42 year old black servant living
with him named Mary E. Lewis.
On
1 May 1905 in Crawfordsville, Indiana, Hector wrote a letter to his brother, Will.
The envelope was addressed to Mr. Wm M. Braden, Frankfort, Ind. R.R. #.
The return address was H.S. Braden, Crawfordsville, Ind. and it was
postmarked at Crawfordsville, Ind. May
1, 1905 5:30P. The letter follows:
"H.S.
Braden Crawfordsville, Ind. May 1, 05
Dear
Bro Will:
I
have just re'cd per ex' office the so acceptable gift you sent & most
heartily approve your selection. I am as
highly pleased with such as is a sweet-toothed kid with a box of candy! The Recpt' for Check sent came to hand
promptly - for which you also have my thanks.
As the distributing the check & Recpts, & making the necessary
entries in Books, 28 separate p's [?] of writing, & I was anxious to get
all off that day, had no time to write letters.
Should have written you today to explain my seeming rudeness. Hope you "wintered" well, &
will fill out nicely on early pasture.
My kindest remembrances to Laura & the children. Drop down on me anytime the "spirit
moves ye." Faithfully - your
brother Hector."
On
20 November 1905 in Crawfordsville, Indiana, Hector wrote to Will:
"H.S.
Braden Crawfordsville, Ind. Nov. 20,
1905
Dear
Bro Will.
Much
as regret it, am compelled to admit my condition has become so adversely
complex, am forbidden to leave here until conditions are markedly changed for
the better, which I receive from Physicians, & my own feelings, no such
speedy change as my so much hoped for trip to the "old home farm"
would require. You need not therefore
expect me Wednesday a.m. at Frankfort.
If such a miracle should show up, as would allow me to leave home, I
will find a way to get to you; but have never seen a miracle - & dare not
expect one put on bill of fare for my special favor! Love to all - your attached brother Hector."
But
he must have visited them after all, because on 24 November 1905, Hector wrote to
Will:
"H.S.
Braden Crawfordsville, Ind. Nov. 24th - 05
Dear
Brother Wm, Sister Laura, & my niece & nephew,
It
is a very pleasing privelige [sic] to be able to write how much am indebted to
you all for the delightful day you did, so kindly, so much to make it for me in
so many respects, the most enjoyed day I have passed in many years. The Giver of all Good Gifts seemed to have
made all things that could add to our comfort & enjoyment, in their
perfection & I have not ceased thanking Him therefore - I have marked that
day as one deserving a "white stone" as memorial.
I
reached home in due time, so full of pleasant memories & grateful thanks,
that is was long past my usual time to be asleep ere did so that night! I trust you will spare me for not attempting
to tell you each, how much I would like to put in words, how much I thank you
all. - Must beg you to feel it as I do.
I
hope you are all well, & have recovered sooner than I did, from the too
much, of so many good things that tempted me to try them all. May I hope to see you all in my home. I promise to not tempt you, at table, as was
I at yours! With love & thanks, your
attchd brother & Uncle --
Hector."
On
1 September 1908 in Crawfordsville, Hector wrote a letter to his niece, Mary
Jane Braden. The envelope is addressed to: Miss Mary J. Braden, Frankfort,
Ind., R.D. No. 7, Box 100; from: H.S. Braden Postmarked: Crawfordsville, Ind;
Crawfordsville, Ind. Sep 1, 1908 4:30P.
Postmarked on back: Frankfort, Ind Sep 2, 1908 4:30P.
The letter follows:
"H.S.
Braden, Crawfordsville, Ind. Sept. 1st,
08
My
Dear Niece Mary,
On way this morning, from
home via post office, to my office, found your letter of yesterday, & trust
you will not allow yourself to doubt how much I was pleased to get it &
more to read your promise to come to my home, old & lonely as it is, &
to bring your Mother & William also.
I only remember the latter as having been here though do think your
mother was here at time of burial of my wife.
But it will. While it is true I
per force, live rather lonely, yet I am not as depressed as might be did I not
feel quite confident that am sympathized by my so affectionate relatives &
friends, who know how I have to live, if keep the Home I have to stay in, if
stay at all. - no other one could seem a "home" to me, as all in
& around it were so dear to us both.
I almost seem to see her, or soon to come from some of one of the rooms
to one I am in.
I wish it could be convenient for
Robert to also come here with you (or at any other time when
"Home-cares" less forbid - Should so much see him here, his telling
me all about the "old farm"as it seems to me. Its only a year or two older than I - but
unlike it improves. The reverse with me
- much more rapidly.
Sister Anna was with me here all of
one day last week much to our enjoyment, though she had a very annoying finger
from some impure or other diseased blood circulation - do hope will [page 2]
quite soon be fully relieved, as she is promised.
Had letter from "Sister"
(Sallie) last week. She was quite well,
but the Col' was quite a sufferer from his annual attack, comes & goes
about same period & length.
Have had no rain (for such name) here for
some 6 weeks! Danger of fire from all
that will burn, & no supply of water to extinguish. One of my Cisterns - a very needed one - has
been empty for a month - 1st from Cleaning, & since none to replace -
The day is becoming up to grade of heat
have had to endure for so long - a very little fall this a.m. of very small,
& few drops fell - people all stood out of doors, anxious to be sure it was
rain-water. Haven't learned how they
agreed.
But am glad the roads will not be too soft
for you to come to me Friday next & I will believe, for all our sakes, will
be cooler then - if not sooner & longer.
With love to Sister, & also to Niece
Mary, to "William" whose visits (3 I think) will willingly remain[?],
if he remembers his visits here (with Grand Pa) with as pleasing coming. We shall anxiously wait your arrival &
already regret your leaving us.
Until I see you, & always - your
devoted Uncle. Don't forget my love to
Robert. Wish I had sent Poliaman [?] to
bring him to "Fair" here last week. Hector."
Hector
appeared on the census of 28 April 1910 in Crawfordsville, Montgomery Co.,
Indiana. He was listed as "Hector S. Braden, head, mw, 80, widowed, born
Indiana." Living with him was black
servant, Hester Humphrey, 67, widowed.
Hector
was ill when he was mentioned in the obituary of his brother, Addison as
"...lying at the point of death from the effects of a tumor." in July
1912.
Hector
Saurin Braden died on 17 September 1912 in Crawfordsville, Montgomery Co.,
Indiana, at age 81.
An
obituary appeared 18 Sep 1912 in the Frankfort News, Frankfort, Clinton Co.,
Indiana. It reads, "Hector S.
Braden Dead. Brother of Mrs. J.G. Clark
and Mrs. W.W. Garrott. Native of Clinton
County, but Had Been Active in the Business Life of Crawfordsville for
Years. Hector S. Braden, aged 82, a
brother of Mrs. John G. Clark, and Mrs. W.W. Garrott, of this city, died at his
home in Crawfordsville Tuesday night at 10 o'clock, after an illness that
extended over a period of twenty-three weeks.
Death was due to a complication of diseases. Mr. Braden was born Nov.22, 1830, at
Jefferson in this county, and was the son of Burr and Mary Braden. His parents came from old Virginia stock
where they were both born, moving to Indiana after they were married. In September, 1862, after going from Clinton
to Montgomery county, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Elston, a daughter
of Major I.C. Elston, a pioneer banker of Crawfordsville. Mrs. Braden died several years ago. There were no children. Mr. Braden was a brother-in-law of the late
Gen. Lew Wallace. During the
administration of President Lincoln he served as internal revenue collector
holding the appointment for several years.
Besides the two sisters residing in this city, Mr. Braden leaves
another, Mrs. G.P. Jennings, of Lafayette.
A brother, Addison B. Braden, died at the home of Mrs. J.G. Clark in
this city on July 26. Mr. Braden was a
retired business man and capitalist and had been active in financial and business
circles at Crawfordsville for years. The
funeral service will be held Thursday, probably in the afternoon, and burial
will be made in Oak Hill, near Crawfordsville."
An
obituary appeared 18 Sep 1912 in the Crawfordsville Journal, Crawfordsville,
Montgomery Co., Indiana, which stated: "Hector S. Braden Answers the Call
- Aged and Highly Respected Citizen Passed Away Last Night - Suffered Six
Months - Was Active in Business Life Here - Married to Mary Elston, Sister of
Mrs. Lew Wallace. - Hector S. Braden, a
retired capitalist and for years one of the leading business men and
politicians of this city, died at his home on east Main street at ten Tuesday
night, after having suffered for a number of months with a tumor. His death has been expected for some time and
he knew that he had only a short time to live but in spite of this fact he has
borne his suffering with fortitude and cheerfulness. Mr. Braden was born in Clinton county
November 22, 1830, and was eighty-two years of age at the time of his
death. He was married, September 16,
1862, to Mary Elston, daughter of Major and Mrs. I.C. Elston and a native of
Crawfordsville. Mrs. Braden preceded her
husband in death several years. Mr.
Braden has rightly been classed as one of Crawfordsville's most active business
men. His father, Burr Braden, was a
merchant in Jefferson, Ind., so that the son served many years behind his
father's counter. He attended Wabash
college for two years then entered a mercantile college in Cincinnati,
graduating from the latter institution in 1853.
He then came to Crawfordsville becoming a partner in the firm of Lee,
Gilkey & Company which firm built a large grain elevator, doing business
for about ten years. Throughout Lincoln's
administration Mr. Braden filled the office of internal revenue collector. In 1863 he was appointed agent for the
American express company holding this position until 1878. From 1874 to 1878 he was a prominent member
of the city council occupying the chair in the public and finance
committee. During the building of the
Indianapolis Bloomington and Western railroad Mr. Braden was general manager
and then for several years was local agent in this city. He was at one time president of the Crawfordsville
and Yountsville gravel road company. It
is needless to comment on the activities of a life so fraught with
business. Both in individual and public
service he at all times did all he could to aid in improving the city. Three sisters survive the deceased, Mrs.
John G. Clark and Mrs. W.W. Garrot, of Frankfort and Mrs. H.G.P. Jennings of
Lafayette. A brother, Addison B. Braden
died in Frankfort July 26. Funeral
services will be held at some hour Thursday."
Hector
Saurin Braden was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, near Crawfordsville, Montgomery
Co., Indiana.
