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| Robert Floyd Braden, ca 1913 |
He and his younger brother, Alba, were mentioned in a letter from their father, Will, to their mother, Laura, dated 26 October 1875, "Bob and Ab are going to school today."
On 17 March 1878, Bob was mentioned in a letter from his cousin, Clara Richards, to his mother, Laura Braden, "I think Bob is rather small fry to go to plowing regular like a man." He would have been almost 10 years old.
On the 1880 census, his parents' household included William, age 43, born about 1837 in Indiana; head of household; married; Farmer; parents born in Virginia; Laura V. Braden, age 40; Mary J. Braden, age 13; Robert F. Braden, age 11; Alby B. Braden, age 9; James Timmons, age 25, farm hand.
Robert received the following letter in January 1892. The envelope was addressed to Mr. Robert F. Braden, Frankfort, Indiana, RR#3. The return address was J.K. Younkey, Port Orange, Florida and it was postmarked Port Orange, FLA Jan 24. The letter follows:
"Port Orange, Fla
Jan 23-92
Friend Robt & family
I thought I would write a few lines to you folks. We arrived in Port Orange all right after a long and tidious [sic] ride. We came through some of the worst looking country that mortal man ever looked upon and the land here is of no good for anything but to raise oranges & sweet potatoes - and I must say that these products are of the very best. We are located on the Halifax river and about one and a half miles from the Atlantic Ocean. We have to cross the river to get to the ocean & then walk about 1/2 mile. We go over to the ocean about once or twice a week to gather shells on the sea shore. The fishing in the Halifax river is great you can catch almost any kind of fish you can think of and they are of any size you want, and are the best of eating . The hunting close to the river is not extra but back in the country a distance you can kill deer, bear, turkey & all the small game you want. I have been after the small game and have been quite successful so far. If nothing happens we will go down the river about one hundred miles in about three weeks when the game is plenty close to the river, and will be gone for two or three weeks or longer. We have had the pleasure of gathering oranges from the trees, and I must say that a tree full of oranges are[sic] a beautiful sight to behold, most of the orange groves here was killed during the year 1890 [?] and the owners are to [sic] lazy to replant them, therefore nearly all of the groves are a thing of the past. If you could see some of the stock here such as horses, cattle & hogs you would look at them in amazement as they are the poorest creatures you ever laid eyes on. How they exist I am unable to tell. The people that live here are not very industrious, they always want to wait until tomorrow when you ask them to do something, but when it comes to charging for what they do, they are strickly [sic] in it, never fail to charge enough. The weather here is sublime could not ask for anything nicer, today here is about like it is in May in Indiana, and am satisfied if your Father & Mother would come down here and spend the winter they would enjoy it ever so much and besides it would be a great benefit to their health. You can get all the oysters you want by going out in the river after them or you can buy them for 20 cents a quart, and they are fine. There is at present here from Clinton County fifty one persons and they all appear to be having a good time and no one can blame them as that is what they came here for. Mr. Hall that lives near you is here, and he says that he thinks he is getting better, he is busy most of the time out on the water fishing or boat riding. Give my regards to your father, Mother & Sister. Hoping I may see you all in a short time, I remain your friend J.K. Yonkey
P.S. How is my subsitute [sic] getting along with the mail? John"
The 1900 census shows Robert still with his parents on the farm in Washington Twp.
On 1 April 1907, Robert's father, William, died of pneumonia. Robert was 38 years old. And on 10 November 1907, Robert's younger brother, Alba, died, leaving a widow and two minor children. When Alba's estate was probated in January 1908, Robert was named administrator. Robert was also named guardian of Alba's two children, William Robert and Laura Nancy Braden. Also in January 1908, Robert's mother, relinquished her right to administer her deceased husband's estate (William) and asked that Robert be named adminstrator.
Throughout 1908, there were numerous documents filed that allowed Robert to sell land belonging to his wards. This was land that was his deceased brother, Alba's, share of their father's estate (the family farm). Robert sold the land to his sister, Mary Jane. It seems clear that Robert and Mary Jane were trying to consolidate their ownership of the family farm.
The 1910 census shows the family still on the farm in Washington Twp. Now, however, Robert is listed as head of the household that included his mother, Laura, and sister, Mary Jane.
On 14 March 1911, Robert's mother, Laura, died. Robert was 42 years old. He was named executor in his mother's will.
Robert married Christina Dorner on 18 October 1911 in Frankfort, Indiana. Robert was 43 and Christina was 42 years old. "Tena" was the daughter of Philip and Magdalene Dorner, born in Clinton Co., Indiana on 27 January 1869. Robert and Tena never had any children.
Around the time that Robert and Tena married, his sister, Mary Jane moved from the family farm to a house on Clinton Street in Frankfort.
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| Christine Dorner Braden ca 1913 |
Robert was clearly fond of and proud of his farm, the Blue Grass Stock Farm. His biography from the 1913 History of Clinton County, states:
"ROBERT F. BRADEN ...One of the most extensive and successful general farmers and stock men of Washington township, Clinton county, who has well understood the subjects of crop rotation and fertilization, so that the original fertility and strength of soil has been retained on his fine farm, widely known as 'Blue Grass Stock Farm,' is Robert F. Braden, whose attractive home is located three miles west of the town of Jefferson. Mr. Braden was born on a farm in this locality on July 20, 1868. He is a son of William M. Braden, deceased, who was for many years one of Clinton county's leading citizens. He [William M.] was born on the old Braden homestead in 1837, and here he spent his life engaged in farming and his father, Burr Braden, kept a store at Jefferson. He married Laura Watt daughter of Robert Watt, and here she was reared and educated. Burr Braden, our subject's paternal grandfather, was a farmer in Virginia, and he emigrated to Clinton county, Indiana, when this country was a wilderness and settled in the woods, but being a hard worker and a rugged character he soon had a good home established. His wife was a Miss Jenners, of a prominent old family of Virginia. Their family consisted of nine children: Hector, Mrs. Sarah Clark, William M., father of our subject; Robert F., Sr., a soldier in the Civil war, died at Lafayette where he was a prominent citizen; Alba, Annie, Jennings [actually should read "Annie Jennings"], Addison, died in 1912 in Lafayette, and Mrs. Jeanette Garrett of Frankfort. To William M. Braden and wife three children were born: Mary J., still living on the old home place; Robert F., of this review, and Alba who died when thirty-five years of age, leaving a widow and two children, William M. [actually William R.] and Laura N. The subject of this review was reared on the home place and he assisted with the general work there when a boy. He received a good education in the public schools. He was married in 1911 to Christine Dorner, who was born, reared and educated at Frankfort. She is a daughter of Philip and Magdalene Dorner, a well known family of Frankfort. Mr. Braden has a well improved and valuable farm of over five hundred acres, and everything is under a superb system. On it stands an excellent set of outbuildings, and a good ten-roomed dwelling, neatly furnished. He is an excellent judge of live stock, and feeds large numbers of cattle and hogs annually for the market. He raises Percheron horses and his fine draft horses find a very ready market owing to their superior quality. He is owner of some of the best horses in the state, which are greatly admired by all who see them."
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| Blue Grass Stock Farm about 1930 |
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| Robert F. Braden with one of his horses |
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| Robert F. Braden with horse and colt |
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| Christine and Robert Braden |
On 15 October 1914, Robert wrote the following letter to his nephew, William, who had been sent away to school at Howe School.
The envelope was addressed to Mr. William Braden, Howe, Ind. and was postmarked at Frankfort, Ind. Oct 15, 1914 12M. Penciled in at the top of the letter: "env. 10-15-1914." The letter follows:
"I
Dear Billy,
We are very sorry that you are so home sick, and any one that goes a way from loving friends, to be among strangers, know just how badly you feel, but Billy did you ever try to just get over it. Get interested in some thing special, and try to make up your mind to like it if you give up in this, the next time you have some problem to meet you will fail again, if it is not just as easily met as you think it should be, and so form those shiftless habits
II
If you finish this year at Howe, next year, you could enter Soph more [sic] here which gives you one whole year over your home school. We know pretty well the kind of boys who have left home, those who had not the backbone to settle down and study, and in ten or twenty years from now, you can go hunt them up, and you will find out they are leading dissapated [sic] lives, broken in health, and not the citizen that we hope you may be. It means so much to you psysicially [sic]. We will write to the rec-
III
tor, and tell him that your algebra is hard, perhaps he can solved [sic] the trouble. You know you do not like Algebra and it would not be hard to soon dislike the teacher if you were back here, you would soon be in trouble with the teacher here, because you do not like him, and be just like Phillip Dorner, out of school, cannot ever enter a college, and his career is finished instead of beginning. Billy if we did not all like you, and want you to be a man do you suppose we would bother about you. We know it is hard but won't you try for
IV
for [sic] your sake and all your Aunts who wish you well, as well as your own loving mother and father who I know are watching over you. I wish we might do something for you, but I am afraid the battle his [sic] with you.
Your loving Uncle
Bob"
Bob wrote Bill another letter dated 3 March 1915:
The envelope was addressed to Mr. William Braden, Howe, Indiana, and the return address was: R.F. Braden, Frankfort, IN. It was postmarked [blurred]: 1915. The letter follows:
"3-3-15 Frankfort, Ind.
Dear Bill
Am glad to hear from even though you never write until you want something real bad. Your grades were very satisfactory and if you can keep them up to that standard you are a trump. This certainly is fine weather now and I hope will continue. Your Aunt Tena has a very bad cold. Hope you are O.K. From your rough and ready Uncle Bob"
The city directory for Frankfort, Indiana for 1918 shows Bob and Tena living in a house at 653 East Clinton Street in Frankfort a couple of blocks from Mary Jane.
In September 1920, Bob and Mary Jane, as tenants in common, bought additional land for the family farm.
On 25 November 1932, Robert's sister, Mary Jane, died. She left her personal property to her niece and nephew, Laura (Braden) Pavey and William R. Braden. She left her real estate to her brother Robert during his lifetime and to her niece and nephew after Robert's death.
On 1 August 1933, Robert made his will. He died at the Clinton Co. Hospital on 11 May 1937. He was 68 years old. He was buried at Greenlawn Cemetery in Frankfort.
In his will, Robert left a half interest in the Braden farm to his wife, Christine Braden, a quarter interest to his nephew, William R. Braden, and a quarter interest to his niece, Laura Pavey. Christine's interest seems to have been just for her lifetime.
Christine is found on the 1940 census living at 653 E. Clinton Street in Frankfort. The household was Christine Braden, 71, widowed and her brother, George Dorner, 68 widowed.
On 16 November 1951, Christine made her will. She leaves her personal property to various nieces and nephews and states that her real estate should be sold and divided among her nieces and nephews.
Christine died 22 May 1953 in Frankfort. She was 84 years old. She was buried next to her husband, Robert, in Greenlawn Cemetery. An obituary appeared in the Frankfort Morning Times on 23 May 1953:
"Christina Dorner Braden, Last of Pioneer Family, Expires At Her Home
Mrs. Christine Dorner Braden, last member of a pioneer Frankfort family, passed away Friday morning at 5:30 o'clock at her home, 653 East Clinton street. She had been ill for several months.
Mrs. Braden was born in Frankfort, January 27, 1869. Her parents were Philip and Magdalene Dorner. On October 10, 1911, she was married to Robert F. Braden, whose death occurred in 1937.
She was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran church and socially a member of the Arts Club and Priscilla Club.
Mrs. Braden lived her entire life in Frankfort, and the Jefferson and Frankfort communities. Three sisters and five brothers preceded her in death. Only survivors are nephews and nieces.
Funeral services will be conducted at the Goodwin Funeral home Sunday at 2 p.m. Rev. Paul Hunteman, pastor of St. Paul's church, will officiate. Interment will be in Green Lawn cemetery.
Friends may call at the funeral home after 2 p.m. Saturday."
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