THE BRANSON FAMILY J. "Jim" H. Branson, was a farmer who was born in Crawford County, AR in 1856. He was the son of J.W. and Nancy Frances Branson. Nancy Francis Branson, the mother of Jim Branson, s of Irish heritage adn teh daughter of H.F. Francis. J. W. "Jim" Branson ws born in KY on September 21, 1829, but emigrated to Missouri where his mother was born on 18 February 1832. The senior Branson removed to Crawford County in 1854, where he served as Justice of the Peace for several years, while maintaining a far, and blacksmith business. During the Civil War, he moved to Barton County, Missouri and servedas a saddler for three year in the Sixth Kansas Calvary.He was in the battle of Comlin and once recieved a thigh wound at the hand of "bush-whackers". William Branson, the grandfather of Jim Branson, and father of J.W. Branson was born in 1806 and married in 1828. The following year, William Branson moved to Missouri, then in 1854, he came to Crawford County where he remained except for a short stay during the Civil War in Texas. When "young Jim" Branson was provied with a good education and at the age of sixteen, he start life on a farm. In 1877, he married Mary Margaret Snider, the daughter of James and Talitha Bethel Snider, and a native of this county born in 1861. Mr. and Mrs. Snider were born in Kentucky in 1831 adn Tennessee in 1839, respectively. In 1832, Mr. Snider came to Crawford Countyc where he later engaged in farming. He was also a carpenter by trade, and for three years during the war, he worked for the government at Fort Smith. He participated in the battle of Prairie Grove and in the skirmish at Cane Hill, the previous day. Although, he started in life without means, Jim Branson, by industry and ecomamy, became the owner of forty acres of land and raised cattle and mules. His work was valued early in his life at $600.00. He also formed a partenship with J. A. Graham and aquired a store at Natural Dam. In politics, Jim Branson was a Repubican. He served as Justice of the Peace, as the Sheriff of Crawford from 1898 to 1900 and was a member of the agricultural wheel. His wife was a member of the Methodist Church. After having lived a full and respectable life, he passed from this life in 1933. His wife, Mary Margaret Snider Branson died in 1937. J.H. "Jim" Branson and Mary Margaret Snider were the parents of at least ten children: Emma born 9 Februay 1879, who drowned in Lee Creek on September 7, 1897; Goral E. Born in 1889 and died in 1894; Ida Mattie who was born and died in 1896, Jimmie who was born on 6 August 1897 and died on 24 August 1899; Josiah G. born 1891 and died in 1896; and Lee who was born in 1884 and died at the age of seven months. A daughter, Bernice, married Ted Fears and died aroung the age of twenty one giving birth to their first child, which also died. A daughter, Blanche, may still be living, and a son, Hollis, married Lillie Howell. It seems they had bad luck with their children; as many died while young or in early maturity. Jim Branson, his wife and many of his children are buried in the Hall Cemetery in Natural Dam. Hope you find this helpful. It is from the book by Eula Hopkins (my cousin), entitled. FAMILIES AND HISTORY OF NATURAL DAM CRAWFORD COUNTY, ARKANSAS 1821-1990's Thanks Fran Alverson Warren