Abner Branson of New Sharon, Iowa wrote this letter to Levi Branson, the gentleman who published the Branson magazine. Abner is also in Abraham Branson's line of descent. anne April 8,1899 Dear Friend, More than a year ago, when I was at west Branch, Iowa where my father , William D. Branson lives and where I lived for almost 40 years, I saw your quarterly magazine of the Branson family, and I am now write sending the connection of our family back as far as Abraham and Catherine Branson. Rees Branson was one of their sons and there were others who lived in Virginia. Jacob was another. Isaac Branson, a half brother(half brother to Rees) came to Iowa about the time my father came in 1853 when I was 12 years old. Isaac Branson had who daughters one married John B. Lee who now lives in Muscatine, Iowa and the other married Samuel Staples, who lives in Barclay Kansas. these daughters have several children and some grandchildren. I can arrange to trace up this branch of the Branson family. My father is almost 85 years old; his father (Rees) died before he was one year old in Virginia and he lived with his grandfather for a time then came to Ohio and worked with his brother Abraham in the woolen manufactory for a time and married and went to Salem, Ohio in 1842 then came to Iowa in 1853 and has been a farmer but has lived in town for about 15 years; now lives with his youngest daughter Ida Hathaway. I have been a nurseryman since 1867. Nearly all my father's family are Orthodox Friends. Respectfully, Abner Branson