Surnames mentioned: Brannon, Bisdorf, Spivey, Gard, Yarick, Walsh, Hoderlene From Memoirs of the Miami Valley, Vol. III, 1919 on pages 81/82/83: Luke Brannon, now deceased, was formerly sheriff of Butler county, and at the time of his death held the office of county commissioner. It is doubtful if any other man in this county was more respected than he, for he proved upon many occasions that he was utterly fearless in the discharge of his duty, and that he was scrupulously upright in all of his official dealing. He was born at Hamilton, December 9 1859 and he died in the city of his nativity, December 2, 1918, from pneumonia, at his beautiful home on Central avenue and Chestnut street. He was a son of Roger Brannon, who, with his wife, was born in County Roscommon, Ireland, but came to the United States, and located at Hamilton, who, at an early date in its history. Luke Brannon was reared at Hamilton, and attended its schools, and his useful life was spent in Butler county. Early displaying qualities which fitted him for the work of protecting society against the depredations of the criminal classes, he was ele! cted constable of Hamilton, and held that office until 1900, when he was selected by Sheriff Peter Bisdorf as has first deputy. The record made by Mr. Brannon as a deputy resulted in his election to the office of sheriff, and he assumed the duties of that office January 4, 1904, and he was re-elected to that same office, and Butler county never had a better or more conscientious official. Perhaps the most notable event during his tenure of office was that of the Oxford riots, occasioned by the endeavor of a mob to lynch a man by the name of Spivey. Being notified of the gathering of the mob, Sheriff Brannon drove to Oxford, arriving just in time to spare the community the disgrace of a lynching, for the rope was already around the neck of the prisoner, and over a branch of one of the village trees. The dauntless sheriff forced his way to the prisoner's side, undeterred by the threats of the mob, forced back the ringleaders, and taking the rope from Spivey's neck, took h! im away single-handed, and lodged him safely in the village jail. A li ttle later, the prisoner was removed to Hamilton, where he was tried and convicted. Such action on the part of Sheriff Brannon showed his regard for his oath of office, and his determination to uphold the laws of the county he represented, no matter what the personal peril. His coolness and quiet assertion of his right to the prisoner had the proper effect on the mob, and probably the majority were very grateful to him for saving them from the commission of a serious crime. During the time he was sheriff, Mr. Brannon did not permit any congregation of gamblers and confidence men either inside or out of the Butler County Fair Grounds, and he was very successful in reducing the percentage of crime in the territory over which he had jurisdiction. While he was unflinching in his enforcement of the law, Mr. Brannon was kind and considerate in his treatment of the prisoners commited to his care, and won many of them to adopt a better mode of life. The people of Butler county ! were not willing to resign their claims upon Mr. Brannon, and in 1911 he was appointed juvenile officer by Judge Warren Gard, but later left this office to run for county commissioner, and was elected by a very large majority in 1913, giving to the duties of this last named office the same conscientious attention which had characterized his former career. From early youth Mr. Brannon was allied with the Democratic party, and was very active in politics, and a leader locally in his party. He held membership in the Elks, Eagles and Red Men. January 6, 1896, Mr. Brannon was married to Emma K. Yarick, and they lived together happily until her death, March 27, 1901, she having borne him two children, namely: Marie, who was born January 2, 1898, attended the Hamilton schools and the Notre Dame convent at Hamilton, from which she was graduated, marrying, in 1916, Clarence Walsh of Hamilton, and they have two children; and Luke Brannon, jr., who was born December 29, 1899, attend! ed St. Stephen's school, and later St. Mary's high school. December 29 , 1903, Mr. Brannon was married (second) to Miss Catherine Hoderlene, of Hamilton, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Brannon had one son, Roger, who was born February 19, 1905, and he is now attending St. Mary's high school. Mr. Brannon was a consistent .member of St. Mary's Roman Catholic church of Hamilton, where Mrs. Brannon is a member of St. Stephen's. A tender husband, watchful father, kindly neighbor, and stainless public official, Mr. Brannon will long live in the memory of his fellow citizens, who are still benefiting from his official capability, and his alert vigilence in maintaining law and order. on page 325: in bio on John A. Holzberger, it mentions his sister, "Anna, the wife of Charles BRANNON, of Hamilton, with four children." Gary King Batavia IL -----Original Message----- From: L. L. Scott <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Sun, 6 Mar 2005 11:27:59 -0600 Subject: Lookup Butler Co. How very kind of you to do look ups for us. Please if you have time. Brannon, 81, 82, 83, 325, Bridge, 249, 250