The Branson family in Guthrie County dates back to 1852. John F. Branson and family with his brother-in-law, Henry Mains and family, came here from Parke County, Indiana and settled in Beaver Township. There were only two other families living in the township at that time. In 1855 John F. Branson bought 40 acres in Section 35 in Beaver Township from the government for $50, to which he added during his life something over 300 acres. The family lived in Beaver Township until 1880, at which time they bought land in Valley Township in Section 26 just south of what is now Monteith. They made that their home until his death on December 31, 1894. After his death his widow continued to live on the home place until her death on November 7, 1904. John F. Branson was born in Tennessee March 16, 1821. His wife, Margaret Ann Mains, daughter of Peter and Catherine (Peters) Mains was born in Ohio October 26, 1825. They were married in Parke County, Indiana in 1842. Their first four children, Catherine Jane, David, Alsemims and Mariah were born in Indiana. Nine of their 13 children were born in Iowa namely: Sarah, Lemuel, Thomas, Mary, Martha Ann, Jacob, John, George Wesley and Andrew Jacob and Mariah died in infancy. All the others with the exception of Alsemima, spent their lives in Guthrie County. Most of them owned homes in Beaver and Valley Townships a few miles from the home place. The south half of the town of Monteith was a part of the Branson land until sold and later platted in the town. The Branson children and their wives are as follows: David married Nancy Cabbage, February 7, 1869. Catherine Jane married Jacob K. Miller, April 4, 1861. Alsemima married J. W. Bishop, August 25, 1870. They moved to Oregon to make their home. Sarah married Francis Marion Haskins, October 18, 1866. Lemuel married Laura Craft, July 4, 1876. Thomas married Margery Morehead, January 1, 1879. Mary married Frank Hughes, July 22, 1875. After he died she married William Raymond. Martha Ann married Wilson Stringer, September 17, 1879. John Married Olive Edna Wall, December 25, 1885. George Wesley married Chloe Reed, August 25, 1887. Andrew J. married Priscilla Reed, August 10, 1887. All of the above Branson descendants are deceased but many of the second and third generation, and even to the fifth generation still live in Guthrie County. Others have scattered to other parts of the United States.
