John Branstetter, farmer and stock raiser, was born in Barren, Kentucky, November 17, 1839, a son of John and Catherine (Amyx) Branstetter, who were natives of Virginia. The father was a son of Michael Branstetter, being born in new Hamburg, Germany, coming to America after the Revolutionary War. The mother of our subject was a daughter of Matthew Amyx, a native of Virginia, whose father, James Amyx, came from Ireland. The parents of our subject were reared to maturity in Kentucky, in which state they were married, and to them were born seven children, of whom six are still living. The parents past the balance of their days on the farm first settled on by our subject’s paternal grandfather. The mother died each 39 years, and the father at the advanced age of 86 years. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
He was a soldier in the war of 1812, serving under Gen. Harrison and participating in the battle of Tippecanoe. In politics, he affiliated with the Whig party.
John Branstratter, whose name has this sketch, was reared to the Association of a farmer on the farm of his parents, and in June, 1861, he was elected First Lieut. Of Company G, Second Regiment of Missouri State Volunteers, and led his company in the Boonville (Missouri) fight in July, 1861, and by his own request, he was transferred in October, 1861, to Company K, Thirteenth Regiment of Kentucky Volunteer Infantry and served as a private. In September, 1862, became commander of Army scouts and detectives; closed his military service in October, 1864.
In his youth, he received an academic education and in 1866, again to study for the ministry, taking the theological course at the Green Hill Seminary and in 1868 was ordained at Louisville, Kentucky, and his first charge was at Kimmundy, Illinois, where he remained two years. He was then at Salem three years, after which he was two years at Clay City, Illinois. He then returned to Salem, where he was in charge two years, and from there went to Gosport, Indiana, where he remained four years, being appointed Presiding Elder in 1875. He was also Indianapolis for one year.
He was united in marriage February 24, 1880, to Mrs. Mary G. (Bailey) Icenhower, a daughter of Lewis and Cassie (Householder) Bailey, natives of New York State, and among the first settlers of Blackford County, Indiana. They have an adopted daughter, Cassie R. Gregory, who is now a teacher in the graded schools.
In October, 1881, Mr. Branstetter located in Pennville, Jay
County, where he was engaged in mercantile pursuits until November, 1885,
when he treated his stock of merchandise for the farm where he now resides.
Here. He has since devoted his attention to farming and stock-raising, and
has his 100 acre farm well improved and under a high state of cultivation.
He is an active worker in the Masters cause and still officiates at the
local Elder. He has been a member of the Masonic fraternity since 21 years
of age, and belongs to Pennville Lodge, number 212, of Pennville, and of
Graham chapter, number 69, at Salem, Illinois, and a life member of Mother
Lodge at Jerusalem.
Biographical and Historical Record of
Jay County, Indiana The Lewis Publishing Company, 1887
Transcribed by Jim Cox