LEMUEL BRANDON
Lemuel Brandon was born about 1836 in Indiana. In the 1850 census he is living with his mother Martha "Patsy" and her 2nd husband George Kersey here in Jennings County. His name is listed incorrectly in that census as Lemuel Kersey. His mother "Patsy" had married George Kersey in December of 1837 in Jennings County. By the 1850 census he had five Kersey 1/2 brothers and sisters. George & "Patsy" Kersey had at least 9 children by 1865.
We next see him listed in the Jennings County Negro Registry the original book is at the Jennings County Public Library.
| Brandon, Lemuel | Age 17 | Aug. 24, 1853 |
| Birthplace | Jackson County, Indiana | |
| Comments | A mulatto man of dark brown complexion, of medium size and intelligent countenance. | Witnesses -- Levi W. Todd and Henry House |
In the early 1850's Lemuel married Frances Catherine "Fannie" Blackburn and by 1865 they had at least 4 children. Lemuel, his brothers Sanford and Stephen Kersey all served in the Civil War. Sanford and Stephen in the 28th Indiana Colored Infantry and Lemuel in the 23rd Regiment U.S. Colored Troops.
Vernon Banner - November 4, 1865
There was a meeting by the colored people of the County to during which Lemuel Bradon was chosen as the County representative who was being sent to a convention in Indianapolis to petition to the Legislature for their rights. They proposed to pay the sum of one dollar a piece to pay expenses to and from Indianapolis. The names of some of those who attended the meeting were Bluford Hill, Agrippa Hill, Hiram Mitchell, Jesse Phillips, William Hood, Sanford Carsey [Kersey], Riley Harper and Marshall McCoppin.
Barbershop already in business
North Vernon Plain Dealer - April 29, 1869
North Vernon Plain Dealer - April 28, 1870
The Colored Celebration.
The Colored Celebration.
North Vernon Plain Dealer - May 5, 1870
The Colored Celebration
According to previous notice the colored citizens of Jennings county met at their schoolhouse in North Vernon, on Tuesday, April 26th, 1870,
for the purpose of celebrating the ratification of the Fifteeth Amendment to the Constitution of the United State", giving them protection by law. A procession was
formed which marched through several of the principal streets of North Vernon, and thence to the Court House at Vernon, when they were called to order. Mr. Brandon
was called to the chair and James Newby and Nathaniel Hill appointed Secretaries. Addresses were delivered by Lemuel Brandon, John Kersey, Washington Goode, Col.
J. Vawter, Joe. Pitezuch, and John Overmyer. The following resolutions were adopted by a Unanimous vote, after which the meeting was closed by prayer by Rev. Washington
Goode.Whereas,
The 15th Amendment to the National Constitution, which provides that "the right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States, or by any State, on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude," has been ratified by more than three-fourths of the States of this Union, and officially proclaimed by the Secretary of State, as apart of the fundamental law-of-the-land; therefore, be it
Resolved, By the colored citizens of Jennings county, in mass meeting assembled, that we thank the Great Omnipotent for working upon the hearts of the law-makers of this country, and filling them with a love for, and causing them to mete out to all men equal and exact justice. Resolved, that to the noble men who bore the burden in the heat of the day, and labored for the liberation and enfranchisement of our race, and fought for the repeal of oppressive laws which operated against persons of color only, we tender our unfeigned thanks, and acknowledge a debt of gratitude which never can be paid; and rejoice with them that their work is well-nigh done, and that the black man now has rights which the white man is bound to respect
Resolved, That to the Republican party-God bless its leaders-we are indebted for the adoption of the 15th Amendment; for placing A. R. Revels in the Senate or the United States; for elevating Jonathan J. Wright to a seat upon the bench of the Supreme Court of South Carolina, and for all the political rights which are enjoyed by our race; and we hereby pledge ourselves to stand by the Republican party just as long as it maintains its past glorious and righteous record.
Resolved, That General Grant, the worthy President of the United States, has endeared himself to as by the loyal manner in which he has administered the affairs of Government, and by recognizing the ability, integrity and rights of Colored men, by appointing them to high and responsible civil positions.
Resolved, That we are pleased to know that, under the Reconstruction acts of our loyal Congress, the Southern States have not passed into a waste, howling wilderness, as some predicted, but, as the statistics of last year show, the cotton crop, during that period, brought more wealth into the reconstructed States than any year anterior to the war; and, if the colored citizens are protected in all their rights-interested as they are now in the fruits of their own labor-these States bid fair, at no distant day, to constitute the garden spot of America.
Resolved, That while we rejoice over the acquisition of our political rights, and regard them as invaluable, we also believe that wealth and education wield a powerful influence, and would now, more than ever before, enjoin upon our people the imperative necessity of acquiring property and educating their children. Resolved, That we have not forgotten, and can never forget, the noble men who contended heroically and fearlessly for equal rights, and fell on the field while the battle still raged; and that such names as John Brown, Abraham Lincoln, Thaddeus Stevens, John A. Andrew, Joshua R. Giddings, the Lovejoys, Edwin M. Stanton, Samuel Lewis, and Gameliel Bailey, are so indelibly stamped upon our memories that time can not efface them or cause them to grow dim.
Resolved, That John Brown's body lies moldering in the clay, but his spirit is marchng on. Glory, glory, hallelujah!
LEMUEL BRANDON, Ch'm.
JAMES NEWBY, Sec's
NATHANIEL HILL,
1870 Adds from the North Vernon Plain Dealer for Lemuel's business.
[Tonsorial is a fancy word that describes the work of those who give shaves and haircuts.
(From Webster's Dictionary)(It can apply more broadly to hairdressers as well.) It derives from the Latin verb tondere, meaning "to shear, clip or crop."]
Barber Shop Moved, North Vernon Plain Dealer - June 8th, 1876
North Vernon Plain Dealer -September 26, 1878, page 2
Lecture, North Vernon Plain Dealer - January 30, 1879
Another move for the Barber Shop, North Vernon Plain Dealer - April 29, 1879
2nd M. E. Church Camp Meeting, Lemuel Brandon Minister, April 22, 1880 - North Vernon Plain Dealer
Mention of Lemuel's brothers, North Vernon Plain Dealer - August 11, 1886
The following clipping announces the death of Martha "Patsy" Kersey, Lemuel's mother, she was born about 1815 in North Carolina and after the death
of her husband George Kersey lived with her children in Jennings County. February 22, 1886 - North Vernon Plain Dealer
Marriage of Lemuel & Frances Brandons daughter Jessie, September 19, 1889 - North Vernon Plain Dealer
Lemuel's Civil War pension approved. North Vernon Plain Dealer - March 19, 1890
May 20, 1896 - North Vernon Plain Dealer
Death of Lorenzo Brandon son of Lemuel & Frances Brandon, January 16, 1905 - Shelbyville Daily Democrat
Lorenzo Brandon, colored, aged forty-six years, ten months, two days, died Sunday morning at 3:15 o'clock of brain trouble. He was a member of
No. 15 Pride of Shelbyville, I.O.O.F. He leaves a wife and a mother. The remains will be taken to North Vernon tomorrow for burial by Edwards and Hageman. From the Shelby
County INGenWeb page. Contributed by Phyllis Miller FlemingJessie (Brandon) Butler only lived a few years after her marriage. February 9, 1905 North Vernon Plain Dealer
Frances Catherine "Fannie" Brandon wife of Lemuel Brandon died April 5th of 1917 in North Vernon, I did not find an obituary for her but her Death Certificate states she was also buried at City Cemetery (Now Hillcrest Cemetery). I have not found any record of their graves being marked. Of their 4 known children I have only found records on Alonzo and Jessie, neither of whom had children of their own.
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