History of Mary Palmer Graves.
History of George W. Bratton and Mary Palmer Graves. Compiled by Chaundelle Hill Brough in July 2004.
George Washington Bratton was born to James and Isabelle Bratton on September 3, 1812, in Wayne, Mifflin County, Pennsylvania. In 1835 he married Mary Palmer Graves, the daughter of Reuben Graves and Phebe Palmer, in Erie City, Erie County, Pennsylvania. Mary Palmer was born September 13, 1818, in Concord, Vermont. After they were married they resided in Erie Pennsylvania for a time. It was here that their first two children were born; Caroline (September 25, 1836), and Elizabeth (January 19, 1838).
George was a cabinet maker by trade and had decided that by moving west he would be able to increase the family fortune. They settled in Ottowa, Iowa where they were given a very good farm by a friendly Potowatoma Indian. They lived in Ottowa about two years, and while there had their third daughter Laura (November 10, 1841). It was around this same time that the Nauvoo Temple was being built. George and Mary moved their family to Nauvoo where George worked on the Nauvoo Temple for five years designing much of the beautiful wood work found inside. They both were baptized members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on January 21, 1846. It was in Nauvoo that their fourth daughter, Eliza Jane (March 6, 1845) was born. Mary’s mother also lived with them at this time.
During their last year in Nauvoo, the first covered wagon train of Mormons, under the direction of Brigham Young, left for the journey westward. Mary’s mother Phoebe Palmer was very anxious to make this trip, as her oldest daughter, Eliza Graves Rich, had gone with her husband (Charles C. Rich) in one of the earlier companies. However, she felt she could not go and leave Mary with her family of little girls behind. Mary wanted very much to make the journey as well, but her husband George, not being as deeply impressed by the gospel felt they had moved far enough west. Mary and her mother were very sincere and firm in their beliefs. They had already suffered so much persecution that they were reluctant to remain in Nauvoo when the main body of Saints was making such an effort to gather in Zion. Mary wished to rear her family in a community where she would be free to teach her children of God in the way of her church. Her husband could not see as she did. Mary also faced the prospect of a broken home seeing as George Bratton had become interested in another woman. The couple decided to separate. In the spring of 1852 Mary Palmer decided to head west with the Saints. George went with his family as far as Council Bluffs, Nebraska. Soon after their arrival their fifth daughter, Mary Florence (February 23, 1852) was born. Her appearance at this time tended to keep the family together a little longer, but it was only a temporary reconciliation.
In May 1852 Mary joined Captain Brim’s company of about fifty wagons. At the time she and George still owned the farm in Ottowa, the selling of which was put in the hands of Orson Hyde. From the money obtained for the farm George provided Mary with two very good ox teams and wagons for the long journey. Robert Brooks, a seventeen year old boy, had consented to drive one of the wagons in payment for his board. Mary’s mother would drive the other wagon, as Mary still had a very young baby to care for.
Mary had a cow that was part of one of her teams. Each day a portion of the milk obtained from the cow was put in an earthen jar in the wagon. With the jolting of the wagon they always had a nice pat of fresh butter for their evening meal. At night all members of the camp would gather around the central camp fire and sing, dance or tell lively jokes or stories. They would have group prayer in which everyone would bow their heads in tribute to their God, who had guided them safely on their journey that day.
At last they reached the Rocky Mountains. Just as the sun was setting they reached the mouth of Emigration Canyon. They arrived in Salt Lake City in September of 1852. The winter was spent in the Old Fort, now known as Pioneer Park. This fort had been erected as a protection against the Indians. The homes consisted of rows of crude houses built together. Many times the women folk were seen cooking over the stove, with an umbrella hanging over their heads to ward off the rain that leaked through the roof.
In the spring the Brattons moved into the home of Mary’s sister, Eliza Graves Rich in Centerville, Davis County, Utah, in what is known as the old Woolley home. This home was near the Nathan Porter home where John President Porter lived with his three motherless sons; Joseph Rich, Samuel C. (father of Orin Porter), and John. It was under these circumstances that Mary Graves Bratton and John President Porter met, and then married on March 24, 1853. There were two children born of this marriage; Charles Graves and Sarah Ellen (better known as Nell). Charles Graves Porter always said that in spite of the fact that there were three families all under one roof, the Porter family was a peaceful, happy, family.
John and Mary took up land in Centerville which proved to be poor and unproductive. After a few years of struggle and disappointment they moved to Morgan County in the Weber Valley and staked off a farm in what was later called Porterville, the town taking its name from these early settlers – Sanford Porter Sr., Sanford Porter Jr., and John President Porter.
Mary died June 18, 1896 and was buried June 21, 1896 in Porterville, Morgan County, Utah. John President Porter was buried May 30, 1895 also in Porterville. A lovely marker stands at the head of their graves. George Washington Bratton died February 2, 1901 in Brownville, Nebraska. The temple records show that Mary Graves Bratton Porter was sealed on March 27, 1853 in the President’s office, and again on February 25, 1855.
Note: Information taken from the journal of Elizabeth Bratton Parrish (daughter), and from information written by Bessie Porter Brough (daughter of Charles Graves Porter), Nancy P. Moffet, and Laura Walton Barber.
Marriage Notes for John President Porter Sr. and Mary Palmer Graves-3840
MARRIAGE: Also shown as Married Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., Utah.
"George Washington Bratton" is listed in the records of the "Membership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-1848" (via Ancestry.com: http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=LDSVitalMembership1830-1848&indiv=try&h=10218), which states that he was born on 3 September 1812 or September 3, 1814 in Wayne, Pennsylvania, and that his parents were James Bratton and Isabella.
George Washington Bratton was born in Pennsylvania; and Mary Palmer Graves in Concord, Vermont. George and Mary were married in 1835 in Erie, Pennsylvania, and had five children--one who settled in Pennsylvania, one in Porterville, Utah, two in Centerville, Utah, and another in Grace, Idaho.
History of George Washington Bratton
History of George W. Bratton and Mary Palmer Graves. Compiled by Chaundelle Hill Brough in July 2004.
George Washington Bratton was born to James and Isabelle Bratton on September 3, 1812, in Wayne, Mifflin County, Pennsylvania. In 1835 he married Mary Palmer Graves, the daughter of Reuben Graves and Phebe Palmer, in Erie City, Erie County, Pennsylvania. Mary Palmer was born September 13, 1818, in Concord, Vermont. After they were married they resided in Erie Pennsylvania for a time. It was here that their first two children were born; Caroline (September 25, 1836), and Elizabeth (January 19, 1838).
George was a cabinet maker by trade and had decided that by moving west he would be able to increase the family fortune. They settled in Ottowa, Iowa where they were given a very good farm by a friendly Potowatoma Indian. They lived in Ottowa about two years, and while there had their third daughter Laura (November 10, 1841). It was around this same time that the Nauvoo Temple was being built. George and Mary moved their family to Nauvoo where George worked on the Nauvoo Temple for five years designing much of the beautiful wood work found inside. They both were baptized members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on January 21, 1846. It was in Nauvoo that their fourth daughter, Eliza Jane (March 6, 1845) was born. Mary’s mother also lived with them at this time.
During their last year in Nauvoo, the first covered wagon train of Mormons, under the direction of Brigham Young, left for the journey westward. Mary’s mother Phoebe Palmer was very anxious to make this trip, as her oldest daughter, Eliza Graves Rich, had gone with her husband (Charles C. Rich) in one of the earlier companies. However, she felt she could not go and leave Mary with her family of little girls behind. Mary wanted very much to make the journey as well, but her husband George, not being as deeply impressed by the gospel felt they had moved far enough west. Mary and her mother were very sincere and firm in their beliefs. They had already suffered so much persecution that they were reluctant to remain in Nauvoo when the main body of Saints was making such an effort to gather in Zion. Mary wished to rear her family in a community where she would be free to teach her children of God in the way of her church. Her husband could not see as she did. Mary also faced the prospect of a broken home seeing as George Bratton had become interested in another woman. The couple decided to separate. In the spring of 1852 Mary Palmer decided to head west with the Saints. George went with his family as far as Council Bluffs, Nebraska. Soon after their arrival their fifth daughter, Mary Florence (February 23, 1852) was born. Her appearance at this time tended to keep the family together a little longer, but it was only a temporary reconciliation.
In May 1852 Mary joined Captain Brim’s company of about fifty wagons. At the time she and George still owned the farm in Ottowa, the selling of which was put in the hands of Orson Hyde. From the money obtained for the farm George provided Mary with two very good ox teams and wagons for the long journey. Robert Brooks, a seventeen year old boy, had consented to drive one of the wagons in payment for his board. Mary’s mother would drive the other wagon, as Mary still had a very young baby to care for.
Mary had a cow that was part of one of her teams. Each day a portion of the milk obtained from the cow was put in an earthen jar in the wagon. With the jolting of the wagon they always had a nice pat of fresh butter for their evening meal. At night all members of the camp would gather around the central camp fire and sing, dance or tell lively jokes or stories. They would have group prayer in which everyone would bow their heads in tribute to their God, who had guided them safely on their journey that day.
At last they reached the Rocky Mountains. Just as the sun was setting they reached the mouth of Emigration Canyon. They arrived in Salt Lake City in September of 1852. The winter was spent in the Old Fort, now known as Pioneer Park. This fort had been erected as a protection against the Indians. The homes consisted of rows of crude houses built together. Many times the women folk were seen cooking over the stove, with an umbrella hanging over their heads to ward off the rain that leaked through the roof.
In the spring the Brattons moved into the home of Mary’s sister, Eliza Graves Rich in Centerville, Davis County, Utah, in what is known as the old Woolley home. This home was near the Nathan Porter home where John President Porter lived with his three motherless sons; Joseph Rich, Samuel C. (father of Orin Porter), and John. It was under these circumstances that Mary Graves Bratton and John President Porter met, and then married on March 24, 1853. There were two children born of this marriage; Charles Graves and Sarah Ellen (better known as Nell). Charles Graves Porter always said that in spite of the fact that there were three families all under one roof, the Porter family was a peaceful, happy, family.
John and Mary took up land in Centerville which proved to be poor and unproductive. After a few years of struggle and disappointment they moved to Morgan County in the Weber Valley and staked off a farm in what was later called Porterville, the town taking its name from these early settlers – Sanford Porter Sr., Sanford Porter Jr., and John President Porter.
Mary died June 18, 1896 and was buried June 21, 1896 in Porterville, Morgan County, Utah. John President Porter was buried May 30, 1895 also in Porterville. A lovely marker stands at the head of their graves. George Washington Bratton died February 2, 1901 in Brownville, Nebraska. The temple records show that Mary Graves Bratton Porter was sealed on March 27, 1853 in the President’s office, and again on February 25, 1855.
Note: Information taken from the journal of Elizabeth Bratton Parrish (daughter), and from information written by Bessie Porter Brough (daughter of Charles Graves Porter), Nancy P. Moffet, and Laura Walton Barber.
"James Bratton" and "Isabella" are mentioned as the parents of "George Washington Bratton" in the records of the "Membership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-1848" (via Ancestry.com: http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=LDSVitalMembership1830-1848&indiv=try&h=10218), which states that George Washington Bratton was born on 3 September 1812 or September 3, 1814 in Wayne, Pennsylvania, and that his parents were James Bratton and Isabella.
Marriage Notes for James Bratton and Isabella Bratton-758
James Bratton and Isabelle Bratton were cousins.