JEFFERSON RANDOLPH BRANDON
The above Confederate Veteran is the most honored ancestor of Hugh Randolph Brandon, a member of Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 469 in Rome, GA.
Jefferson R. Brandon was born May 9, 1839 in Bartow Co., GA. The son of Thomas Wiley Brandon and Louise Avery Green Brandon, he joined the Methodist Church in his early youth and committed his life to Christian precepts.
In 1861 he helped to organize and joined Company F, 18th Georgia Regiment, and served bravely and gallantly throughout the Civil War. He was elected sergeant, and afterwards was made a First Lieutenant. He participated in the battles of Williamsburg, Seven Pines, Seven Days' Battles about Richmond, Gaines's Mill, Fredricksburg, Chancellorville, Gettysburg, Chickamauga, the Battle of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania Courthouse, Cedar Creek, and then in the sieges of Richmond and Petersburg. At Gettysburg he was slightly wounded, but remained in the service until April 6, 1865, when he was captured and sent to Johnson's Island and there held until June 19, 1865.
Upon his release from Johnson's Island, he returned to Bartow Co. and Stilesboro. In 1878 he married Miss Kate Sumner. They then had five sons: Paul M., William B., Moses, Claude S., and Hugh Randolph Brandon.
His life was well spent. Family and friends look back with laudable pride upon his record as a Confederate soldier, his performance of the duties of citizenship, and his kindly indulgence to his family. His comrades of P.M.B. Young Camp, U.C.V., with willing tongues and earnest hearts declare:
"He resteth well.
Life's battles bravely fought and nobly won,
He laid him down content at set of sun,
As twilight shadows fell."
Jefferson Randolph Brandon, the grandfather of Hugh Randolph Brandon, died on February 29, 1920 at the age of 81 and is buried at Stilesboro, Ga., in Stilesboro Cemetery.
 |