Edward P. Branch Explained

Edward P. Branch
Office:Mayor of Melbourne, Florida
Order:5th
Term Start:December 6, 1892
Term End:December 12, 1893[1]
Predecessor:L.P. Ely
Successor:H.D. Brown
Birth Date:24 May 1842[2]
Birth Place:Painesville, Ohio
Death Place:Jacksonville, Florida
Residence:Melbourne, Florida
Spouse:Abbie Clark Branch
Occupation:Merchant and banker

Edward P. Branch (May 24, 1842 – January 6, 1937) was a one-term mayor of Melbourne, Florida from 1892 to 1893.

Edward Branch attended the Madison Seminary, in Madison Ohio, from 1858 to 1860. When the Civil War broke out, he along with several of his schoolmates joined the fight. He enlisted in Co. F, 105th Ohio Volunteer Infantry.

He was a writer and wrote "Plain People - A Story of the Western Reserve". He often wrote to the editor of the Painesville's Telegraph about stories of growing up in Lake County Ohio. One of his letters lead to the Madison Seminary Reunions which were held from 1893 until sometime in the 1930s.

He came to Melbourne, Florida in 1886.[3] He influenced Henry Flagler to bring the Florida East Coast Railway through Melbourne.[3]

In 1889, he organized the First Congregational Church along with his wife, and 10 others.[3] In 1913, he was a member of the National Council of Delegates for the American Congregational Church.[4]

After the death of Richard W. Goode in 1912, he was appointed postmaster of Melbourne.[5]

Notes and References

  1. City of Melbourne - Mayors - Chronological Order of Terms (1888 to Present), Melbourne City Clerk's Office
  2. "Florida, Deaths, 1877–1939," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FPHB-9ZF : accessed 07 Feb 2014), Edward P. Branch, 06 Jan 1937.
  3. Book: Melbourne and Eau Gallie. Raley, K.. Flotte, A.R.. 2002. Arcadia. 9780738514178. 33. 13 Aug 2015.
  4. Annual Report - American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. Meeting. Annual Report. 1913. v. 103-106. The Board. 0362-7632. 13 Aug 2015.
  5. Web site: Early Post Office Site in Melbourne Marker - Historic Markers Across Florida. lat34north.com. 13 Aug 2015.