Memorials › Thomas Jackson Bratton

Thomas Jackson Bratton

29 Jul 1862 – ?

Birth29 Jul 1862
Death?
Added byLori on 06 Jan 2024
FaGhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/262843807

Bio

Dies sometime after 26 Mar 1909, when his wife Martha and daughter Shella each submit applications for enrollment in the Cherokee tribe, listing Thomas as living, and before the 27 Apr 1910 census, where his wife Martha is listed as a widow. Martha's residence in both those records is shown as Durant, Bryan County OK, so presumably he died there. However no death certificate or burial info has been found. See Shella's application image at "United States records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99WX-HVDK?view=explore : Dec 17, 2025), image 779 of 1316; . Image Group Number: 007153931 Thomas J. Bratton was the first born of the nine children born to Elijah Patton Bratton and Lucinda Elizabeth Fields. He is found at age 17 living with his parents and younger siblings on the 1880 Grayson County TX census. Thomas age 21 marries Martha Elizabeth "Mattie" Pace 25 Jun 1883 in Collin County TX. The next month his mother dies, with eight children still at home, the youngest of which is age 2. Nine months later his father dies after being thrown from a horse. A few weeks later the first of Thomas and Mattie's two daughters is born, Shella. They have one more daughter, Stella, born two years later. At least some of Thomas's younger minor siblings lived with him and his family for awhile after their parents' deaths, according to affidavits filed many years later to determine heirship in probate proceedings for Thomas's brother William and wife. By 1890 Thomas and his brother Henry Green Bratton are found on the Collin County tax records. By 1899 Thomas and another brother, William, own a saloon in Honey Grove, Collin County TX. Honey Grove is still advertised as the "sweetest spot in Texas" and got its name from Davy Crockett, who camped in the area on his way from Tennessee to the Alamo in San Antonio, writing letters about all the honey bees in the trees. The Bratton brothers are successful businessmen there. TJ Bratton is mentioned in the local newspaper from 1900 - 1901, with an ad for Bratton's Bar doing a buggy give-away as well as personal mentions of TJ breakng his arm in a fall, having a house fire, purchasing a house on East Market street previously owned by a doctor. He and his wife and two daughters are listed on the 1900 Fannin County census, with his occupation being "saloon keeper." But in August 1901 Thomss is advertising in The Honey Grove Signal newspaper for the sale his 2 acre property with orchards, and in August 1902 his home is advertised for sale. There is a TJ Bratton advertising a bar called The Turf Exchange in Shawnee, OK in that local newspaper, during 1904-1905, but this may or may not be the same person. On the 1910 census Mattie is living in Durant, Bryan County OK as a widow with her married daughter Shella. No death certificate or obituary or burial info has been found for Thomas.

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