But some, including Russell's Columbus Branham --- 39 when shot to death during late April of 1904 in a somewhat remote area of north central Nebraska --- were felled by violence.
Columbus was a son of William H. and Louisa Branham. He was born in Wayne County during 1865, but accompanied his family west to Oregon during 1869. His mother died there during 1872 and the family returned to Iowa and settled at Russell where, during 1874, William H. married as his second wife Amanda Crall.
Columbus lived in and around Russell until about 1886, when he homesteaded in Cherry County, Nebraska, and still was farming there 18 years later. He apparently did not marry. And I have no idea why he was buried in the Chariton Cemetery, rather than at Russell. His burial was the first of four on the family lot where he was joined later by brother, Emmett, his father and stepmother.
Here's the account of Columbus's death as published on Page 1 of The Chariton Patriot of May 5, 1904, under the headline, "Insane Iowan Killed: Son of W.H. Branham Was Shot in Self-Defense in Nebraska."
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Russell, Iowa, May 4 --- W.H. Branham, of Russell, left Friday for Elsmere, Neb., in response to a telegram conveying the sad news that his son, Columbus Branham, had been shot and instantly killed near that place at 8 o'clock that morning, Friday, April 29th. Mr. Branham was accompanied by his son, Emmett, of Chariton.
The facts in regard to his death, as near as we can learn them, are as follows: For some time Mr. Branham had been afflicted with spells of insanity, but he begged to have the fact kept a secret from his relatives here. He had seemed to be better for a while and went to the home of a Mr. Williams, his best friend, and asked for board. Mr. Williams told him they could board him but had no room to lodge him, but if he could sleep in the barn he would try and accommodate him, and he replied that it would be all right and he repaired to the barn and to bed.
About 2:30 o'clock in the morning he came to the house and asked admittance, but Mr. Williams told him to go back to the barn and wait until morning. They heard him running back to the barn, but in a short time he returned to the house and repeated his request, and again he was told to go back to the barn. He said he would do so, providing they would call him at three minutes past eight. Mr. Williams promised and he went away.
In a short time he returned to the house and kicked the door in, threatening to kill all the family. Mr. Williams tried to dissuade him, but he grew more desperate and Mr. William shot him through the arm, thinking that would disable him, but it only made him more desperate, and Mr. Williams was compelled to shoot in defense of himself and family, the ball entering the right side and coming out of the left. Branham lived only a few minutes after the shot.
Mr. Williams is almost prostrated with grief over the accident, but Mr. Branham's people do not attach any blame to him.
The remains were brought to Russell Tuesday on No. 6 and funeral services were held at 3 o'clock p.m. from the residence of his father, conducted by Rev. Stote of the Baptist church, and interment was made in the Chariton cemetery. The pall bearers were old school friends of the deceased, viz: Messrs. Harve and Bert Scott, Russell, George, Chester, Allie and L. Lewis, Confidence. Music was furnished by a male quartet from Russell.
Deceased was born in Wayne county, August 11, 1865; with his father's family he moved to Russell in 1873 and resided here eight years, and from here to the farm south of Russell. When he was 21 years of age he went to Nebraska and entered land, where he had lived since. He was admired and respected by all his acquaintances.
Besides a father and stepmother, he leaves three sisters, Mrs. Flora Van Dyke of this place, Mrs. Ida Jones of Chariton and Mrs. Nitha Jones of Bernard, Kansas, two half sisters and one half brother. These sorrowing ones have the sympathy of the community in their great grief.
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The Brewster (Nebraska) News of April 29 locates the scene of the shooting more precisely in its brief report, as follows: "As we go to press the report comes by telephone that Columbus Branham was shot and killed early this morning at the Williams ranch about 14 miles northwest of the Elsmere post office, on Goose Creek. It appears that Branham was slightly demented the last several days and last night forced his way into the house of his neighbor, George W. Williams, with the result that he was shot by Mr. Williams."
The 1900 census of Cherry County shows a stockman named William G. Williams living near Columbus on Goose Creek with his wife, Minnie, two young children and a hired hand.
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Later reports, including one in The Omaha Bee of May 10, add a bit of mystery to the proceedings, suggesting that Columbus did not die instantly, as reported in The Patriot, but instead was left unattended outside the Williams home after the early morning shooting and actually died later some distance from the house.
The Bee (and other newspapers) reported, "The madman then left the house and went to the barn, but was found dead at the gate next morning. the body was brought to town Saturday and after being embalmed was sent east for burial. The coroner's jury completely exonerated Mr. Williams who, acting in self-defense, was forced to kill a man with whom he had been on most friendly terms for he last five years."
It seems unlikely the apparent discrepancy ever will be clarified.
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