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Don Egbert Erastus Braman came to Texas from Norton, Bristol County, Massachusetts, in 1837, by way of New Orleans and the Texas Volunteers. He joined the Texas army and fought in the Texas Revolution under General Sam Houston. He served as a customs officer for one year at the port of Matagorda, and in 1847, was appointed clerk of the First Judicial District Court. He studied law while holding that office and was admitted to the bar in 1853. He served as mayor of Matagorda for several years and was appointed county judge by Governor Elisha M. Pease. Judge Braman was born on September 21, 1814, the son of Andrew and Nancy Hawes Braman. The ancestors on both sides were among the Pilgrims. Andrew Braman was a successful banker in Norton, Massachusetts. Nancy Hawes Braman was a native of Wrentham, Massachusetts; her family had come to America from Scotland in 1633. Braman wrote articles which expressed his views and appeared in the early newspapers. In 1854, he published a book, Information About Texas, which gave a description of counties and information for emigrants about Texas; he discussed a variety of subjects from honey bees to his final chapter on "present and future prospects of Texas." Braman devoted most of his time to the practice of law and accumulating property all over the state. He moved his family to Victoria in 1887, died there on February 17, 1897 and was buried at Evergreen Cemetery. On April 28, 1844, he married Mary Elizabeth Burkhart, the daughter of George and Catherine Dorothy Robideaux Burkhart, both natives of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Their children were:
Julia Hawes Braman (Aug 18, 1842 Matagorda, TX -
Nov 7, 1845 Matagorda, TX) After the deaths of their parents, Mary Elizabeth and Nancy Hawes occupied the family home in Victoria.
Historic Matagorda County, Volume II,
pages 50-51 |
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JUDGE BRAMAN DEAD Last night, at his home in this city, Judge Don Egbert Erastus Braman died, in the 84th year of his age, having been born Sept. 21, 1814, at Norton, Bristol county, Mass. He was unwell for some time, never having fully recovered from an attack of la grippe, from which he suffered a year ago, and his death while looked for, came more suddenly than was expected.
The Historical Record of Southwest Texas, in giving a sketch of Judge Braman’s life, states that his ancestors on both sides were among the Pilgrims; that he was educated in Providence, Rhode Island, and in 1833 went to Georgia, where he remained until 1835; that he then went to what is now Eufallan, and participated in a raid against the Cherokee Indians. “In 1836 he went to New Orleans, and the following year came to Texas with a lot of volunteers for the Texan army. Landing at Matagorda, he soon joined the army at Camp Johnson, in Jackson County, and served twelve months. From here he went to Matagorda and became a custom officer for about a year. In 1847 he was appointed clerk of the First District court, and studying law while he held the office, was admitted to practice in 1853.
“For several years he was mayor of Matagorda, and was appointed county judge by Gov Pease.
“On the 28th of April, 1841, he was married to Miss Mary Elizabeth, daughter of George Burkhart, a native of Philadelphia, who came to Texas in 1839, “and she with five children, survive him and mourn his loss. The children are William C. and Dr. Daniel H. Braman, and Misses Mary E., Nancy H. and Julia Braman.
The interment takes place this evening from St. Mary’s Catholic church, at 4 o’clock.
For a number of years Judge Braman has been retired from the practice of law and the active duties of life, and has made his home in Victoria. He was successful in life, and in his death Texas loses a citizen who was a pioneer and soldier and suffered for her advancement.
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