Historical Rosters Database

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Melville Irby Branch

Roster ID 3090
This is a summary. Contact the Archives for additional biographical information.
First Name:Melville
Middle Name:Irby
Last Name:Branch
Suffix:
Affiliation:Class of 1868
Biography & Genealogy:Melville Irby Branch, Class of 1868: Genealogy: Born- Feb. 18, 1847 in Petersburg, Va. Father- Thomas Branch; Mother- Sarah Reade. Pat. Grandfather- Thomas Branch; Pat. Grandmother- Mary Pattison. Mat. Grandfather- John Blythe Reade; Mat. Grandmother- unknown. Married- Susan Wilhelmina Steiner of Ohio. Children- 1- Melville C. Branch; 2- Steiner Branch; 3- Henry S. Branch. VMI Record: Entered VMI- Jan. 30, 1865; Graduated- July 3, 1868 standing 11th in a class of 11. Military Record: Fought with the VMI Corps of Cadets in the trenches at Richmond, Va from Jan.- April, 1865. Careers: Farmer; Populist representative in Columbia, Ga. in Georgia State House of Representatives, 1892-97. Died- Dec. 21, 1930 in Berzelia, Ga. Buried at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Va.

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About the Database

The database currently includes the names of all enrolled students (both graduates and non-graduates) from VMI's opening in 1839 through the World War II era. In addition, you will find biographical and genealogical information, including a summary of military service during the Civil War, for many individuals who attended in the 19th century. The database also includes some historical Faculty and Board of Visitors members, as well as U. S. Army students sent to VMI for training during World Wars I and II. The latter groups were not VMI cadets. For further information about an ancestor listed in the database, please contact the VMI Archives. We can check the complete record, let you know if other information available, and provide copies of original documents. This database is for historical research. We do not release information about living individuals.

VMI Archives
Virginia Military Institute
Lexington, VA 24450
archives@vmi.edu
540-464-7516