William Carrick Braly

BRALY, William Carrick – Funeral services for the late Capt. William Carrick
Braly, formerly of this place, were held yesterday morning at 10 o’clock from the
Presbyterian Church at Lincoln, with interment in the old McClellan Cemetery,
Cane Hill. Masonic services were held at the grave, members of the Lincoln
Masonic Lodge serving as pall bearers. The funeral sermon was preached by Dr.
M.L. Gillespie of this place and services were conducted by Rev. Edwin Harris,
pastor of the Lincoln Presbyterian Church, assisted by Dr. C.E. Hayes of Little
Rock. Captain Braly at the time of his death was stated clerk and treasurer of the
Presbytery of Arkansas, Presbyterian Church, U.S.A. and was chairman of the
committee on home missions. For the past twelve years he has given almost his
entire time to the general work of his church, “No clergyman had a larger
influence in the church of the State and no man was more universally beloved.”
More than fifteen ministers attended the funeral services, several of those being
from the Methodist church and the following being from the Presbyterian: Rev.
Edwin Harris, Rev. W.C. Savage from Cincinnati, Rev. C.E. Hayes, Little Rock,
Rev. J.W. Stockburger and Rev. E.M. Frayschlag both of Fayetteville, Rev. D.T.
Waynish of Siloam Springs, Rev. Samuel Marrs of Cane Hill, Rev. Mr. Knox,
Rev. S.B. Reed of Prairie Grove and Dr. M.L. Gillespie of this place. Captain
Braly was the son of Rev. Frank M. and Amanda McClellan Braly. He was born
November 15, 1841 in Franklin County, Missouri, his father one of the early
Cumberland Presbyterian ministers who traveled in Arkansas and Missouri as a
pioneer preacher. The family moved to Cane Hill in 1853 when the father died
leaving William McClellan as chief support for his mother and three younger
children. The boy’s education was received chiefly at Cane Hill College. At the
outbreak of the Civil War he was opposed to secession but stood loyally with the
South against coercion and invasion and he entered the Confederate army in
1862, serving until the end of the war in Co. B, 34th Regulars, Arkansas Infantry.
Following the war he rebuilt his mothers’ home at Cane Hill and engaged in
farming for 30 years. He took an interest in all public affairs and was a consistent
member of the Democratic party, holding a number of minor offices. He
represented Washington County in the State Legislature in 1877 and 1879 and
again in 1883 at which session he was speaker of the house. During President
Cleveland’s first administration he was appointed a special agent for the U.S.
General Land Office for the Northwest and in attending to those duties traveled
extensively over the western half of the country. In 1889 he moved with his family
to Fayetteville for the educational advantages of the University. In April 1893 he
accepted the position of chief of the division of accounts in the General Land
office at Washington D.C., where he remained until 1900 when he returned to
Fayetteville. He was several times a member of the Democratic State Convention
and in 1892 was temporary chairman of that body. After his return to Fayetteville
he served as city councilman and as a member of the State Board of Charities.
He was a member of the board of trustees of Cane Hill College from 1873 until
his death. In 1909 he moved from Fayetteville to Lincoln where his death
occurred Christmas day following a brief illness. He is survived by his wife, two
sons, Herbert of Muskogee, Oklahoma and Captain W.C. Braly, Jr., of the 48th
Artillery, USA., Camp Jackson, South Carolina; three daughters, Mrs. T.L.
McCulloch of Lincoln, Mrs. H.N. Smith of Mena, Arkansas and Miss Mary Braly of
Fullerton, California; and three grandchildren, Frances and Carrick McCulloch of
Lincoln and Frannie Braly of Muskogee. He also leaves two brothers, Frank M.
Braly of Clyde, Arkansas and Samuel Braly of Oklahoma. All of his children
except Mrs. Smith, who was detained by her husbands’ health, were at the
funeral at which Captain Braly, Jr., who is an accomplished violinist, played the
funeral music selected by his father just before his death. Dr. M.L. Gillespie, who
has known the deceased intimately for years said today; “Captain Braly is one of
the last of the splendid coterie of men produced by the influence of Cane Hill
College, who have made such an impression for good on the whole State. He
was noted for the great qualities of his mind and soul, the comprehensive grasp
of his intellect, his unfailing moral discrimination, his spiritual vision, his
undaunted courage, combined with an affectionate nature, unfailing generosity
and charity. No minister had a wider influence for good than he and few men
have been more universally beloved.” [Fayetteville Democrat 12/28/1920]
[Springdale News 1/7/1921]
Braly, W.C. of Lincoln, Arkansas enlisted in Company B, 34th Infantry at Cane
Hill, Washington County, Arkansas. (pages with biographical data are missing)
[1911 Arkansas Confederate Census]
(County Canvass held at Kenneth Head’s place in Brush Creek Township) W.C.
Braly, Esq., at the earnest solicitation of many friends, appeared before the
assembled crowd as candidate for a seat in the next general assembly. He held
the same views on the disposition of the so-called indebtedness of the State as
the candidates who preceded him. He favors short sessions believing that we
have too much legislation; he favors reduction of the taxes to the lowest figures,
but warned the people not to expect too great a reduction at once, and that the
present high taxes are a legacy of carpet-bag rule. [Fayetteville Democrat
8/12/1876]
From Mr. Braly –Eds. Democrat: When I began to write for your paper on the
subject of our county affairs and the conduct of officials, it was with a purpose to
give a plain unvarnished statement of such facts as might be in my possession; a
purpose to deal with facts and not with motives, and with a determination not to
permit myself to be goaded into the use of any bitter personalities. To this
determination I have adhered, and shall not depart from it now. The Sheriff in his
desperation, finding himself without argument, sees proper to interpose his denial
to certain statements contained in my last article, and in a card published in your
last issue he uses very bitter language toward me. Not satisfied with this, he
appeared before me in your office on Saturday last, armed as if he expected to
meet a desperado, and with blasphemous imprecations, and maniacal
gestulations proceded to pronounce his judgment upon me. My self-respect, if
nothing else, would not permit me to suffer myself drawn into a drunken brawl,
with even the high sheriff and first peace officer of the county. But Messrs.
Editors, permit me to say just here, that if by this he hoped to deter me from any
course I may see proper to persue or from the utterance or publication of any
matter concerning his official conduct which in my opinion the public ought to
know, he has “reconed without his host.” I shall persue the even tenor of my way,
regardless alike of his threats, his epithets, or his enconiums. The statement of
his settlement and liability published in your issue of the 22nd ult. was taken from
county records. The record I believe to be correct, but seeing his statement that
he had made a settlement at the October term, record or no record, I addressed
the following note to the County Judge: Fayetteville, Nov. 29, 1879. – Hon. Thos.
Mullins, County Judge : Dear Sir, In a card published in today’s Democrat I see
the Sheriff denounces certain statements made in my article in the Democrat a
week ago and says he did make a settlement at the October term of court, and
that he did file a delinquent personal list in July. Will you please state if such is
correct. – W.C. Braly. – To which I received the following reply: Fayetteville,
Nov.29, ’79. W.C. Braly. Dear Sir, In r