Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2013, All Rights Reserved U.S. Data Repository Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the US Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= U.S. Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ========================================================================= Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== History of SHIAWASSEE and Clinton Counties, Michigan D. W. Ensign & Co., Philadelphia; 1880 -209- NICHOLAS BRADEN NICHOLAS BRADEN was born in the kingdom of Hanover, Germany, in February, 1808, being ninth in a family of ten children. He remained at home, working for his father, until seventeen years of age, when he borrowed a small sum of money and went to England, where he found em- ployment in a sugar-refining establishment. He remained there two years, paying close attention to business and exercising the strict- est economy, by which means he saved sufficient money to pay his fare to New York City, where he arrived in 1827, with only half a crown remaining of his two years' earnings. He soon secured a position in a sugar-house, which he retained for two years, at the expiration of which time he went into the grocery business. He followed this occu- pation until 1836, when he sold out, came to Michigan, and bought a farm, being a portion of the one now occupied by him. After going to New York and settling his business affairs, he came back to Michigan, built a log cabin, and began the work of clearing the forest around him. He lived alone in this cabin about eighteen months, when he married Miss KATRINA LAHRING, who was also born in Germany. By this union four children were born, but one of whom is now living, - ELIZA, born Dec. 29, 1841. Mrs. BRADEN died May 11, 1844, and Mr. BRADEN married, as his second wife, Mrs. DEBORAH (CLAYTON) MINOR, the widow of RAYMOND MINOR, who died in Oakland County, April 9, 1844. Their only living child is a resident of Traverse County. Mrs. DEBORAH BRADEN was born in New Jersey, Jan. 12, 1819. Mr. and Mrs. BRADEN have been active members of the Methodist Church for more than thirty years. To them have been born the follow- ing children: EMMA A., born June 4, 1846; LUTHER J., born Aug. 24, 1848; FRANKLIN A., born Feb. 2, 1851; RUTH E., born Jan. 22, 1854; and HENRIETTA, born Oct. 5, 1856. Mr. BRADEN reached New York City at the age of nineteen, without money or friends, unaquainted alike with the language and the customs of the people. He now owns a farm of two hundred and sixty-two acres. He has been successful in business, and as a neighbor and a citizen deserves honorable mention among the self-made men and pioneers of his county. =========================================================================== If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access more information about Shiawassee County, Mich., by going to the following URL: http://www.us-census.org/ ===========================================================================