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Sarah Ann Arenna "Renie" Branham was born June 2, 1879, in Crittenden County, Arkansas. She was the daughter of James Lacey Branham and Eliza Jane Osborn. She was named for her two grandmothers, Sarah Ann Osborn and Arenna Branham. She was called "Renie".
Renie married Joshua Howell on December 8, 1898, in Searcy County, Arkansas. Josh Howell was born April 1870, in North Carolina, the son of William Howell and Mary Elizabeth (last name unknown).
William Howell was born about 1826, in North Carolina and died prior to 1900. Elizabeth Howell was born August 1837, in North Carolina and died between 1910 and 1920, probably in Missouri. William and Elizabeth had two children, twin sons, Joshua Howell and Joseph "Joe" Howell. William and Elizabeth Howell appear on the 1880 Wilson County, North Carolina census with their ten-year old twin sons, Joshua and Joseph. The family moved to Arkansas prior to 1900.
The 1900 Pope County, Arkansas census, Town of Atkins, shows Josh Howell, 30, born April 1870, in North Carolina, married 2 years, a railroad laborer, who rented his house; and Rena, wife, 20, born June 1879, in Arkansas, married 2 years, no children. They were living not far from Mrs. Anna Blackwell and her children. Anna Blackwell later married Joe Farley, a Branham cousin to Renie. Joe may have met Anna while visiting with his Howell cousins.
(The 1900 Crawford County, Arkansas census, Town of Mulberry, shows Joseph Howell, head, 30, born April 1870, married 1 year, a railroad laborer; Emma, wife, 20, born May 1880, in Alabama; and Elizabeth Howell, mother, 62, born August 1837, in North Carolina.)
The 1910 Conway County, Arkansas census, shows Josh and Renie's family in Welborn Township, living on Germantown Road near present day Kenwood. The census shows Josh Howell, 30, married 1 time, married 11 years, born in North Carolina, a truck operator for the railroad, rented his house; Sarah R., wife, 28, married 1 time, married 11 years, had given birth to one child, one child was still living; and Flora, daughter, 10 years old.
(The 1910 Greene County, Missouri census, City of Springfield, shows Joe Howell, 40, married 2 times, a laborer for the railroad; Dollie, wife, 21, married 1 time, born in Missouri; and Elizabeth Howell, mother, 69, widowed, had given birth to 2 children, 2 children were still living.)
Josh and Renie's daughter Flora married in 1919. The 1920 Arkansas County, Arkansas census, Barton Township, dated January 15, 1920, shows Josh Howell, head, 50, a farm laborer who rented his house; and Renie, wife, 39. Living in the same house was Ben Ramsey, head, 25, a farm laborer; Flora Ramsey, wife, 19; and Bob Ramsey (Ben's brother), 30, single, a farmer.
(The 1920 Greene County, Missouri census, City of Springfield, shows Joe Howell, head, 49, working as a truck man for the railroad and Maud I., wife, 26, born in Arkansas.)
Josh and Renie's daughter Flora died in childbirth on December 27, 1920, near Bayou Meto, in Arkansas County.
Josh died October 23, 1921, in Craighead County, Arkansas. After Josh died, Renie lived with her widowed son-in-law, Ben Ramsey.
The 1930 Jefferson County, Arkansas census, Bolivar Township, shows Ben F. Ramsey, head, 35, widowed, married at 23, a farmer who rented; and Renie Howell, mother-in-law, 48, widowed, married at 18 years of age.
Ben Ramsey married Renie's niece, Della Branham, in 1934. Renie continued to live with Ben and Della after their marriage. In 1952, Ben, Della and Renie moved to Missouri.
Renie Howell died August 19, 1967, at Campbell, Missouri, and is buried in Tucker Cemetery at Campbell.
Child of Josh Howell and Renie Branham
1. Flora Howell was born Dec 7, 1900, in Pope Co, AR.