Thomas H. Branch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thomas H. Branch
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Branch in 1902
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| Born | December 24, 1856 Jefferson County, Missouri, US
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| Died | November 24, 1924 (aged 67) Los Angeles, California, US
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| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Preacher and missionary |
| Known for | First African American to visit British Central Africa |
Thomas H. Branch (December 24, 1856 – November 24, 1924) was an American Seventh-day Adventist missionary. A missionary is someone who travels to teach people about their religion. Before becoming a missionary, he worked for a railroad company.
Thomas Branch joined the Seventh-day Adventist Church (SDA) and served as a missionary in Colorado. In 1902, he was chosen to go to British Central Africa Protectorate (which is now Malawi). He traveled there with his wife, Henrietta, and three of their children. On the way, a British official held him back for nine days in Chinde, Portuguese Mozambique. The official worried that a Black missionary might cause problems among the local people.
After being allowed to continue, Branch entered British Central Africa. He started a mission station in Cholo, in the Shire Highlands. He was the leader of the station, while another missionary named Joseph Booth handled the paperwork. Branch's wife and daughters worked as teachers. Local newspapers sometimes described Branch as strong-willed. However, he did not agree with all of Booth's more extreme ideas.
The SDA church decided to bring Booth and Branch back after the local government expressed concerns. Branch's replacement was someone the government liked more. After a short time in South Africa, the Branch family returned to the United States. Thomas Branch then worked with African American communities in Denver and Philadelphia. Henrietta died in 1913. Branch later married Lucy Baylor, but she left him. He then moved to California, where he lived his final years with his daughter.
Early Life and Work
Thomas H. Branch was born on December 24, 1856, in Jefferson County, Missouri, in the United States. His parents were slaves, but Thomas was born free. He went to a school for freed slaves. After school, he worked for the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad as a porter, cook, and steward.
Branch married Henrietta Paterson in Kansas City on December 7, 1876. Their daughter, Mabel, was born in Wyandotte County, Kansas, in 1878. Later that year, the family moved to Denver, Colorado. Three sons were born there: Thomas, Paul, and Robert. Branch became a brakeman on the railroad. He arranged to have Sundays off so he could be a lay preacher, which is a person who preaches without being a full-time minister.
Mabel, his daughter, went to West Denver High School. She became the first African American teacher in Colorado. In 1901, Thomas Branch became a missionary for the Seventh-day Adventist Church. He was sent to Pueblo, Colorado, where he started the first SDA African American church in that city.
Missionary Work in Africa
In 1902, the SDA church chose Branch to be a missionary in the British Central Africa Protectorate, which is now called Malawi. He was the first African American missionary sent to Africa by the SDA church. To get ready for the mission, Henrietta received medical training. Thomas Branch was officially made a minister on May 22, 1902. Even though he was older than most SDA missionaries, the church in Colorado recommended him. They also helped pay for the mission.
Branch, Henrietta, Mabel, Paul, and Robert left New York on June 4, 1902, and sailed to the United Kingdom. They arrived in London on June 12 and stayed at Duncombe Hall, which the SDA church used. The family of Joseph Booth also stayed there. The Booths would go with the Branch family to Africa to help with the mission. On June 27, the missionaries left London and sailed to Chinde, Portuguese Mozambique.
When they arrived in Chinde, a British official held Branch for nine days. The official was worried that educated African American missionaries might encourage local Africans to think independently and cause political unrest. Booth tried for three days to convince the official that Branch was not a threat. The Branches also faced discrimination from local Adventists who would not let them stay in their homes, so they had to stay in a hotel.
Branch was finally allowed to continue his journey. He and his family left Chinde on August 14 and arrived at Cholo in the Shire Highlands on August 29. This was the location for their mission station. By doing this, Thomas Branch became the first African American to visit British Central Africa.
The mission station at Cholo was bought by the SDA from another church group. It was named Plainfield after Plainfield, New Jersey, where the SDA had its main office. Branch was put in charge of the mission. He was responsible for the religious and educational work. Booth handled the administrative tasks. Henrietta and Mabel taught at the mission. The school opened with 25 students in its first week, with lessons held outdoors. By 1907, the school had grown to 75 students. They also started two smaller schools in nearby villages. By the time Branch left the mission, the school had 112 students. Branch learned the local language and was well-liked by the people he served. He officially started the first Adventist Church in the area on July 14, 1906.
Leaving Africa
Branch spoke out against the unfair treatment of Africans in the area. Because of this, local newspapers sometimes called him strong-willed. He also began to disagree with Booth's ideas about African independence. The colonial government became more worried after some unrest in South Africa in 1906. The SDA church wanted to keep good relations with the government, so they agreed to remove the Booths.
Booth was replaced by Joseph H. Watson, but Watson died soon after. This left the Branch family to run the mission alone. Even though Branch was generally careful and did not support extreme ideas, the SDA church wanted to show the colonial government their loyalty. So, they replaced Branch with a white American missionary named Joel C. Rogers. Rogers had experience in South Africa and had views that were more acceptable to the government.
By September 1907, Branch and his family were in South Africa. They found that their sons could not attend the Adventist schools there because the schools were separated for white students only. The family returned to the United States in 1908 because Henrietta was suffering from fevers.
Later Life and Retirement
When he returned to the United States, Thomas Branch was put in charge of the SDA's work with African Americans in Denver. In 1910, he moved to Philadelphia, where he started the first African American SDA church in that city. This church grew and started many other churches in Philadelphia. Branch and Henrietta, along with Dr. James Hyatt, gave talks and handed out flyers across Philadelphia.
Henrietta died on April 4, 1913. Branch was very sad after her death. His sons, who could not get an education, had joined the army. Branch himself was not well, suffering from the effects of malaria.
Branch later married Lucy Baylor, who was much younger than him and had a young daughter. Baylor left him shortly after when Branch refused to follow the teachings of Alonzo T. Jones. Branch moved to Watts, California, where he worked as a preacher. The SDA church later approved a pension for him so he could retire. He lived with his daughter Mabel's family in Los Angeles. Thomas Branch died on November 24, 1924.
