Walter Helle: "I remember well my grandmother and grandfather on my mother's side of our family. My grandfather, Joseph Kaler, died when I was only ten years old. To my knowledge, Grandma never said an ill word about anyone or ever raised her voice in anger. She loved to sing hymns. She was truly a great woman. Her mother, Lodema and her two sisters, Mary and Louisa and her two daughters, Nellie and Ethel were all schoolteachers. Grandma even taught Grandpa how to read and write after they were married. Grandpa was a preacher for a time and they were all of Baptist by faith. I am proud to have such a heritage."

BIOGRAPHY: Nancy was left a widow at the age of 56, when Jesse was killed in an accident while digging a well. There was no official marriage record found for Jesse Braman to Nancy Ward, and his place of birth has not been located. Nancy was born in Connecticut at Simsbury or Hartland. By 1800her parents were living at Coeyman, Albany Co., NY. It was probably here that Jesse, not quite 20, married Nancy, age 18 1/2.
Their first 3 children were born in Jefferson, Schoharie Co., where Nancy's brother, John Mudge, was a Baptist Preacher. This is about the time that Jesse became a Baptist preacher. Jesse and Nancy are listed on the 1810 Census at Nelson, Madison Co., NY. The Erieville Baptist Church was organized at the house of Jesse Braman in 1810. In 1813 they were at Mendon, Ontario Co., NY where Jesse was pastor at several Baptist Churches. Paulina, Jesse Jr, David and Samuel were born at Mendon, Ontario Co., NY.
According to the "Family Record" prepared by Jesse, Jr. the fourth son John, was born in 1823 at Lima, Livingston County. This is not far from York, where by 1824 he was a minister of the Baptist Church there. Sometime during this period he also was living at Friendship Allegany County, and his name appears as Elder Jesse Braman, along with his brother David. His daughters, Elizabeth and Lucinda also resided there for a time after their marriages. Jonathan, their tenth, and last child, was born in 1829, at Burns, Allegany Co.
Before 1838 Jesse and Nancy had moved to New London, Huron Co., Ohio. Jesse did not live long after the move to Ohio. Excerpt from Lodema's diary tells of his death: 8 May 1839 - "My father came to his death by digging in a well, or rather by a piece of timber falling on his head while in the well. He was taken up as dead but recovered for about ten hours and then expired. Thus, in that short space we were deprived of a kind and tender father, and mother, of an affectionate companion."
Nancy continued to live in Ohio, at New London and Brighton, for a time she lived with her son, David, and later with John. In the late 1850's she went to Whitewater, WI, to live with her oldest daughter, Elizabeth. She died there 5 Dec 1859 of palsy after eight days of illness, age 76 (Fed. Mort. Sched. 1860)
Jesse is buried at East Creek Cemetery, New London, although the grave is not marked today. In a letter from Louisa, she speaks of standing at the grave of "our sainted father, and our brother David." There is a tombstone for David in this cemetery. Nancy is buried at Whitewater and a letter from Ella Bolon, 1973, states "I've visited her grave in Whitewater. It's in an old and beautiful cemetery.

Letter written 16 Feb 1852, from Nancy Ward Braman to her daughter, Lodema: She mentions each one of the family. Also was a note enclosed from Phebe Bruce, Nancy's sister). She then added more because she had not mailed it. This was May 1 1852. They had not seen each other in 20years.

Upon the death of her husband, Jesse, Nancy wrote the following poem:
How lonesome my table to me
How empty the place where he sat
What lonely devotion for me
Where once we so surely did meet
I took through the rooms of my house
Each door on its hinges doth move
While searching I find not my spouse
He's gone, nevermore to return.
My sons of their father bereft
To manage the affairs all alone
 

 (Sharon Bearce)