John Brawner Family
Maryland roots and Franklin County, Kentucky legacy
John Brawner, son of Edward Brawner and his first wife Ann Franklin, was born on 8 February 1784 in Maryland. He arrived in Franklin County, Kentucky, where he became a prominent civil engineer, stone mason, and contractor. He passed away during the Civil War at his home at the Forks of Flat Creek and Frankfort roads.
John married first Anna Magruder on 29 December 1810 in Fauquier County, Virginia. He married second Ann Warfield, daughter of Vachel Warfield, on 16 April 1849 in Franklin County.
Children of John Brawner and Anna Magruder
Thomas Magruder Brawner
Married Sarah R. Stephens on 29 December 1835 in Bullitt County, Kentucky. They settled in Louisville, where Thomas was a stone mason.
John Mitchell Brawner
Married Permelia Danby on 3 May 1843 in Henry County, Kentucky. A civil engineer and contractor, he worked on major projects including the Stone Mill building and dam at Grahamton in Meade County.
Henry Brawner
Franklin Brawner
Children of John Brawner and Ann Warfield
William Henry Brawner
Note: His parentage is sometimes debated; he may be the son of Ann Warfield from a prior relationship.
Peter Brawner
Married Matilda E. Semones in 1864; later married Sara Cletha Gee.
James Brawner
Nancy F. Brawner
Married John W. Buford on 5 December 1870.
Benjamin Franklin Brawner
Married Mariah Leona Botkins.
Charles M. Brawner
Married Louisa Ellen Buford.
Martha Brawner (Twin)
Mary Elizabeth Brawner (Twin)
Married James R. Fleming.
William "Billy" Marian Brawner
Historical Notes: The Old Capitol Stairway
Family tradition regarding the "Circular Stairway"
In a letter dated 11 January 1930, J.E. Brawner (son of John Mitchell Brawner) claimed that his grandfather, John Brawner, designed and built the famous circular stairway in the Old Capitol Building in Frankfort.
J.E. Brawner stated: "My father was doing the stone work at the Capitol and as the building progressed, the question of the stairway arose... Mr. father [grandfather], being called into conference by the architect, was asked to consider plans for the stairway and to present draft for same. Procuring plans of the building, he returned home, worked at the draft all night and took the draft of the stairway to the architect and he was instructed build it and did so."
While family tradition holds this claim strongly, historians have often attributed the work to others or anonymous penitentiary inmates. J.E. Brawner maintained the story was told to him directly by his father during a visit to the Capitol in 1862.
Information submitted by:
Anne H. Lee & Sue Rhody
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