Biographical sketch extracted from:

Biographical and historical record of Adams and Wells counties, Indiana.
Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1887. p. 1003.

PHILIP BRANER, deceased, was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, July 15, 1815, a son of Simon and Elizabeth (Maddox) BRANER, whe [sic] were natives of the State of Pennsylvania, the father being of German ancestry. The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm, and followed the avocation of a farmer through life. His education was such as could be obtained in the rude log cabin subscription schools of that early day. He remained under the home roof with his parents until his marriage, September 19, 1839, to Miss Sarah Fogle. She was born in Greene County, Ohio, November 4, 1819, a daughter of Jacob and Mary W. (Braner) Fogle, her father being a native of Germany, coming to America when a child, and her mother being a native of the State of Pennsylvania. They were among the pioneers of Greene County. After his marriage Mr. Braner followed farming in Montgomery County until 1842, when he came with his family to Wells County, Indiana, and purchased forty acres of heavily timbered land on section 27, Rock Creek Township, which he began immediately to clear and improve. They came to the county in limited circumstances, and in exchange for part of their land they gave two horses and one cow, while they cleared land to pay for the balance. Here they experienced all of the hardships and privations incident to pioneer life, and by years of toil and persevering energy they cleared their land and added to it at different times until they now own 240 acres of improved land under good cultivation. Mr. Braner was one of the public-spirited men of his township and always took an interest in public affairs, and for a time served as township trustee. His death, which occurred April 16, 1885, was a source of universal regret. He left a widow who still resides on the old homestead, and eight children, as follows: Mary A., wife of Philip Jones; Elizabeth, wife of James Ellingham; Jacob married Margaret Miller; Joseph married Jane Capp; Susannah, wife of Jacob C. Maddox; John married Miranda A. Sutton; William married Margaret J. Brown; Martha, wife of Calvin L. Davis.