Search For Hiram Granbury

A Misleading Headstone Leads to
the Search for General Hiram B. Granbury

By
Jane Embrose
Granberry Descendant

Photograph of original headstone by Carl C. Williams

Several months ago I discovered a picture of a headstone listing one of my relatives as a Brig. Gen. in the Civil War. This headstone was originally placed in Columbia, TN in 1864/1865 stating "H.B. Granberry of the Confederate Army, From Texas, born in Georgia, Killed at Franklin, Tenn. Nov. 30, 1864". Through further research I discovered the town of Granbury, Texas was named for this same soldier. The Granbury Depot stated this soldier was the son of Norvell R. Granberry and he was born 1831 in Mississippi. Finding such conflicting data I could only assume the state of Texas had the wrong man buried in the town cemetery. The search was on to find the proof as to which soldier really should be honored as a Civil War hero.

I e-mailed Civil War historians, fellow researchers, and people in Granbury, Texas. I could not truly separate the two men. I then searched for census records, wills, land records, and cemeteries to find the trail of each man. Upon locating a will extract from Madison Co. Mississippi and the 1850 census of the same county, I discovered there indeed was a Hiram B. Granberry born 1831 in Mississippi as the son of Norvell R. and Nancy McLaurin Granberry. This supported the town of Granbury, but what about the original headstone? I was not convinced. Then came the e-mail from a Civil War historian stating there was only one Hiram Granberry listed as a Civil Was soldier, he was enlisted at the age of 30 in the year 1861. This could not have been the Hiram born in Georgia. According to cemetery records the birth date for the Hiram born in Georgia was 31 December 1810. (I also have the 1850 census of Rankin Co. Mississippi showing his seven children and the Mississippi Court records stating his marriage to Elizabeth Joyce.)

I still wanted to find a bit more proof. With the help of several new friends the gravesite of Fannie Sims, wife of Brig. Gen. Hiram B. Granbury was located. We also located new information as to his imprisonment, parole, and prisoner exchange. The following genealogy report will give the family line, sources, and military history of Hiram B. Granbury born in Mississippi. Please note the "military history" was taken from copyrighted sources, this is not my work.

I am deeply grateful for the privilege of sharing this work with other researchers. Please keep in mind genealogy is never finished. More and more individuals are sharing their family history, I hope someone connects with this small bit of data. A very special thank-you to Becky and Jim Drake who have allowed this work to link with their Civil War articles.

Jane Embrose, a 3rd cousin 3 times removed to Brigadier General Hiram B. Granbury, was born in Mississippi but now lives in Ohio. Jane's connection to the Granberry family is through the union between Moses Granberry and Elizabeth Dulaney Powell, second marriages for both. Their daughter, Martha Jane Granberry, married Ezekiel Stafford Travis. Moses Granberry is Jane's 4th great grandfather. George Granberry, brother to Moses, is the great grandfather of Brigadier General Hiram B. Granbury. Moses Granberry, George Granberry, and Sarah Granberry were the children of James Granberry and Mary Manning.

Click Here for Genealogy of Norvell R. Granberry