Christian Braggan and his wife were born in Germany but came to Missouri before the Civil War and settled on a farm that was located where the Ed Lambert home now stands. He owned all the land that was to become known as the Braggan’s Addition and to this day is still called that. This land was acquired right after the Civil War from the government. Mr. Braggan was a Civil War veteran.
When the railroad came to Marceline, Mr. Braggan’s home became the boarding place of many of the men that worked on the laying of the tracks. Among these men were James McLaughlin and his father. The men along with Lute Braggan drove their team and wagons in the work of railroad. The city of Marceline was laid out and plans were completed on the railroad.
Mr. and Mrs. Braggan were the parents of nine children with two of the daughters, Mrs. Louisa Ross, Lamar, Missouri and Mrs. Nellie Braley of Westmont, Illinois still surviving. One daughter, Mrs. Jake Newman was married in 1888 in St. Catherine, Missouri and lived in Marceline. Mr. and Mrs. Newman had four children, Clarence, Nellie (Mrs. Will Stanley) and Elva (Mrs. Bill Pischel) all living in Marceline and one son, Louie Newman, deceased. Mr. Jake Newman was a coal miner for many years and also a member of the I.O.O.F.