Capt. Thomas Branigan, 1847-1925

Thomas Branigan came to Las Cruces in the Fall of 1886 and raised bees for honey and mined in Sierra County. In June 1897 he married Alice B. Montgomery. Thomas was 50 and Alice was 30 when they were married. They did not produce any children. Thomas died in 1925 and Alice died in 1932. Alice created the Thomas Branigan Trust and proceeds from the estate were dedicated to the betterment of Las Cruces' citizens through the establishment of a local library.  This gift has been memorialized in the Thomas Branigan Memorial Library serving the public of Las Cruces and Doña Ana County.

The original Thomas Branigan Memorial Library is now the home of the Thomas Branigan Cultural Center. 

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Although Branigan's name is well known in Las Cruces since the city libraries have been in his name, not much appears to be known about Thomas Branigan. It was thought that he came to Las Cruces with the California Column, but this is not true, although many other prominent Las Cruces citizens originally arrived here with the California Column. A brief history of Thomas Branigan appeared in History of New Mexico, Its Resources and People, Volume II, published by Pacific States Publishing in 1907, while he was still alive.

Other information about Thomas Branigan appeared after his death, including a well written obituary. Thomas Branigan was an Odd Fellow, and this bereavement notice was probably placed by his fellow Odd Fellow members. The probate notice of his will appeared in the local newspaper.

Thomas Branigan is buried in the Masonic Cemetery in Las Cruces next to his wife Alice in the Montgomery/Branigan family plot.

See a time line of Thomas Branigan's life for a list of all the documented events that could be found.

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