Lin Branum was born on a farm near Dallas on 9 August 1861 to Lindsey and Margaret Miller Branum. He died in Carrizozo, New Mexico 3 May 1925. Lin and Nellie Anne Henley--daughter of Thomas W. Henley and Nancy Melvina Williams Henley, were married in Nogal, New Mexico 6 June 1894. To this union were born five children, Alice May, Nancy Margaret, Rufus, Linza and Clinton. Lin was for many years was an outstanding figure in ranching and cattle circles of New Mexico with large holding in various counties of the state. 
Lin started his career in west Texas where he worked on a cattle ranch in Eastland County. He then came to New Mexico around 1877 and was employed on the VV Ranch in Lincoln County, owned by James Cree. Lin, in the meantime, accumulated some cattle of his own and located on the Three Rivers. He worked for a year for the Goodwin interests. W. C. McDonald, first Governor of New Mexico after statehood, also employed him for several years. In 1897 he moved his cattle to the foothills of the Jicarilla Mountains at Coyote Canyon near White Oaks and established the Steeple M ranch. The Branum family remained at the Steeple M ranch for 24 years. He sold this ranch to the Warden brothers and bought the I-X Ranch near Carrizozo. He continued ranching until his failing health required him to sell his holding and retire.
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