Brandegee was born Mary Katharine Layne on October 28,1844 to Mary Morris Layne, a housewife, and Marshall Layne, a farmer; they lived in western Tennessee and had nine other children.
Brandegee was born Mary Katharine Layne on October 28,1844, the second child of Mary Morris Layne, a housewife, and Marshall Layne, a farmer. The Laynes lived in western Tennessee and had nine other children.