USA > Ohio > Champaign County > A centennial biographical history of Champaign county, Ohio > Part 41
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JOSEPH C. BRAND. -
Joseph C. Brand was born in Bourbon county. Kentucky, on the 8th of January, 1810, the family having been founded in America by his grandfather, Dr. James Brand, who was a native of Scotland and a man of distinguished professional and intellectual ability. Dr. Brand was graduated in the Edinburgh Medical University about 1756, and a num- her of years later he crossed the Atlantic to America and took up his abode in Frederick City, Maryland, where he was successfully engaged in the practice of his profession for many years. He finally removed thence to Ringgold Manor, that state, and later took up his residence-
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in Augusta county. Virginia, where he passed the residue of his long and useful life, living to attain the patriarchal age of ninety-six years and having reared a family of several children.
Thomas Brand, son of Dr. James Brand and father of the one whose name initiates this sketch, was born in the state of Maryland, whence he accompanied his parents on their removal to Virginia, while in 1808 he located in Bourbon county, Kentucky, becoming one of the early set- tlers of that locality. There was solemnized his marriage to Miss Fanny Carter, who likewise was born in Maryland, and they became the parents of eight children, one of whom was Joseph C., to whom this memoir is dedicated. Joseph (. Brand was reared to maturity in his native county, receiving excellent educational advantages for the locality and period and becoming a successful teacher in the schools of Kentucky. In 1830 he came to Champaign county. Ohio, as one of its pioneers, locat- ing in Urbana, which was then a small village, where he became asso- ciated with his uncle. Dr. Joseph S. Carter, in the conducting of a drug store. Two years later he engaged in the mercantile business at Me- chanicsburg. this county, his associate in the enterprise being Dr. Obed Horr, and in that village he continued to make his home until 1837, when he purchased. a farm near Buck ( or Lagonda) creek, in Union township, where he devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits until 1851, when he again became a resident of Urbana, which continued to be his home thereafter until the close of his signally useful and honorable life.
In the year 1832 Joseph C. Brand was united in marriage to Lavinia Talbott, of Weston, West Virginia, and they became the parents of nine children, namely: Thomas T .; Joseph C., Jr .: William A. ; Margaret Belle. the wife of William R. Ross, of Urbana: Mary, who became the wife of Rev. Edward D. Whitlock: John F .; Ella, who is the wife of Charles A. Ross, of Urbana; and Ellen and Iova, who died in young womanhood.
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In his political views Joseph C. Brand was a stanch Republican from the time of the organization of the party, and he was prominent in the work and councils of the same, while he was called upon to serve in offices of public trust and responsibility. He did efficient service as clerk of the court of common pleas and also of the district court, but still higher official preferment and honors awaited him, for he was elected to repre- sent both his district and county in the state legislature. Animated by the deepest patriotism, he naturaly gave his earnest support to the Union when its integrity was jeopardized by armed rebellion, and he it was who obtained the order for the raising of the gallant Sixty-sixth Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which was recruited under his personal direc- tion, while he served as quartermaster from 1861 until 1864, in which latter year he received from President Lincoln promotion to the respon- sible office of captain and commissary of subsistance of volunteers, acting in that capacity until the close of the war, while his military service thus covered a period of three years and two months. For distinguished service during the war he was brevetted major. During General Grant's administration as president of the United States Major Brand served as consul at Nuremberg, Bavaria, being in tenure of this distinguished office for a period of nearly three years. For three terms he was mayor of the city of Urbana, giving a notably able administration of municipal affairs, and through the early and middle portion of the past century per- haps no other citizen did more for the improvement, progress and sub- stantial upbuilding of the city than did Major Brand. He and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church and their lives were ever in harmony with the faith to which they thus held. Major Brand was summoned to his reward on the 30th of December. 1897. and thus passed away one who had ever been honored and esteemed for his sterling character, his sincerity and kindliness, his fidelity to duty and his marked ability. His widow survives him and is now ninety years of age.
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MAJOR THOMAS T. BRAND .--. As a son of the honored subject of the preceding memoir, as one who rendered distinguished service as a leal and loyal son of the republic during the war of the Rebellion and as an honored and representative citizen of Champaign county, it is significantly consistent that we here incorporate a brief review of the life record of Major Thomas T. Brand, who is a native son of the county and who still retains his home in the city of Urbana.
Thomas T. Brand was born in Mechanicsburg, Champaign county, Ohio, on the 28th of January, 1835, being a son of Joseph C. and Lavinia (Talbott ) Brand, of whom due mention has been made in preceding paragraphs. He was reared in this county and here received his early educational training in the public schools. The thundering of Rebel guns against the ramparts of old Fort Sumter aroused a vigorous and re- sponsive protest in his heart, and such was his patriotism that he was among the first to tender his services in defense of the integrity of the Union. On the 16th of April. 1861. ere yet the smoke had fairly cleared away from the stanch oli fortress where the civil conflict was inaugurated. he enlisted as a private in Company K, Second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, of which he was forthwith elected first lieutenant, his commission to date from April 17, 1861. The organization of the regiment was effected in the city of Columbus, the enlistment being for a term of three months. On the 19th of April the command left the state and proceeded to the national capital. Upon arriving at Lancaster, Pennsylvania. it was formally mustered into the service on the 29th of the same month, and it arrived in the city of Washington on the ed of May, where it was as- signed to Scheuck's brigade. Tyler's division of MeDowell's army of northeastern Virginia. The regiment remained on duty in defense of the federal capital until June, and on the 22d of that month Lieutenant Brand resigned his position to accept an appointment in the regular army, ac- cepting on that date the office of first lieutenant in the Eighteenth Regi-
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ment of United States Infantry. On the 11th of September. 1863. he was promoted to the office of captain, and on the 13th of March, 1865. in recognition of gallant and meritorious service in the battles of Stone River and Chickamauga,he was honored with the brevet rank of major. From June until December, 1861, Major Brand was engaged in recruit- ing service for the Eighteenth United States Infantry, in which he held the office of first lieutenant, as has already been noted, and in the month of December he joined his regiment in Ohio's capital city, whence the command moved onward into Kentucky, where, in January, 1862. it was assigned to the Third Brigade of the Army of the Ohio, and was thus a portion of the Third Army Corps until September of the same year. In November the regiment became a portion of the Fourth Brigade. First ( center ) Division of the Fourteenth Army Corps, of the Army of the Cumberland, while in January of the following year it was assigned to the Third Brigade. In February, 1862, the command moved on to Nashville and thence marched to Savannah. Tennessee. to reinforce the Army of the Tennessee. From March 20th until April 7th they were on the advance to Corinth, Mississippi, taking part in the siege at that point, from April 17th to May 30th, and in the subsequent pur- suit of the enemy to Booneville. From that point the command marched to Tuscumbia, Alabama, where it arrived on the 22d of June, and there it remained on duty until the 27th of July; thereafter it was stationed at Decherd. Tennessee, until August 21st, whence it proceeded to Louis- ville, Kentucky, in the command of General Buell, in pursuit of Bragg. On the 8th of October the regiment took part in the battle of Perryville, that state, thence marched to Nashville, Tennessee, where it was on duty until December 26. It then advanced to Murfreesboro, and on the 30th and 31st of the month took a very important part in the battle of Stone River, the engagement continuing also to the 3d of January, 1863. Thereafter the regiment was on duty at Murfreesboro until June, and on
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23d of that month began its service in connection with the Tullahoma or middle Tennessee campaign, being in action at Hoovers Gap, on June 25- 6, and taking part in the occupation of Tullahoma, on July I. There- after the command was prominently concerned in the Chattanooga cam- paign and participated in the ever memorable battle of Chickamauga, September 19-20. In the first day's battle at this point Major Brand received a severe wound in his left arm, incapacitating him for active service, and thereafter he was assigned to mustering and disbursing duty at Madison, Wisconsin, where he remained until February, 1864, after which he was identified with similar service in the city of Columbus, Ohio, until December, 1865. the war having in the meantime closed. The Major still continued in the military department of the government service, how- ever, since he was chief mustering and disbursing officer of Indiana, at Indianapolis, Indiana, thereafter until June 1. 1807, and from that time forward until December 1, 1868, he held the same office in Ohio and West Virginia. His health had become impaired as the result of the wounds received during the war, and this led to his retirement from active service at the front on the 31st of December, 1864. His record was one of dis- tinction and he was relieved from duty on the Ist of December, 1868, after which he returned to his home in Champaign county. He has ever since been identified with the business interests of Urbana, having made many real-estate and other capitalistic investments in the city and county and having been very successful in this line, his interests receiving his personal attention and supervision. He is a director of the National Bank of Urbana, also director of the Independent Telephone Company. of the same city, and is connected with other business interests of Urbana and vicinity. Major Brand is one of the honored members of the Grand Army of the Republic, holding membership in W. A. Brand Post, in Urbana, and the Ohio Commandery of the Loyal Legion of the United States.
On the 28th of December, 1801, Major Brand was united in marriage
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to Miss Eliza C. Warnock, who was born in this county, the daughter of Rev. David Warnock, and they are the parents of two sons .-- Frank W. and Thomas T., Jr. The Major is a stalwart Republican in his political proclivities, has ever taken a deep interest in all that conserves the prog- ress and material prosperity of his home city and county, and is known as one of the representative citizens of this locality, where practically his entire life has been passed and where he is held in marked confidence and esteem.
FRANK W. BRAND, M. D., now a prominent specialist in diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat at Urbana, was born in this city, on the 2d of June, 1866, and acquired his preliminary education in the public schools, completing a course in the high school and being graduated as a member of the class of 1883. He then passed a year in the old and cele- brated institution. Phillips Academy, at Andover, Massachusetts, and later passed two years as a student in the Urbana University, pursuing a scientific course. Determining to make the practice of medicine his vo- cation in life, he was matriculated in the Cleveland Medical College, where he completed a thorough course, being graduated as a member of the class of 1889 and receiving his degree of Doctor of Medicine. He be- gan the active practice of his profession in Beatrice, Nebraska, where he remained for eight years, and afterward completed a post-graduate course in the Chicago Eye. Ear, Nose. Throat and other Colleges, and then lo- cated in Urbana, where he has since been successfully engaged in prac- tice. He is a physician of superior ability and comprehensive learning. and his skill has secured to him a liberal patronage of representative order. He is thoroughly devoted to the work of his profession, is a close and con- stant student and stands high among his confreres in the profession, as well as in social circles, his personality being such as to gain to him marked popularity. Fraternally the Doctor has attained high prestige in the Masonic order, in which he has advanced to the thirty-second degree
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of the Scottish rite, having become a member of the consistory in Omaha, Nebraska, while he is also identified with the temple of the Mystic Shrine at Lincoln, that state. His York-rite affiliations are with the various bodies in Urbana. On the 6th of October, 1888, Dr. Brand was united in marriage to Miss Lilian Garnett,, of Urbana.
THOMAS T. BRAND, JR., the second son of Major Thomas T. Brand, is likewise a native of the city of Urbana, where he was born on the Ist of February, 1875. After having duly profited by the advantages afforded in the public schools of this city he entered the Ohio Wesleyan Univer- sity, at Delaware, where he continued his educational work for two years. Ile then returned to Urbana and began the study of dentistry, and finally completed his preparation for his chosen vocation by entering the Indiana Dental College at Indianapolis, where he was graduated as a member of the class of 1896. Like his brother, he has attained prom- inence and success in his chosen field of endeavor, and he now has a large and remunerative practice in his native city. Politically he is a Repub- lican and is a member of the First Methodist Episcopal church, while fra- ternally he is identified with the lodge, chapter, council and commandery of the Masonic order. In 1899 he was united in marriage to Miss Bessie Marmon, of Urbana.
For almost three-fourths of a century the name of Brand has been identified with the history of Urbana and it has ever stood as an exponent of honor and usefulness, the record attaching to the name being such as to reflect credit not only upon the family but also the city and county.
THOMAS E. HUNTER.
A leading agriculturist and honored citizen of Champaign county is Hon. Thomas E. Hunter, who has spent his entire life in this county. He was born on the farm on which he now resides. October 23, 1848.
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His paternal grandfather, Nathaniel Hunter, was a native of the Green Isle of Erin, but in an early day he crossed the briny deep to America and took up his abode in Virginia. In 1811, however, he left his southern home for Ohio, becoming one of the early pioneers of Champaign county. His son Thomas, the father of our subject, was born in Greenbrier county, Virginia, in 1799, and when twelve years of age he accompanied his father on his removal to the Buckeye state. After his marriage he took up his abode in Wayne township. He was a life-long farmer, a Whig and Republican in his political views and was a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he long served as a trustee and steward. In Champaign county he was united in marriage to a Miss Evans, and they became the parents of two sons, but both died when young. For his second wife he chose Nancy Johnson, who was born in Guernsey county, but in early life she came wtih her parents to Cham- paign county. Her death occurred when she had reached the age of seventy-four years.
Of the seven children born unto his parents Thomas E. Hunter, of this review, was the eldest son and fifth child in order of birth, and he was reared to mature years on the farm on which he now resides. He received his elementary education in the district schools of Wayne town- ship and afterward entered the Ohio Wesleyan University, at Delaware, where he continued his studies for two years. After his marriage he brought his bride to the old Hunter homestead, where he has ever since engaged in farming and stock-raising. Since attaining to years of matur- ity he has given an unwavering support to the principles of the Repub- lican party, and for two years, from 1891 until 1893, he served as a jus- tice of the peace. Later, to fill out an unexpired term, he was elected to represent his district in the Seventieth General Assembly, and in the fol- lowing year, in 1895, he was re-elected to that important position. Since retiring from the legislature he has served as a justice of the peace.
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The marriage of Mr. Hunter was celebrated in 1873, when Miss Emma Robinson became his wife. She was born in Highland county, Ohio, August 1. 1853, a daughter of the Rev. J. M. and Mary MI. ( Kettle- man) Robinson. The former was a prominent minister in the Methodist Episcopal church, and for two years he labored in what is now known as the Grace Methodist Episcopal church at Urbana. His death occurred in 1883, when he had reached the age of fifty-nine years, but he is still sur- vived by his wife. The family is a prominent one in this locality, and its members are noted for their longevity. the maternal grandfather of Mrs. Hunter having reached the age of ninety-seven years, and her paternal grandfather was ninety-four years old at the time of his death. One daughter. Mabel, has come to brighten and bless the home of our subject and wife. Mr. Hunter is identified with the Masonic fraternity, holding membership in the blue lodge and chapter at North Lewisburg and in the council and commandery at Urbana, and he is also a member of the Junior Order of the United American Mechanics. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Mingo, in which he has long served as a trustee and steward and has been superintendent of the Sunday-school.
JOHN F. BRAND.
The inevitable law of destiny accords to tireless and well directed energy a successful career, and this fact has ample verification in the case of the subject of this review. Mr. Brand, who is recognized as distinc- tively one of the representative business men and public-spirited citizens of the progressive city of Urbana, and who has gained the grateful pres- tige of worthy success in material affairs through his ability and well directed effort, has promoted public good through private enterprise and has proved himself fully alive to those higher duties which represent the
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most valuable citizenship in any locality and at any period. The advan- tages of Urbana as a wholesaling and jobbing center are manifest, and of this condition our subject was one of the first to show appreciation in a practical way, and he is now vice-president of the W. HI. Marvin Com- pany, with which he has been identified from the time of its inception, while he has gained a high reputation in the business circles of his native county, having passed the greater portion of his life in the city where he now maintains his home, and thus being doubly eligible for representation in a work of this nature.
John F. Brand was born in Union township, Champaign county, Ohio, on the 18th of June, 1848, being the son of Major Joseph C. and Lavinia (Talbott) Brand, the former of whom came to Champaign county from Kentucky in 1830 and here passed the remainder of his life being one of the honored pioneers of the county. A sketch of his life appears on other pages of this volume, and to the same we refer the reader for detailed information as to the genealogy and family history of our subject. When John F. Brand was but three years of age his parents re- moved from the farm to Urbana, and in the public schools of this place he secured his early scholastic discipline, supplementing the same by a course of study in the Urbana University. After leaving school Mr. Brand became assistant civil engineer on the construction of the Atlantic & Great Western Railroad, now known as the Erie Railroad, and was thus engaged for a period of one year. Early in 1864 he became a clerk in the subsistence department of the United States army, serving before Atlanta and Richmond and accompanying the army of the James to Appomattox. He was on duty at Richmond until July, 1865, when he resigned his posi- tion, a few months after the surrender of General Lee, which marked the practical closing of the war of the Rebellion. From Virginia Mr. Brand returned to Urbana, where for a short time he was employed as a clerk in the dry goods establishment of Ross & Hitt. Thereafter he became asso- ciated with his father and elder brother, Joseph C., Jr., in the conducting
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of a grocery business. In 18Go he became a compositor in the office of the Citizen and Gazette, of which he eventually became the manager. hav- ing control of the enterprise at the time of its sale to Charles T. Jamieson, in 1879. After this decade of newspaper work Mr. Brand associate.] himself in the grocery business with D. A. Fulwider, withdrawing from the firm two years later and engaging in the same line of business at Bellefontaine, where he remained until 1884, when he once more took up his abode in Urbana. In 1886 he entered into partnership with W. 11. Marvin and they established a wholesale grocery house in Urbana, the enterprise being conducted with signal discrimination and ability and gradually extending its scope of operations until it became expedient to organize a stock company, this being accomplished in 1895. under the title of the W. H. Marvin Company. the business being duly incorporated and Mr. Brand becoming vice-president of the concern, in which capacity he has since continued. He has charge of the salesmen and of the buying of stock, and his thorough knowledge of all details and values. together with his executive ability. has made him a forceful factor in the building up of the large and satisfactory business of this important company, which is now engaged in packing grocers' specialties for sale to jobbers. The business covers almost the entire territory of the United States. Progressive in his attitude, of broad views and genuine public spirit, he has made his influence definitely felt in the industrial life of this section. and has important local interests aside from that mentioned. being of the directorate of the Western Mutual Fire Insurance Company, the Urbana Telephone Company and the Urbana Publishing Company. Though tak- ing no active part in affairs of a political nature. Mr. Brand has not been unmindful of the duties of citizenship and has given a stanch support to the Republican party and its principles. He is a member of Grace Methodist Episcopal church. in which he has been an officer for more than a score of years. Fraternally he is identified with Harmony Lodge. No. 8. F. & A. M .; Urbana Chapter, No. 39. R. A. M., and Raper Com-
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mandery No. 19. Knights Templar, being past master of his lodge and Eminent Commander of his commandery, and taking deep interest in this ancient and honored fraternal organization.
On the ist of December, 1870. Mr. Brand was united in marriage to Miss Fannie Patrick, daughter of Evan B. Patrick, of Urbana, and they have four children: Charles, who is connected with the house of which his father is vice-president ; and Elizabeth, Ella and Joseph Evan, who re- main at the parental home, which is a center of gracious and refined hospitality.
Charles Brand, born in Urbana, Ohio, on the Ist of November, 1871, is a son of John F. and Fannie Brand. He was educated in the Urbana public schools and in the Ohio Wesleyan University, at Delaware. Early manifesting a business capacity, he managed a large fruit business of his own during the summer months for three years prior to his graduation in the high school. Upon leaving the university at Delaware he was en- gaged for a time in the grocery business at Richmond, Ohio, and later was connected with the W. H. Marvin Company as a traveling salesman, in which capacity he proved eminently successful. He is still connected with that house, and is also actively engaged in farming, owning and profit- ably conducting a farm of two hundred and thirty-five acres. On the 24th of October, 1894, he was united in marriage to Miss Louise J. Vance, a daughter of Major A. F. Vance, Jr., and they are most happily established in a home in Scioto street in Urbana.
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