Brainard, Daniel Webster

BRAINARD, HOWE, KINGDON

Posted By: Gary Norris (email)
Date: 12/1/2012 at 08:26:41

A noticeable factor in the experience of long established families of the eastern state has been the departure of the younger members for more promising fields in the great and growing west. Iowa has profited very largely by the arrival of stalwart young men, who generally remain in this state after once gaining knowledge by personal investigation as to its marvelous agricultural resources. In the number may be named Daniel Webster Brainard, who engaged in farming in Poweshiek county and for twenty-seven years has been a resident of Grinnell.
He is a native of New York state, having been born in Wyoming county on August, 1837, and is a son of Edmond and Alzina (Howe) Brainard, the former of whom was born at Rome, New York, and the latter at Springfield, Massachusetts. On the paternal side the family has been traced back seven generations to East Haddam, Connecticut, where one of the early progenitors, Daniel Brainerd, was buried. On the maternal side the ancestry has been traced to Lord Howe, a prominent general of the British forces at the time of the Revolutionary war. Edmond Brainard, the father, was a well known and highly respected farmer and spent his entire life in New York state. Politically he gave his support to the whig party, and later to the republican party. Of a fearless and independent disposition, he did not hesitate to make up his mind on any subject and to act in accordance with his own convictions without seeking the advise of others. He was married to Aliza A. Howe in 1831, and the celebration of their golden wedding at the old farm homestead in New York, in 1881 was one of the memorable events of that section, the beloved wife being called away the year following. The death of Mr. Brainard occurred in 1886.
Daniel W. Brainard attended the common schools of Wyoming county and later became a student of an academy at Alexander, New York, acquiring the foundations of an education which he has largely broadened through reading and contact with the world. After leaving school he became a teacher and engaged in this vocation at fourteen dollars a month and board, following this occupation during the winter seasons until 1868. In the spring of year named he came west and settled on a farm in Malcom township, Poweshiek county, where he followed agriculture and stock-raising with a goodly measure of success for sixteen years. In 1884, he moved to Grinnell and has since lived in this city, being now engaged in the real-estate and insurance business.
On January 1, 1863, Mr. Brainard was married to Miss Susie M. Kingdon, a member of a well known family of Stafford, Genesee county, New York, and a daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Kingdon. Mr. Brainard cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1860 and during all the years that have since passed he has faithfully adhered to the republican party. He is a valued member of the Lodge No. 273, A.F.& A.M., and Lodge No. 358, I.O.O.F, both of Grinnell. In religious belief he is a confirmed Spiritualist and is full persuaded that communication has been opened with disembodied spirits that once inhabited this world. He is a thoughtful man, of wide observation, and one who is entirely fearless in expressing his views after making up his mind as to what he considers to be right and true. Ever sincere, straightforward and generous-hearted, he is greatly esteemed by all who know him in Grinnell and Poweshiek county.

History of Poweshiek County Iowa
- A Record of Settlement, Organizations, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II
written by Prof. L. F. Parker.
Published by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., in 1911
Pages 235-236