Ezra Brant

As printed in 1906

EZRA BRANT, representing one of the prominent and well known pioneer families of Berrien county, was born November 17,. 1873, in the house which he yet occupies, and was the second of the four children of Daniel and Nancy Jane (Kennedy) Brant. The father was a native of Rochester, New York, and in early manhood he married Marietta Hazzard, who was born in Ellisburg, New York, but they were married in Benton township, Berrien county, about 1840. Daniel Brant when eighteen years of age had driven a yoke of oxen from Rochester to Pokagon township, Cass county, where his father, Simeon Brant, had already settled. Edward Brant's father, who died enroute from California, was a cousin of Daniel Brant, and further mention of the family is made on another page of this work. The family is in fact a prominent one of Berrien county, having numerous representatives who have been active and influential in business circles and in public affairs. Daniel Brant remained a resident of Pokagon township until all of the members of the family removed to Bainbridge township, cutting the road through the forests for miles. Simeon Brant secured a claim constituting the southeast quarter of section 31, while Daniel's place was the southwest quarter of section 32, and Artaxerses Brant took the east half of the southeast quarter of section 31. Nathaniel Brant obtained the northwest quarter of section 32, and thus altogether they secured the four corners. Nearly all of this land is still in possession of members of the Brant family, although Nathaniel Brant is the only one of the original owners now living. Simeon Brant, the father, died at the old homestead at a very advanced age, while Artaxerses Brant died at the age of seventy-five years, and Daniel passed away at the old home when sixty-six years of age. Artaxerses Brant had one son in Mason county and three grandchildren. The children of Jerome Brant are still on the old homestead. Nathaniel Brant resides upon his old home place, which has now been in his possession for many years.

Daniel Brant, father of our subject, placed about one hundred and twenty acres of his homestead under cultivation. He like wise secured and improved two other tracts of land of eighty and eighty-five acres respectively, and he also had two houses in Benton Harbor at the time of his death. He likewise owned one hundred and twenty acres of land in Pipestone township, which he improved, and he gave a farm to each of his children/ amounting to over one hundred and sixty acres of land. He placed more than two hundred acres of land under cultivation and thus contributed in large measure to the substantial development and reclamation of this part of the state. His wife was a fine business woman and he largely attributed to her influence and assistance the success which he has achieved. She died about fifteen years prior to the death of her husband, being about fifty years of age when she passed away. They had traveled life's journey together, however, for many years, for she was but seventeen years of age at the time of their marriage. Her life was devoted to her family and although never very strong or robust she was ambitious and energetic and her capable management of the household affairs and the assistance and encouragement which she rendered her husband were valued factors in their prosperity. They became the parents of seven children, as follows: Lafayette died on Ship Island, New Mexico, while in the United States service, having left high school in St. Joseph in order to enlist. He was a member of the Sixth Michigan Infantry and passed away when twenty-two years of age. Francis is living in Pipestone township. Marion reside3 in Bainbridge township on land given him by his father. Henry is a resident of Fountain, Mason county, Michigan. Lucretia married John Harmon, and lives in Seattle, Washington. Rosella married William Burnett, of Bainbridge, and resides at Spokane, Washington. Having lost his first wife Daniel Brant was married to Miss Nancy Kennedy, who survives him and is yet living in Benton Harbor. Their children are: Sherman; Ezra, the subject of this review; Lillie, the wife of William Denneke, of Benton Harbor; and Roy.

Ezra Brant, after spending his entire life tion the home farm with the exception of one year, now owns the old homestead property which was for many years in possession of his father, Daniel Brant and which was settled in 1836. It comprises one hundred and sixty acres and is a very valuable tract. He has about sixty-seven acres in fruit, forty acres in peaches, six acres in grapes and nine acres in apples, of which five acres have been in bearing for fifty-six years. He also has three acres in raspberries and an acre and a half in strawberries, and five acres in years. All of his fruit is profitable, for he gathers annually good crops. In 1905 he raised eighteen hundred bushels of peaches and forty-eight barrels of apples. His business is continually growing and in connection with fruit-raising he has engaged in general farming. He purchased his place with five separate purchases and has now an extensive and valuable tract of land under a high state of cultivation and well adapted for the purposes for which it is used.

On the 22d of July, 1896, Mr. Brant was married to Miss Floy G. Moore, a daughter of William Moore of Sodus township, and now living in Benzie county, Michigan. Mrs. Brant was born in Sodus township, and by her marriage has become the mother of two sons and a daughter, Ellis Ezra and Russel Jaleb and Violet Orene. Mr. Brant is recognized as one of the most enterprising young business men of the township, alert and energetic, brooking no obstacles that can be overcome by determined, persistent and honorable labor.

As printed in A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan (1906). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.