Porter E. Brant

As printed in 1906

PORTER E. BRANT, living in Bainbridge township, was born in Hagar township, Berrien county, on a farm north of the Paw Paw river, March 3, 1843, his parents being Daniel and Marietta (Hazzard) Brant. The father was a native of Rochester, New York, and the mother of Ellisburg, that state, but they were married in Benton township, Berrien county, about 1840. The mother had been one of the early teachers of the county, following the profession up to the time of her marriage. Her home was in Pipestone township, and she was a daughter of Crawford Hazzard, a pioneer resident of that township. Daniel Brant when eighteen years of age had driven a yoke of oxen from Rochester to Pokagon township, 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 in 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 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 how 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 likewise secured and improved two other tracts of land of eighty and fifty-one 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, of whom Porter E. is the second in order of birth. The others are as follows: Lafayette died on Ship Island, Gulf of Mexico, while in the United States service, having left high school in St. Joseph in order to enHst. 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 resides 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, who resides on the old homestead in Bainbridge township; Lillie, the wife of William Denneke, of Benton Harbor; and Roy.

Porter E. Brant was born in Hagar township, while his father was residing there temporarily, engaged in the manufacture of shingles in order to earn a living for his family. ' He followed that pursuit through a number of seasons, as it provided him with ready money. He secured three hundred acres of land in Hagar township known as Dansdiggins and located on the shore of Lake Michigan. From his place he here hauled shingles to Niles, where they could be marketed. Under the parental roof Porter E. Brant spent the days of his boyhood and youth, and when eighteen years of age he began providing for his own support, working six years by the month, receiving thirteen dollars per month for two years, fourteen dollars per month for a year, and afterward twenty-two and thirty and twenty-two dollars per month for the ensuing years. He never saved less than fifty dollars from Iiis wages for a single season and with the capital he acquired through his own labor and frugality he was enabled to purchase when twenty-three years of age the forty-acre farm thereon he now resides, his father having previously secured it.

At that time Porter E. Brant was married to Miss Harriet I. Moore, the wedding ceremony being performed on the 30th of October, 1866. Her parents were George and Mary (Beagle) Moore, and she was living in the home of Daniel Brant when she gave her hand in marriage to Porter E. Brant. They have since lived upon the same farm, covering a period of forty years. When this place came into his possession Mr. Brant had to cut a road a half mile in order to reach his farm. It was covered with the original growth of timber, not a stick having been cut nor an improvement made but though he realized that an arduous task lay before him, he resolutely set to work clearing, cultivating and improving the land. He cut poles in order to make a shanty twelve by twenty-four feet and in this he lived for about five years, or until he was able to build a part of his present home. He has since made two additions to the original building and now has a comfortable residence, which stands in the midst of a well developed farm property. He now owns one hundred and nine acres of rich and productive land all in the home farm and he has likewise given away seventy acres of land to his children, who live near him. He has placed more than eighty acres of land under cultivation and now has one of the best farms in the township, lacking in none of the equipments and accessories of a model farm property. As soon as he got his land ready he set out apples and has now apple orchards covering eighteen acres. He lost eight acres of peaches which were destroyed by the yellow but as soon as it showed that they could be grown again he once more set out each trees. He has kept about eighteen acres in fruit of all kinds and each kind that he has raised has paid him. His apples have brought him over one thousand dollars in a single season, selling over one thousand barrels of apples in one year, while his sales of peaches have amounted to between six hundred and one thousand dollars annually. He has placed his dependence largely upon his fruit crops but in addition he has also raised tomatoes for canning for twenty-two years, selling them to the canning factory and between four and six acres planted to that vegetable have yielded him from fifty to sixty dollars per. acre. In all his farm work he has followed practical methods, which have resulted beneficially, as he has now a very valuable farm.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Brant have been born four children: Jesse C, who resides upon an adjoining farm; Ella M., the wife of Everett Brant, also living on a farm near by; Clara B., the wife of Frank Gilbert, of Pipestone township; and Maud E., at home. There is seven years difference between the birth of each child and the succeeding one. The married son and daughters have received farms from their father and are comfortably located.

Porter E. Brant is a Democrat, and has served in several local offices although living in a Republican township, a fact which indicates his personal popularity and the confidence reposed in him by his fellowmen. He belongs to the Union United Brethren church in Pipestone township, and is a prominent representative of a worthy pioneer family, his entire life having been passed in Berrien county, covering a period of more than sixty-three years. He is also a member of the Odd Fellows and has filled all the chairs in his lodge. He was the eighth member to join his lodge which now numbers nearly one hundred. The name of Brant is inseparably associated with the history of agricultural and horticultural development here and as the years have gone by the younger generation have continued the work that was begun by their fathers and grandfather and bear an excellent reputation for business activity and reliability.

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.