JAMES⁷BRAINARD (Amos, Jr.⁶, Amos, Sr.⁵ , Elisha⁴ , Deacon Elijah³, Elijah², Deacon Daniel¹ ) was born July 15, 1828 in Savannah, Wayne County, New York the second of seven children (Polly, James, Alvah, Rachel, Maria, Ebenezer, Julia) born to Amos Brainard, Jr. and Lydia Ann (Thompson) Brainard. His family eventually moved to Tamer, Defiance County, Ohio.

When James was 6 years old, his parents moved from Haddam CT to Cuyahoga County, Ohio near Cleveland, Ohio and Lake Erie. Brainard Road can still be found just outside of Cleveland, Ohio. James lived in Cuyahoga County until he was 18 yrs old, then he went to upstate New York near the St. Lawrence River. That is where he met and married Violet Catherine NICOL, b. June 6, 1838 dau. of William May Nicol III and Margaret Pollock . He lived in Canada for one year but then returned to St. Lawrence County, NY for another 12 years before they moved to Mitchell County, IA. Their first 2 children Cora Virilla Brainard and David Ross Brainard were born in DeKalb, St. Lawrence Co., New York.

On March 23, 1859 in DeKalb, St. Lawrence County, NY, James (30 yrs) married VIOLET CATHERINE NICOL (20 yrs) b. Jun 6 1838 in Hammond, St. Lawrence Co, NY, daughter of William May Nicol III of Gillhead Farm, Carluke, Scotland and Margaret Pollock of Rutherglen, Scotland).

In 1864 James (36 y) and Violet moved to Mitchell county, Iowa by covered wagon. James' profession was that of a farmer. They settled on section 22 Union Township, Mitchell County on 80 acres where he farmed 2 miles west of David, Iowa ( a town no longer in existence).

He died d. Oct. 14, 1892 in Lake Park, Dickenson County, Iowa but is buried in Stacyville, Mitchell County, Iowa. His wife, Violet then lived with her daughter, Cora (Brainard) Nicholas, and near her son, David Ross Brainard in Mitchell County, which is how I (Evelyn)received the photos of the Brainard family and Nicol family passed to me by my grandmother, Grace Edna Nicholas, dau. of Cora Virilla Brainard.

James Brainard and Violet Catherine Nicol had five children:

1. Cora⁸ Virilla Brainard b. Mar. 24, 1860 DeKalb, St. Lawrence County, NY (school teacher) d. Jun 16, 1900 of TB (tuberculosis). (Evelyn's gt. grandmother) m. Benjamin Daniel Nicholas. (4 children: Violet, Harold, Grace, John) Benjamin was one of the founders of the David Baptist church in David, Iowa.

2. Henry⁸ David Ross Brainard (68 yrs)b. June 5, 1863 DeKalb, St. Lawrence County, NY d. June 27, 1931 (Farmer) m. Anna E. Scantlebury (no children) He left his farm to Grace Edna Nicholas (my grandmother and his niece)

3. Anna⁸ Eliza Brainard b. Mar. 25, 1871 Mitchell County, Iowa d. Oct. 8 1872 1 yr. 16 mo. 13 days. Died early

4. Mabe⁸l Edith Brainard b. Jan 11, 1874 Mitchell County, Iowa d. Jan 27, 1874 16 days. Died early

5. James⁸ Alva Brainard b. Aug. 14, 1878 Mitchell County, Iowa Aug. 14, 1878 Mitchell County, Iowa. Died the same day

Sources:

1911 Mitchell County (Iowa)Atlas:

"Sect 3, p 25 - Brainard, James & Family: Mr. born in New York State July 15, 1828; Mrs. born June 6, 1838".

History of Mitchell and Worth Counties, Iowa 1884.

Biography of James Brainard p. 523

Source: Descendants of William, Caleb, Elijah and Hezekiah Brainerd, sons of Daniel Brainerd see Seventh Generation p. 159

Source: Family Bible down the Brainerd/Rowe line in possession of Evelyn Rowe Nelson, 2nd Gt. Granddaughter