- JOHN M. BRAINARD was born at Blairsville, Pennsylvania, on
the 30th of March, 1836. He
- was educated in the common schools, Eldersridge Academy and
at Beloit College, Wisconsin. In 1856 he came to Iowa, locating
at Charles City where he engaged in school teaching. For the
two following years he taught at Mason City and Clear Lake in
Cerro Gordo County. In the spring of 1880, he founded the Clear
Lake Independent in company with Silan Noyes and entered
upon his career as a journalist which he followed in Iowa for
forty-two years. In 1868-9 he was the editor of the Council
Bluffs Daily Nonpareil. In 1879 he became the editor and
publisher of the Boone Standard, conducting that journal
until 1902. Mr. BRAINARD was an accomplished writer, but found
time during his busy life to serve as superintendent of schools
in Cerro Gordo County, clerk of the court in Story, member of
the city council and postmaster in Boone. In 1860-61 he was a
member of the State Board of Education when that body had entire
legislative control of the school system of the State. He was
one of the promoters of the railroad from Boone to Des Moines
in company with L. W. Reynolds, which was built in 1880-81. He
secured the employment of the late Colonel George E. Waring by
the city of Boone to plan and direct the construction of its
twenty-five milea of sewers. He has taken a deep interest in
the schools of that city, serving on the board, and is secretary
of the Ericson Free Public Library.
-
- [Taken from "History of Iowa from the Earliest Times
to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century, Vol. IV" by Benjamin
F. Gue; (c)1903 The Century History Co., New York City; pp. 27-28]
|