Obituary-The Oakdale Sentinel- January 22, 1953

Carrie Eliza (LEACH) BRAINARD

Abridged: Funeral services for Mrs Carrie Brainard were held Monday afternoon in the Methodist Church. Interment was made in the Oakdale Cemetery. Carrie Eliza Leach, daughter of Adoniram and Eliza Leach, was born on her father’s homestead in the Cedar Creek community of Antelope County on September 11, 1877 and died in a nursing home in Omaha on January 16, 1953. In the year 1886 she moved to Oakdale with the family where she spent the rest of her life. She was united in marriage to Vernon E Brainard on March 31, 1897. To this union 4 sons were born. One son, Vernon, was accidentally killed at the age of two and one-half years. Another son, Hugh, died at the age of 19. Her husband preceded her in death nine years ago. She is survived by two sons, Park L of Chicago and Stephen J of Omaha, two granddaughters in Chicago and six grandsons in Omaha, one sister, Mrs Agnes Langley of Norman, OK, three nephews, five nieces and a host of friends.

Obituary - The Oakdale Sentinel, Thursday, October 14, 1943

CLARENCE H. BRAINARD

C. H. BRAINARD, 73, pioneer Oakdale businessman, died suddenly Monday while on a business trip to Sioux City, Iowa. He had gone to Sioux City with his son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. E. O. TAVNER. He was walking down the street with a long time business friend, Thomas Mould, when he was stricken. Funeral services were held at the Methodist church Wednesday afternoon with Rev. C. W. Smith officiating. Burial was made in the Oakdale Cemetery. Clarence H. BRAINARD, son of L. V. and Martha BRAINARD was born in Wyoming, Iowa, on May 17, 1866 and departed this life October 11, 1943. At the time of his birth his father, a Union soldier in the Civil War, was in the Confederate prison camp at Andersonville. In Wyoming he attended the public school and as a youth he began to work with his father at carpentering. Learning of the many advantages to be experienced in the neighboring state to the west, the family moved to Nebraska, living for a short time in Madison and then taking up permanent residence in Oakdale, Antelope County. In the new home Clarence continued to work with his father, becoming more and more efficient as a carpenter. His work took him into, any neighboring towns, reaching out as far as Plainview, Petersburg and Lyons. He worked on the first building erected in Gordon. He began in the lumber business by working for Terry and Holmes about a year after arriving in Nebraska. Later, he worked for the Howard Miller Company which was purchased by the Edward and Bradford Company, with the arrangement that Clarence was to remain as an employee under the new ownership. In 1894 he became manager of the Oakdale yard and remained in that position for 21 years. In 1915 the C. H. BRAINARD Lumber Company was incorporated and he became vice-president and manager. On January 1st, 1940, a change was made by his taking over all the stock of the Company. About this time he was awarded a "Fifty Year Certificate" by the Nebraska Lumberman’s Association, signifying that he had been in the retail lumber business for more than fifty years. He continued in his chosen occupation until the very last. He did business at the same location for upwards of 59 years. At the time of his death he was the dean among the active businessmen of Oakdale. On December 24th, 1889, he was united in marriage to Miss Katie LEACH, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. J. LEACH of Oakdale, and immediately began housekeeping on the property he has occupied all through the nearly fifty years of happy married life. To this union one daughter, Mytrice BRAINARD, was born. His one great bereavement came when the companion of his young manhood was taken by death on March 5, 1936, after an illness of more than a year. Mr. BRAINARD was never too busy or too devoted to his business or private affairs to show his interest in whatever was of worth to the town and community. For years he was a member of the Oakdale School Board. He was on the Village Council and was free to vote and act in the interests of a better Oakdale. He was a member of the Oakdale Methodist church all of his mature life and willingly served on the Official Board or on some Building Committee or wherever else his Church could use him. Until his age and failing health prevented, he was a regular attendant upon religious services in the Church. He was a Christian man and a Christian man is always a good man. His last Sunday in the flesh was spent in his accustomed place in the Church, attending the regular worship service. His friend, Mr. Mould, leaves the testimony that he never worked with a man more devoted and true, in both business and private life. He was never ruffled, always even tempered, no matter how perplexing the situation. This tribute from Mr. Mould is borne out by the host of friends and neighbors, and such expressions are heard from the lips of many who are practically almost strangers. He leaves to mourn his death, his daughter, Mrs. E. O. TAVENER, Oakdale, four grandsons, Lt. L. E. TAVENER of the Coast Artillery, Lt. E. B. TAVENER, bombardier in the Pacific, Aviation Cadet Caryl C. TAVENER, San Antonio, Texas and Tommy TAVENER at home; his two sisters Mrs. Nettie LEACH and Mrs. Mary TORPIN, both of San Fernando, California; two brothers, Nial L. BRAINARD of Los Angeles, California, and Vernon E. BRAINARD of Oakdale; his cousins and more distant relatives in Iowa and elsewhere, and a multitude of friends. He is gone but he will never be forgotten. As his closest friends and loved ones will remember him, there is no unclean word coming from his lips; there were no deceitful relations in his life. There was always in him an extreme of sincerity.

The Oakdale Sentinel- March 10, 1922

Hugh Clinton BRAINARD

Abridged: Hugh Clinton Brainard was born at Valentine, Nebraska September 28, 1903, that city being the temporary home of his parents while Mr Brainard was employed in the installation of the Gilman electric light plant. He died March 4, 1922, at the Norfolk General Hospital following an operation for appendicitis. He was a bright lad and from early school days was a leader and a favorite among his associates. He was a lover of nature and the great outdoors. The remains were brought to Oakdale Sunday and funeral services were held Monday afternoon at the M. E. Church. Burial was made in the Oakdale Cemetery.

Obituary-The Oakdale Sentinel-March 12, 1936

KATIE MARY LEACH BRAINARD

Abridged: Funeral services for Mrs Katie Mary BRAINARD, Oakdale pioneer, were conducted Sunday afternoon in the Methodist Episcopal Church here. Burial was made in the Oakdale Cemetery. Katie Mary LEACH, daughter of Adonarim Judson and Eliza LEACH, was born October 27, 1868 in Dodge County, Nebraska and died at her home in Oakdale at midnight, March 5, 1936. When but a little girl, she came with her parents to Cedar Creek in Antelope County where her father filed on a homestead. At the age of 12 she began her musical education, riding on horseback from the ranch to town to receive her instructions in music. In the spring of 1886 the family moved to Oakdale occupying a residence in the north part of town. This home has since been home to her sister, Mrs V. E. BRAINARD and family. On December 24, 1889 she was United in marriage to Clarence H BRAINARD. One daughter was born to them. Surviving are her husband, her daughter, Mrs Myrtice TAVENER, two sisters, Mrs H. G. LANGLEY of McFarland, CA, and Mrs V. E. BRAINARD of Oakdale, two brothers, Miles H LEACH of South Bend, Washington and DeWitt C LEACH of San Fernando, CA, four grandsons, Gene, Brainard, Caryl and Tommy TAVENER of Oakdale.

Obituary-The Oakdale Sentinel-May 21, 1926

LUTHER VAN BUREN BRAINARD

Abridged: Luther Van Buren BRAINARD was born at Lodi, Medina County, Ohio, February 23, 1838. When he was about 16 years old he moved with his parents to Wyoming, Jones County, Iowa where he lived until 1884. In September 1861 he enlisted for service in the Civil War as a member of Company E, Fifth Iowa Calvary and was discharged from service in August 1865. On February 23, 1864 he married Martha A CADY. In August of 1864 he was captured and imprisoned in Andersonville and then Millan prison from which he escaped in November 1864. Mr BRAINARD moved from Iowa to Nebraska in 1884 coming to Oakdale in December. He had made his home at Oakdale ever since. He was a carpenter and builder. He died May 11, 1926 at his home. His survivors include his wife and five children; Clarence H, Vern E, and Mary (C. H. TORPIN) who live in Oakdale, Nettie (Mrs D. C. LEACH) of San Fernando, CA and Nial L of Chicago, IL. There are also 9 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. Funeral services were held on Thursday afternoon, May 13. Interment was made in the Oakdale Cemetery.

Obituary-The Oakdale Sentinel-May 28, 1936

MARTHA A CADY BRAINARD

Abridged: Martha CADY BRAINARD, born ninety-three years ago at Mansfield, Vermont, had crossed the continent during her life. In girlhood she came with her parents, Enos and Harriet CADY, to Jones County, Iowa by covered wagon drawn by oxen. At about the same time, Luther BRAINARD came with his parents to the same locality. They were married when Luther came home on furlough from the Civil War. Soon afterward he returned to his unit and was taken prisoner and held in Andersonville prison. All of the BRAINARD children were born in Wyoming, three sons and two daughters, where the family lived until 1884 when they moved to Oakdale. Mr BRAINARD died in 1926. From this time she had made her home with her daughters in California. Martha died on January 24, 1936 following a brief illness. The body was placed in a receiving vault for a few months and recently brought to Oakdale for burial on May 22, 1936. All of her children survive, Clarence and Vern of Oakdale, Nial of Chicago and Nettie LEACH and May TORPIN of San Fernando, CA.

Obituary-The Oakdale Sentinel-December 28, 1917

VERNON DEWITT BRAINARD

Last Saturday afternoon while Hugh BRAINARD and Paul LAUNT were shooting with a small calibre rifle in the haymow of the barn at the BRAINARD home, a bullet passed through the side of the building and struck the two and one half year old brother of the former in the crown of his head, death resulting almost instantly. The baby was playing in the yard and his presence near the barn was unknown by the boys. The news of the tragedy spread quickly and cast a shadow of gloom over the entire community. The grief stricken parents and other relatives have the sympathy of everyone. Vernon DeWitt BRAINARD, son of V. E. and Carrie E BRAINARD was born July 6, 1915 and was called home to God December 22, 1917. During the brief time of two and one half years he was the sunshine of the entire household. Everyone who knew him loved him. While the world is darker because he is gone, heaven is brighter. The little body was laid to rest in the Oakdale Cemetery Monday, the funeral services being held at the home.

Obituary - The Oakdale Sentinel, Thursday, November 4, 1943

VERNON E. BRAINARD

Funeral services were held for V. E. Brainard, 71 were held at the Methodist church here Tuesday afternoon with Rev. C. W. Smith in charge. Burial was made in the Oakdale Cemetery. Mr. Brainard died at his home here early Sunday morning of a heart ailment. His brother C. H. Brainard, died the eleventh of October. Vernon E. BRAINARD, the second son of L.V. BRAINARD and Martha BRAINARD, was born August 4, 1872, in Wyoming, Jones County, Iowa. He came to Nebraska with his parents in 1884, first to Madison and later to Oakdale where he grew to manhood. He attended the public schools as a boy and kept busy during vacations by working with his father at the carpenter trade. He spent about a year at work in Washington State and then returned to Oakdale where he was married to Carrie E. Leach March 31, 1897. Here in Oakdale they established their first home. For a few years he worked at the carpenter’s trade, then he became manager of elevators for the Torpin Grain Company, first at Oakdale and later at Crowell. In 1899 he began millwright work in Neligh for S. F. Gilman and this occupation engaged his attention for the remainder of his life. As a millwright he was well known in many parts of the state and everywhere the excellence of his work bears testimony of his painstaking care and his disdain even at the thought of doing work that was in any degree short of the best. In 1931 he was employed by the Nebraska Consolidated Milling Company and worked in plants of the Company in Hastings, Grand Island, and Omaha and elsewhere until 1941 when disability caused him to retire. Even after retirement he was, several times, called back by the Consolidated for services of some special work that required technical skill. Through the years he was always of strong and robust physique. He loved the out-of-doors. His favorite recreation from boyhood was hunting. When wild game became scarce he turned his attention to fishing. Trapping in the winter was always enjoyable and often proved a lucrative pastime. Hunting and fishing became equally attractive. During his last illness he endeavored to show his interest in pheasant hunting when his companions on many hunting trips would drop in for a brief call. Only occasionally did he seem to enjoy eating the game that all through his life he had so much relished. On January 4, 1943, after having been out looking at his traps, he was stricken with a heart ailment and confined to bed. Faithful care in the home and ministrations by skilled physicians and nurses resulted in improved conditions, so, for a short time he would be up and around the house. He even drove his car a few times here in town. Some of his fishermen friends took him with them on a fishing trip. He enjoyed the old sport but he had to look on while others fished. In early summer he grew weaker. The old trouble was aggravated by complications and gradually week by week he kept slipping until at two o’clock Sunday morning, October 31, 1943, alone with his loving wife, and with an audible prayer on his lips, he breather his last. When a young man he was converted in a Camp Meeting in Oakdale and immediately joined the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was a good man, a kind friend and neighbor and one who surely will be missed by the community in which he spent so many happy years. Besides his bereaved companion he leaves to mourn, two sons Parke L. BRAINARD with his wife and daughter, of Chicago, Stephen J. BRAINARD with his wife and three sons of Omaha; two sisters Mrs. Nettie LEACH and Mrs. Mary TORPIN of San Fernando, Ca., one brother Nial L. BRAINARD of Los Angeles, Ca.; Two sons, Hugh BRAINARD, aged nineteen years, and Vernon BRAINARD, aged two years and six months, preceded their father in death.