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James H Brans
The Brans family were natives of Pennsylvania, from whence they moved to Ohio in '25, and from thence to Mahaska county, Iowa, in '45. In the spring of the year following, James came and took up his residence on the place now occupied by Mrs. Mullins, in the north-west corner of Red Rock township, where he remained till he had put up a cabin on his own claim, where he still lives. His father, Peter Brans, died November 4th, 1860.
Perry township being a rough, timbered region, wild game was quite plentiful at an early date, and even within the past few years wild cats and lynxes have existed there. We may relate a little wild cat adventure, of which J. M. Brans was the hero. It occurred in the spring of '46, when Mr. B. was employed in making rails some distance from his house. Observing a large elm stump, about twenty feet high, with a hole in it near the ground, he incautiously put his head in it to see what discoveries he could make. And the discovery he did make caused him to withdraw his countenance as speedily as possible; for, within a very short distance of it was a great mother wild cat and her three kittens. Mr. B. had no gun, so he closed the hole securely, went for help, and soon the old cat was ousted from her den, killed by dogs, and the kittens captured. After being retained a short time they were not deemed a safe breed to adopt as a part of the domestic circle, and were dispatched.