David BRANT was born at Shelbyville, Indiana, July 6, 1850, and died at Iowa City, Iowa, June 4, 1919. He came with his mother and stepfather to Monroe County, Iowa, in 1855. They went on to Ringgold County in 1857. The stepfather went into the Union army, leaving the farm to the care of David when he was but twelve years old. Ambitious for an education he went to Jowa City in 1872, walking sixty miles of the way, and entered the academy where he remained two terms. He then attended the University three years. Leaving the University ha became editor and part owner of the Iowa City Journal. He later disposed of his interest in the Journal to take a position on the Iowa City Republican. In 1881 he went to Cedar Rapids as city editor of the Cedar Rapids Republican. In 1883 he established the Walker Aeifs, conducting it seven years. In 1890 he became city editor of the Cedar Rapids Gazette, which he also represented six years as legislative correspondent at Des Moines. He was elected representative from Linn County, serving in the Twenty-sixth General Assembly and in the Twenty-sixth extra session in 1897 when the code was revised. July 1897 he went to Clinton as editor of the Clinton Herald, remaining there four years. In 1902 he returned to Iowa City as editor and manager of the Iowa City Republican, later acquiring its ownership and continuing with his two sons, its publication until his death. As an editorial writer he was original, aggressive and forceful. He was a delegate to the Republican national convention in 1908.

He was well acquainted with Iowa politics and affairs, had a retentive memory, and wrote a series of valuable reminiscent articles for his paper not long before his death. He had been a familiar figure at district, state and national conventions for many years. He bitterly denounced the legislation for extending and improving the State Capitol grounds in 1913.

SOURCE: Annals of Iowa p. 391. State Historical Society of Iowa. Des Moines. 1921.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, June of 2009