An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., 
The Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL., 1893, page 445

	JOSEPH A.C. BRANT, one of the prominent and progressive citizens of
Vancouver, was born in Clarke county, Washington, October 28, 1854, a son of
Joseph Brant, a native of Bavaria, Germany. The latter emigrated to the United
States in 1833, locating in Ohio, but in 1852 crossed the plains to Washington.
He located on a claim of a half section near the city of Vancouver, where he
resided until his death in 1873. The mother of our subject, nee Louisa F.
Berget, was a native of the Buckeye State, and survived her husband until 1890.
They were the parents of thirteen children, ten of whom are still living.
	Joseph A.C. Brant, the fourth child in order of birth, completed his
education in the Catholic school of this city, in 1869. He then learned the
printer's trade, and has since worked on all the journals of this city, among
which are the old Vancouver Register and Independent. Since 1890 he has served
as foreman of the Columbian. Prior to that date, however, Mr. Brant had been in
the employ of the United States Government as printer about eight years, and was
in charge of the printing-office as contractor during five years of that period.
Was also in the employ of the Oregon River and Navigation Company at Celilo,
Oregon, two year's; in the United States Quartermaster's Department from 1871 to
1882; served as a member of the City Council from 1891 to 1893, and during that
time was a member of some of the most important committees connected with the
city's finances. From 1891 to 1893 he was also Chairman of the Light Committee.
In May, 1893, he took charge of the Vancouver Columbian as half owner, Mr. S.D.
Dennis owning the other half. Through their joint effort the paper has been
built up until it is the leading paper of the county of Clarke, at this writing
being the official paper of the city of Vancouver as well as the county of
Clarke.
	In 1875 Mr. Brant was joined in marriage with Miss Clara Wallace, a native
of Washington, who departed this life in 1889, leaving six children: Addie,
Charles, William, Louis, Maud and Nellie. July 10, 1891, he married Miss Jessie
Foster, a native of Oregon and a daughter of George G. Foster, a prominent
carpenter and builder. He located in Clackamas county, Oregon, in 1846. Mr.
Brant takes no active interest in politics, but is prominently identified with
several fraternal orders. He is Secretary of the F. & A.M., has passed all the
chairs in the K. of P., and has represented these orders several times in the
Grand Lodge; has held the office of Sachem and Chief of Records in the I.O.R.M.;
has passed all the official chairs, and is now Recording Secretary of the
A.O.U.W., of which he has been a representative twice to the Grand Lodge. Mr.
Brant has always taken an active and prominent interest in the welfare and
development of Vancouver and Clarke county, and is a worthy and conscientious
citizen, whose public service has been duly recognized by the community at
large.

Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in October 2003 by Jeffrey L. Elmer

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Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies
Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the
individual featured in the biographies.