James A. Bracha is the eldest of the seven children of the first marriage and was a lad of ten summers when, in 1880, he accompanied his parents across the Atlantic and on to Chicago, where they established their home. A year and a half later, however, they removed to Bonhomme county, South Dakota, and since that time or from the age of eleven years, James A. Bracha has been dependent upon his own labor for whatever success be has enjoyed. He worked on a ranch as a herder of sheep for three years and was afterward employed at general labor on a farm until seventeen years of age, when he became connected with mercantile interests, securing a clerkship in the general store at Armour, South Dakota. Fourteen years ago he went upon the road as traveling salesman for a grocery house, spending two years in that way and in the fall of 1896 he came to Oxford Junction, where he assumed the management of the general store of Johnson Brothers, remaining in charge for about eight months. He was then married and entered his present business in the fall of 1897, since which time he has been proprietor of a general mercantile establishment at this place. He has the largest store in town and he owns as well the building which he occupies and which he erected. In the spring of 1898, his store was swept away in a disastrous fire which occurred in the town and his was the first building erected after the conflagration. He has a one-story brick structure, forty-four by seventy feet with a basement under the entire building. His establishment is conducted on the department store plan under the firm style of Bracha & Company. Mrs. Bracha has been an able assistant to her husband since the business was established.

Mr. Bracha's mercantile interests, however, by no means limit the extent of his activities. He has been very prominent in community affairs and was twice elected mayor on the democratic ticket but resigned in the winter of 1908-9. In the spring of 1909 he became president of the board of education and is doing effective work in the interests of the schools. He cooperates in every movement for the material, intellectual and social progress of the city and has served as a committeeman from his township on the democratic central committee.

In August, 1897, Mr. Bracha was united in marriage to Miss Frances B. Wosoba, a native of Oxford township and a daughter of Michael B. and Anna (Dusanek) Wosoba, who were natives of Bohemia and now reside at Oxford Junction. Mr. and Mrs. Bracha have two children, Adaline and Amelia. Mr. Bracha belongs to New Era Lodge, No. 88, K.P., and Zealous Lodge, No. 245, A.F.&A.M., and of the Commercial Club is vice-president. He is a prominent factor in the business life of the town, contributing to its commercial prosperity through his efforts, while his labors in behalf of general improvement are far-reaching and beneficial.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 131.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 660.

Mr. Brainard was born on the 24th of September, 1842, in Wyoming county, New York, on the old homestead farm located about one and a half miles cast of the town of Gainsville. His parents were Stephen and Jemimah (Helmer) Brainard, also natives of Wyoming county, where their entire lives were passed. Their family consisted of six children, four sons and two daughters, but only one son now survives.

Under the parental roof Frank J. Brainard was reared to manhood and at the usual age was sent as a pupil to the district schools near his father's home, later attending an academy and high school. He supplemented his early training by a course of study in the academy at Pike, New York, and after completing his course in that institution engaged in teaching school for three terms, the summer months being devoted to farming in partnership with his fattier. In 1866, he sold his interest in the farm and came west to Iowa to visit friends living in Anamosa. He was so impressed with the excellent opportunities which this state offered along agricultural lines that he decided to take up his permanent abode here and consequently, in the spring of 1867, he purchased a farm of eighty acres in West Cass, for which he paid ten dollars per acre but sold in 1909 for one hundred and twelve dollars and fifty cents. He added another tract of forty acres to his original purchase and on that farm of one hundred and twenty acres be continued to make his home until 1876, when he sold out and purchased the farm upon which he was residing at the time of his demise and which is now operated by his son. It consists of two hundred and forty acres of land, located on section 9, which, under his careful management, was brought under a high state of cultivation, the farm becoming one of the best improved properties in the township. The place is equipped with two comfortable and attractive dwellings and has a large barn forty-eight by one hundred feet, while he also added all the modern conveniences and accessories used to facilitate farm labor. In addition to his general farming he made a specialty of raising cattle and hogs, and was a most successful, all around agriculturist, whose well directed labors were crowned with a most gratifying degree of prosperity.

On the 21st of October, 1866, in Gainsville, New York, Mr. Brainard was united in marriage to Miss Martha E. Price, native of that town, born on the 15th of July, 1843. Her father had been twice married, Mrs. Brainard and two brothers being the children of the second union, while by his former marriage he became the father of six children. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Brainard were born five children, namely: Fred A., of North Dakota; Grace May, who passed away when seven years old; Walter and Warren, twins, who died at the age of three months; and George, who resides upon and operates the home farm. The last named married Emma Pfiel, by whom he has two children, Geraldine and Carlton, while Fred, the eldest son, is also married, the lady of his choice being Miss Lizzie Crain. They are the parents of seven children, namely: Asa, Bertha, Chauncy, Dorothy, Ethel, Florence and Glenn.

Aside from the high rank which Mr. Brainard attained as an agriculturist, he also became a well known and influential factor in community affairs, although be never sought to figure prominently before the public. A life-long republican, he did all in his power to further the influence of that party in the community, and his fellow citizens, recognizing his genuine worth and ability, called him to various public offices. He was elected township trustee, in which office he served during the years 1886 and 1887, and was also chosen as assessor and justice of the peace. In 1899, further civic honors came to him in his election to the office of county supervisor, being a member of the board at the time of his demise and discharging the arduous and sometimes tedious duties of this office with exemplary diligence and fidelity. During his entire lifetime he had been a faithful and regular attendant at church and Sabbath school, never being absent unless detained by illness. On the 6th of March, 1879, he became a member of the Cass Center Congregational church, and for nearly eighteen years served as deacon therein. In the Sunday school he was by turn scholar, Bible class teacher and superintendent, occupying the latter office for eight years' He was a stanch advocate of the cause of temperance, doing all in his power to extend its influence in the community, for he realized that the liquor traffic is one of the greatest evils against which the country has to contend. He remained throughout his life an earnest student, keeping in touch with modern thought and advancement, and was well known as a man of sterling integrity and well cultivated intelligence.

Two weeks prior to his demise Mr. Brainard was seized with a chill developed into grippe, and this, with a complication of heart trouble, proved to be his fatal illness. He passed away on the 12th of March, 1902, at the age of fifty-nine years, five months and sixteen days, his remains being interred in Cass Center cemetery. His death was a great shock to the members of his family, for he had ever been a most loving husband and father, while his loss was also sorely felt throughout the community, where he was known as a faithful and considerate neighbor and a man of kindly thought and spirit, generous and helpful in action, and at the same time his genial disposition made him the life of every social gathering. just prior to his final illness he was engaged in a characteristic ministry, assisting to care for a sick neighbor. He realized as few men seem to do his obligations to his fellowman and to the community in which he resided. He looked at life from a broad standpoint and the simple weight of his character and ability carried him into important relations with his fellowman and won for him the unqualified regard and esteem of everyone with whom he came in contact.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 192.