Robert Brand, Surveyor of the Port and District of Galena, has held his present position two years, and has jurisdiction over thirty-two boats of registry at this place. He received his appointment under the administration of President Cleveland, and. it is hardly necessary to say, is a stanch Democrat. He has been connected with the history of Galena since 1850. Upon first coming here he engaged as an auctioneer and real-estate dealer, and in March, 1858, was elected Mayor of the city, which office he held for eight years. Later he was appointed County Superintendent of Schools, the duties of which office he has discharged for thirteen years in succession. He has also been Collector and Auditor, and represented the township in the County Board of Supervisors.

Mr. Brand came to Northern Illinois from St. Louis, Mo., of which he had been a resident ten years. He received his earl}'education in Lexington, Ky., at what is now the Transylvania College, and also attended St. Joseph College, at Bards town, from which latter institution he graduated, and had for a class-mate Attorney-General Garland. At Lexington one of his fellow-students was Senator Breckenridge. During that period he also became acquainted with Henry Clay, who was a regular visitor at his father's house.

Our subject was born in the city of New Orleans. March 21,1821, and is the son of Robert and Amelia (Barbe) Brand, the former of Scotch descent and a native of Charlottesville. Va., and the latter of French and Spanish extraction, and a native of New Orleans, where she was married, and where they resided. Mr. Brand engaged as a cabinet-maker, conducting his own establishment and overseeing: his workmen — mostly negroes, whom he held in possession, and who became quite skillful in the art which he taught them. The father of our subject died in the Crescent City, in 1832, while still in the prime of life, leaving a comfortable property.

The mother of our subject, after the death of her husband, went with her children to Lexington, Ky- where they were reared to mature years and given a good education. In 1860 they removed to St. Louis, Mo., and from there later to Hot Springs, Ark., where Mrs. Brand made her home with her daughter until her death, which occurred in 1885. when she was eighty-seven years of age. She was then still an active, intelligent and beautiful old lady. Robert, our subject, was the third child in a family of live sons and three daughters, all of whom lived to be married, but only three survive —the two besides himself being Amelia, the wife of Dr. Alfred Ormand, of Hot Springs, and Louis R. a farmer living near Edina MO.

The subject of this sketch was married near St. Louis, Mo., to Miss Emily B. Hereford, who was born near Point Pleasant. Va.., Sept. 11, 1830. She became the mother of a large family, and died at her home in Galena, July 8, 1871. One son and one daughter are deceased. The former, William C., died Nov. 25, 1888, at the age of forty years, in Milwaukee. Wis. He was a commercial traveler, and a man successful and prominent in his calling. Mary A. is the wife of Henry A. Nelson, of San Diego, Cal.; Eva B. married James S. Parker, a rancher, and the Postmaster of Parker, Colo.; Emma Z., Mrs. Frank Barrows, lives in Denver, Colo.; Emily T. is the wife of Orville H. Curtis, President of the Omaha (Neb.) Rubber Co.; Galena is the wife of William H. May, of Marion, Iowa, Mr. May being Private Secretary of Superintendent Campbell, of the C M. & St. P. R. R.- Eliza B. remains at home; Robert E. is engaged as a clerk at San Diego, Cal. Mr. Brand is an active member of the I. O. 0. F., and holds a prominent position in his lodge.

Transcribed by Christine Walters Portrait and Biographical Album of Jo Daviess and Carroll Counties, Illinois (1889), p. 696.