Franklin Marion Brand Bio
Monongalia Co. WV


The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published in 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.,
Chicago and New York, Volume 11
Page 177



   Member of one of Monongalia's oldest  and most honored families,
Franklin Marion Brand has on the score of his individual initiative and
abilities gained a high place at the Morgantown bar and as a man of
affairs in that community.
   Brand is of the older family names in Virginia. The first ancestor of
whom there is definite information was John Brand, who married Joyce
McCray. Their son, James Brand, was born October 5, 1788, and married
Elizabeth Wade. One of their older sons was Hosea Moore Brand, who was
born April 3, 1828, near Laurel Point in Monongalia County. He died June
27,1904. On October 14,1852, he married Emaratta Weaver, daughter of
Jacob Weaver. One of their children was James Clark  Brand, who was born
in Cass District of Monongalia County, September 16, 1853. Like most of
his family he followed farming and as a stock raiser was one of the
first to introduce Hereford cattle into this section of the state. In
1877 he married Mary Alice Fleming. Her father, John T. Fleming, was
sheriff of Monongalia County prior to the Civil war.
   Franklin Marion Brand was the second in a family of eight children
and was born on his fathers farm in Cass District, March 13, 1880. When
he was a boy his father moved to Grant District in 1885, and he grew up
on the farm there. He made excellent use of his advantages in the Sugar
Grove School, and in the fall of 1899, at the age of nineteen, he took
the examination and was granted a No. 1 certificate, though he had no
experience as a teacher. He then taught in his home district, and in the
spring of 1900 entered West Virginia University, where he was a student
in the classical and law schools for seven years. He earned a large
share of his expenses while in university, partly by canvassing during
summer vacations and also teaching. He graduated A.B. with the class of
1906 and LL. B. in 1907. He won five different prizes in scholarship
while in university, had the highest average in Greek and mathematics in
1902, and in 1906 represented the Parthenon Literary Society in joint
debate with the Columbian Society. After graduating in law he accepted
the position of principal of the Smithfield School in Pennsylvania, and
on November 2, 1907, was admitted to the bar at Morgantown. He began
practice April 1, 1908, and shortly afterward was chosen assistant
prosecuting attorney, serving four years. During the fall of 1912 he
taught criminal law in the West Virginia University. In 1913-14 he was
employed in the legal department of the American Telephone & Telegraph
Company in their New York City office. At this writing (1922) he is
divorce commissioner of Monongalia County. With his increasing
responsibilities as a lawyer he has responded to other calls upon his
time and ability in the public welfare. In 1918 he was elected to the
West Virginia Legislature, and during the regular session of 1919 was
ranking member and acting chairman of the committee on public buildings
and humane institutions, and was a member of the committee on Virginia
debt, counties districts and municipal corporations, insurance and
forfeited and unappropriated lands. Mr. Brand was chosen in 1920 as
mayor of Westover, the west side of Morgantown, and filled that office
until February 1, 1921.
   He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, and is active in the
Methodist Episcopal Church. He is affiliated with Morgantown Union Lodge
No. 4,A.F. and A.M., Monongalia Lodge No. 10, Independent Order of Odd
Fellows, also with the Encampment, and the Junior Order United  American
Mechanics. He is a prominent member of the Sigma Nu Fraternity, was
commander of the local Chapter, and is now secretary of the association
organized for the purpose of purchasing a Chapter House for the
fraternity at the university.
   November 10,1910, Mr. Brand married Myrtle Ptella Core, member of one
of the prominent old families of Monongalia County and daughter of
Benjamin and Catherine Core. They had three children: James Core, born
May 3, 1913; Mary Kathern, born July 12, 1915; and Freda Louise, born
July 4, 1919.