David Washington (D.W.) Brant was born February 17, 1856 in Monroe
     County, Illinois, son of Charles A. and Ann (Livers) Brant. David's father
     died before he was a year old. He lived with relatives until his mother
     remarried when he was seven years old.
          He married Mary Eliza Manning February 29, 1880, at Shelbyville, Illinois.
     She was born May 31, 1862 at Shelbyville, Illinois. She was the daughter of
     Mr. and Mrs. O.W. Manning. D.W. and Eliza had seven children. William (died
     in infancy), John (died in 1908), Obediah Wade (died in 1923), Edith, Charles
     Chesney, Emma, and Mabel. Edith, Charles and Emma are deceased. Mabel Megaffin
     Everitt resides at Siesta Retirement Home in Pratt.
          In 1898 a neighbor, Dan Runkle in Illinois, returned from a Christmas
     visit telling of the wonders of Kansas. These stories fascinated the Brants
     so much that in 1899 they packed up to come to Kansas to live. Nearly six
     weeks on the road were required for the trip. A wagon loaded with as many
     of their possessions as they could pile on, a surrey and five horses constituted
     the equipment they brought when they came to the home of friends, the Runkles.
     The Runkles lived south of Isabel where the present Albert Heublein farm is
     located.
          D.W., as he was called, and Eliza purchased 240 acres of good land five 
     miles north of Isabel from Tom Knight. They moved in March 1900 into a new 
     house. This farm is now owned by a grandson, James C. Brant, son of Charles
     Brant, and has continuously been lived in and farmed by Brant decendents
     of D.W. and Eliza. Two grandsons still farm Brant land in the Ashton
     community. John M. Brant, son of Obe W. Brant and James C. Brant, son of
     Charles C. Brant. Another generation of Brants, John's son, Darrel L., also
     farms in the Ashton community.
          D.W. and Eliza were members of the Christian Church. When the family
     first settled at Isabel, they both became interested in the Christian Church.
     D.W. was on the committee that bought the lots to build the church. They were
     charter members of the congregation there.
          Mr. Brant kept active in farm work up to about the time of his death
     at 90 years on February 25, 1946. Mrs. Brant was 85 years when she passed away
     in 1948.
               
     Source: Isabel, Kansas - The First 100 Years, 1887 - 1987,  pg. 52 
     
     Submitted by: Dorris and Jim Brant