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Clarence D. Brainard, who has prominent business interests at Cottage Grove, Oregon, and at Payette, Idaho, is a young man of extraordinary energy and unusual executive ability. He was born in Keokuk county, Iowa, January 26, 1881, and there resided until 1889. His father, Clarence E. Brainard, was a railroad operator until he came to Payette, Idaho. Here he built a prominent irrigation ditch and here he was engaged in real-estate operations for twenty-five years prior to his demise, September 29, 1910, aged fifty-nine years. His wife, whose maiden name was Julia D. Hunter, was born in Illinois and she now resides in Payette.
To the public schools of Keokuk county, Iowa, Clarence D. Brainard is indebted for his early educational discipline, which was later supplemented with a course of study in a collegiate institute at Salt Lake City. He also attended Westminster College, in Salt Lake City, and was graduated in Wetman College, at Walla Walla, Washington, in 1902. In the summer of 1901 he visited in Idaho and after leaving college he engaged in the wholesale grain, coal and lumber business at Ontario, Oregon, where he resided for three years, at the end of which, in 1905, he went to Canada, living for a time at Vancouver and later at Prince Rupert. He became manager of the Idaho Title & Trust Company, at Caldwell, Idaho, and in January, 1911, he established a sawmill at Cottage Grove, Oregon. After his father's death he came to Payette to assist in closing up the latter's estate and here his interests are gradually assuming important proportions. A great deal of his attention is devoted to the affairs of the Orchard, Land & Timber Company, of which he is general manager.
In politics Mr. Brainard is a stalwart Republican and in a fraternal way he is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, the Woodmen of the World and Blue Lodge Free & Accepted Masons.
In Portland, Oregon, September 29, 1909, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Brainard to Miss Gertrude Rowland. Her father is deceased and the mother is living in Portland. Mr. Rowland was a pioneer settler in Oregon. Mr. and Mrs. Brainard have no children. He is a member of the Presbyterian church and she is connected with the Christian church. They are popular amongst their fellow citizens at Payette and their attractive home is renowned for its genial hospitality.