(CIVIL WAR--MICHIGAN.) Photographs and veteran's medal of Michigan soldier William T. Brain. 6 items, various sizes, as described. Various places, 1861-circa 1892
William Thomas Brain (1840-1925) was born in England, emigrated as a child, and settled in Jonesville, MI. During the Civil War he served in the 7th Michigan Infantry until disabled by a wound to his foot at Antietam. This lot includes:
Carte-de-visite of Brain in corporal's uniform, with his name inscribed in lower margin, backmark of H.D. Buck of Jonesville and early pencil caption on verso; vertical crease.
3 related photographs, including a cropped oval 1863 portrait of Brain shortly after his discharge, 6 x 4¼ inches; a later uncredited carte-de-visite of Brain with his son; and a cabinet card of the "Brain's Bazaar" storefront, captioned "Father Brain's store, River St., Manistee, Mich."
Two-part badge, 2¼ x 1¾ inches, reading "W.T. Brain" at top and "Co. C 7th Mich. Inf" at bottom with the trefoil insignia of the II Corps, and reading "J.S. Ginger, Sole Agent" on verso. These badges were advertised by Ginger in the Wichita newspaper "Western Veteran" in 1891 and 1892, where they were described as "of a highly polished german silver. . . . every old soldier should have one as it is a history of his service that will last forever."
With--12 documents relating to Brain and his son William Richard Brain, mostly regarding family history and the son's Spanish-American War service, 1897-1949; and a 2¼-inch belt buckle bearing an eagle insignia.
