BIOGRAPHY:
BRAINARD, SILAS (19 Feb. 1814-8 Apr. 1871) turned an avocation for music into a business that supplied Cleveland with much of its early musical scores and instruments. The son of a merchant, he was born in Lempster, N.H., the son of Nathan and Fanny (Bingham) Silas. He was educated at New Hampton in the same state. He came to Cleveland in 1834 with his father and started in the grocer? business as N. Brainard & Son. An accomplished flutist, the younger Brainard also became active in the city's embryonic musical circles. He joined the CLEVELAND MUSICAL SOCIETY and began arranging music for its members. In 1836 he started his own music business, which eventually became an institution under the name S. BRAINARD'S SONS. Beginning with the retailing of music and musical instruments, Brainard added a publishing business in 1845 and purchased Watson's Hall at the same time, running it as Melodeon Hall and later Brainard's Hall . A house organ which he began in l864 as Western Musical World became one of the country's leading music publications under the name Brainard's Musical World. Although once regarded as having few peers as a flutist, he apparently subordinated his performing talents to the demands of his business. He was noted as the author of a Violin Instruction Book and numerous musical arrangements, some of which appeared under an assumed name. Brainard married Emily C. Mould and had 6 children: Charles, Henry, Fanny, Emma, Annie, and Laura. He died of inflammatory rheumatism in his residence at 348 Prospect Ave., survived by at least 3 sons: Charles, George, and Henry. Brainard was buried in WOODLAND CEMETERY .

S. BRAINARD'S SONS was Cleveland's leading 19th-century musical-instrument dealer and music publisher. SILAS BRAINARD founded the company in 1836 and opened a piano store in the American House hotel on Superior Ave., selling Chickering pianos shipped from the factory in Boston. In 1845 he purchased Watson's Hall, which had been built in 1840, and renamed it Melodeon Hall. In 1860 the name was changed to Brainard's Hall (later Opera House), and in 1875 to the GLOBE THEATER . In Jan. 1864 Brainard began publishing Western Musical World, a monthly journal of articles, hints to musicians, and sheet music. In 1869 the name was changed to Brainard's Musical World. Brainard took his sons, Chas. S. and Henry M., into the business, and in 1871 the company became S. Brainard's Sons. In 1876 they built a new 4-story building on Euclid Ave. near E. 4th St. to accommodate the store and publishing house. Its interior was fitted with massive woodwork, gas light, and a steam-driven elevator. In the 1870s and 1880s, Brainard's published vocal and instrumental music, songbooks, and especially political and patriotic songs. In 1878 S. Brainard's Sons established an office in Chicago; the company left Cleveland altogether in 1889, moved to Chicago, and continued to publish Brainard's Musical World until 1895. Henry M. Brainard remained in Cleveland to operate his own store, an outlet for Steinway pianos.

1. 2. Charles S. BRAINARD   d. 1897.
2. 3. Henry M. BRAINARD   d. 27 Oct 1918, Cleveland Heights, Cuyahoga, Ohio.
3. 4. Fanny M. BRAINARD  
4. 5. Emma Louis BRAINARD   d. 1883.
5. 6. Annie M. BRAINARD  
6. 7. Laura C. BRAINARD  

1. 8. Minnie BRAINARD   b. Abt 1854; d. 5 Jul 1883, Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio.

OBIT:
Name: Brainard, Henry M.
Date: O?tober 29, 1918
Source: Source unknown; Cleveland Necrology File, Reel #009.
Notes: Brainard-Henry M., 2195 Bellfield av., Cleveland Hts., father of Mrs. S. A. Fuller and Mrs. Norville W. Lewis, passed away Sunday, Oct. 27. Funeral Tues. afternoon. Private

1. 9. Lilly BRAINARD   b. Abt 1866.
2. 10. Emily BRAINARD   b. Abt 1867; d. 20 Jan 1874, Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio.
3. 11. Henry Paul BRAINARD   b. Abt 1875, Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio; d. 6 Sep 1884, Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio.
4. 12. Edith BRAINARD   d. Sep 1945.
5. 13. Bessie BRAINARD   b. Abt 1881, ,, Ohio; d. Mar 1968.

OBIT: Name: Armstrong, Minnie Brainard
Date: July 7, 1883
Source: Source unknown; Cleveland Necrology File, Reel #002.
Notes: Armstrong- Thursday morning, July 5, 1883, Minnie Brainard, wife of George E. Armstrong, aged 29 years. Funeral Saturday, July 7, at 3 p. m., from residence of Charles S. Brainard, 568 Euclid ave. Burial at the convenience of the family.

OBIT: Name: Brainard, Little Emily
Date: January, 21, 1874
Source: Source unknown; Cleveland Necrology File, Reel #009.
Notes: Brainard- On Tuesday evening, January 20th, Little Emily, eldest daughter of Henry M. and Frankie A. Brainard, aged 6 years, 11 months and 6 days. Funeral at the family residence corner of Euclid and Madison avenue, Friday afternoon, January 23d, at 3 o'clock.

OBIT: Name: Brainard, Henry Paul
Date: Sept. 9, 1884
Source: Source unknown; Cleveland Necrology File, Reel #009.
Notes: Brainard- Saturday, September 6, at 8:30 p.m., Henry Paul, only son of H. M. and F. A. Brainard, in the 9th year of his age. Funeral Tuesday, Sept. 9, at 2:30 p. m., from 808 Case ave. Burial private.

OBIT: Name: Fuller, Edith Brainard
Date: Sep 29 1945
Source: Source unknown; Cleveland Necrology File, Reel #028.
Notes: Fuller: Edith Brainard, mother of Florence Fuller Grund and the late Henry Brainard Fuller; sister of Mrs. Norville W. Lewis; residence, 2449 Overlook rd., Cleveland Heights. Services, Wade Memorial Chapel, Lake View Cemetery, Friday at 2 p. m. Kindly omit flowers.

MARRIAGE: BRAINARD, EDITH H and FULLER Jr, SAMUEL A 0035 0050

1. 14. Henry Brainard FULLER   d. 28 Oct 1941, Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio.
2. 15. Gertrude Frances FULLER   d. 29 Jan 1898, Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio.

OBIT: Name: Lewis, Bessie Brainard
Date: Mar 13 1968
Source: Plain Dealer; Cleveland Necrology File, Reel #129.
Notes: Lewis. Bessie Brainard Lewis, beloved wife of the late Norville W., mother of N. Milford, late residence, 1772 Middlehurst Rd. Services will be held at 2 P.M. Wednesday at Christ Episcopal Church, 3445 Warrensville Center Rd. Those who wish may send contributions to The Memorial Fund at Christ Episcopal Church, Brown-Forward Service.

1. 16. Frances Brainard LEWIS   b. Abt 1907; d. Jun 1925, Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio.
2. 17. Norville Milford LEWIS   b. Abt 1908, ,, Ohio; d. Jan 1972, Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio.
3. 18. Laura May LEWIS   b. Abt 1913; d. Sep 1922, Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio.
4. 19. S. Milford LEWIS  

OBIT: Name: Fuller, Henry Brainard
Date: Oct 30 1941
Source: Source unknown; Cleveland Necrology File, Reel #028.
Notes: Fuller: Henry Brainard, beloved husband of Marjorie Whitslar, father of William W. and Henry B., jr., son of Mrs. Edith Brainard Fuller and brother of Mrs. Florence Fuller Grund, on Tuesday, Oct. 28. Friends may call at Rinear-Lambert Funeral Home, 13136 Euclid ave., until Thursday noon. Services at Knollwood Mausoleum, Thursday at 2 p. m.

1. 20. William W. FULLER  
2. 21. Henry Brainard FULLER, Jr.  

OBIT: Name: Fuller, Gertrude Frances
Date: January 31, 1898
Source: Source unknown; Cleveland Necrology File, Reel #028.
Notes: Fuller-Gertrude Frances, beloved daughter of S. A. and Edith Brainard Fuller, Saturday Jan. 29, at 3 p. m. Funeral at 1:30 p. m. Monday, Jan. 31, from the home of H. M. Brainard, No. 138 Brookfield st. Burial private.

OBIT: Name: Lewis, Frances Brainard
Date: June 25, 1923
Source: Source unknown; Cleveland Necrology File, Reel #050.
Notes: Lewis-Frances Brainard, darling daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Norville W. Lewis, age 18 years, at the residence, 1772 Middle-Hurst road, Cleveland Heights. Funeral Tuesday, June 26, at 11 a. m., from the late residence.

OBIT: Name: Lewis, N. Milford
Date: Jan 3 1972
Source: Plain Dealer; Cleveland Necrology File, Reel #129.
Notes: Lewis. N. Milford Lewis, son of the late Bessie Brainard and Norville W. Lewis, Nearest surviving reatives. Mrs. C. D. Newcomber. Fuller Grund, David L. Grund. Henry B. Fuller and William W. Fuller. Memorial services will be held Monday, at 4:30 p.m. at St. Albans Episcopal Church. Please omit flowers. Brown-Forward services.

OBIT: Name: Lewis, Laura May
Date: September 14, 1922
Source: Source unknown; Cleveland Necrology File, Reel #050.
Notes: Lewis-Laura May, beloved daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Norville W. Lewis, 1772 Middlehurst road, Cleveland Heights, Thursday, at 1:30 p. m. Funeral Saturday afternoon, September 16, 2:30 p. m., from residence.