Lived in Urbana after his third year. Educated in Urbana Public Schools and Urbana University. In 1863, when he was only 15 years old, he was Assistant Engineer of the Atlantic and Great Western Railway (Erie). a year later, though too young to enlist, he went to the field in the Civil War, serving as a clerk in the Connnissary Department, until the close of the Civil War. He liked to tell of carrying the first basket of food to the southern soldiers at the Appomatox surrender. He saw service in Virginia and Georgia. After the Civil War, he was compositor at the Citizen and Gazette. From
1879 to 1887, he was in the retail grocery business in Urbana and Bellefontaine.

In 1887 with Mr. W. H. Marvin, he established the W. H. Marvin Wholesale Grocery. He retired in 1907, retaining an interest in the business.

From 1907 until his death, he was General Agent and President of the Western Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Urbana; at the time of his death, he was President of the Ohio Mutual Insurance Association; Vice President and Director, Champaign National Bank; Director, Urbana Telephone Company; President of Brand Ross, Insurance.

Mr. Brand was a member of Grace Methodist Episcopal Church, and for many years taught the Men's Class of that Church.

He was a great friend of young men, and no boy ever asked help of him in vain — he kept a fund active to help start boys on their careers. Some of these boys became very influential men, and loved to come back to him in gratitude.