In December 1852 William's mother Mary died soon after giving birth to his sister Matilda, her eighth child. Matilda died young, and so may have another brother and sister. On April 6, 1856 his father remarried to Philomena Martin who was the same age as William and many years younger than Augustine. Philomena was expecting a child when they were married, and she gave birth to eleven children over the next 23 years, seven of whom lived to adulthood.

As a young man William worked on his father's farm. His family was among the first settlers of Clearfield Township.

William and his brother Daniel fought in the Civil War. On August 16, 1862, 24-year-old William enlisted in Cambria County and was mustered in at Harrisburg. He served as a private in Company K, 125th Regiment of the Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He saw action at South Mountain and the Battle of Antietam in September 1862, and in December 1862 he marched on Fredericksburg, Virginia. In May 1863, after just nine months as a soldier, he was honorably discharged.

On July 12, 1864 William married Elizabeth Magdalene Nagle. Elizabeth was born on March 22, 1845 at Summit, Cresson Township, Cambria County, the daughter of George and Sarah (Dougherty) Nagle.

William and Elizabeth were the parents of the eleven children: Anna Mary (Brand) Krise, George Augustine Brand, Jacob Thomas Brand, Rose E. (Brand) Fryer, Martha Jane Brand, Charles H. Brand, James E. Brand, Elmer Brand, William Walter Brand, Leo Brand, Ida May Brand, and Frederick Brand.

Sadly, just five of their children survived to adulthood: Anna, Rose, Walter, May, and Freddie.

William was a coalminer, and the Brand family initially resided in Clearfield Township near William's father. In April 1869 their son Jacob was baptized at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in nearby Altoona, Blair County, so they may have moved there temporarily.

In 1880 William and Elizabeth resided next to his father Augustine in Clearfield Township with their three children, Ann, Rose, and Walter.

Sometimes in the 1880s William and Elizabeth removed a few miles north to Blain City,  Beccaria Township, Clearfield County where he again found work as a coal miner.

In 1884 Anna married Andrew U. G. Krise. Anna and Andrew were the parents of eleven children: Elizabeth Jane Krise, Katherine Isabelle (Krise) Kaufmann, Stephen Grover Krise, Mary Grace (Krise) Mortimer, Florence Edith "Edy" (Krise) Cannon, William Andrew "Bill" Krise, Ella Gertrude (Krise) Hartshorn, Ruth Leona (Krise) Boehmer, Leo David (Krise) , Genevieve Rose Krise, and Walter Joseph "Joe" Krise. They first resided in Altoona, Blair County where Andrew worked for the railroad. In 1888 Andrew was sent to Texas. In November 1888 they were residing in Irving, Texas when their daughter Elizabeth died at the tender age of 3. They soon returned to Altoona. They lived for a time in Derry, Westmoreland County before settling down near Pittsburgh in Duquesne, Allegheny County.

Rose married John Fryer on September 26, 1891 in Blair County. In 1910 she resided with Samuel Hinkeldire(sp?) in Portage, Cambria County where she was employed as his servant. Census records indicate she was "married" with two children living and one deceased.

In 1900 William and Elizabeth resided with their children Walter, May, and Fred in Beccaria Township.

Walter first married about 1901. His first marriage produced a son named George Brandt who was born about 1902. It is thought that Walter's first wife died young, for George was raised by his grandmother.

William died on March 7, 1909 in Coalport, Beccaria Township at the age of 70.

In 1910 Elizabeth resided with her son Freddie and 8-year-old grandson George.

May married Harvey Trent about 1911. They had the following children: Millard Trent, Pearl, Elsie, Goldie, and Edwin Trent. In 1930 they resided in Beccaria Township.

Freddie married Elsie. They had three children: Theodore Brandt, Elwood Brandt, and Donald Brandt. Sadly, Freddie died young. In 1930, Elsie, widowed, was raising three young children in Beccaria Township.

Walter remarried to a woman named Agnes. It was the second marriage for both. In 1930 they resided in Beccaria Township.

Elizabeth died on July 31, 1929 in either in Blain City, Beccaria Township or in nearby Curwensville, Pike Township. She was 84.

William and Elizabeth are buried at St. Augustine Cemetery, St. Augustine, Clearfield Township, Cambria County.