Dettmer, Mary Gescha (Brandt) 1848 -1933

DETTMER, BRANDT, MEYER, WIRKLER, SCHMIDT, KREGEL

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 5/25/2020 at 09:46:18

Clayton County Register, Thur., 12 Oct. 1933.

Mary Gescha Brandt was born in Ostereistadt, Amt Zeven, Hanover, Germany, on Dec. 6th, 1848. Her parents were Herman Henry Brandt and his wife Margaret Anna nee Meyer. When she was nine years old, the family emigrated. They settled down in Clayton county in Garnavillo township on what is now known as the Arno Kregel farm. Later the family moved to a neighboring farm which has since been in the possession of the Brandt family, being now occupied by Louise Brandt. In due time our deceased sister attended confirmation instruction at St. Paul's church, Garnavillo, and was confirmed by the Rev. Mr. Klein. Aside from a period of nine months during which she visited her brother Louis in New York City in the year 1864, she spent her youth at home, faithfully assisting her parents.

On February 25th, 1869, she was married to Clamor Henry Dettmer the ceremony being performed by the Rev. Mr. Hermann. The young couple settled down on a farm in Read township, which at the present time is occupied by Emil Best. In 1876 they removed to the Gillett farm northeast of Garnavillo and they lived there for a period of 26 years, or till the year 1902 when they came to Garnavillo and took up their residence in the home that had been occupied by Mrs. Dettmer's parents. It remained her home to this day. On July 1st, 1911, Mr. Dettmer died. Two daughter's remained with her in the home, Emma, whose husband, Ervin C. Wirkler, died Jan. 21st, 1914, and Helen, together with her grandson, Walter Wirkler. These together with her children three other children, Anna, Herman and Amelia, faithfully took care of her when her strength began to fail and showed filial love and solicitude to her up to her end which came last Friday morning, October 6th. She had attained the age of 84 years and 10 months.

Mrs. Dettmer will be missed by a large circle of friends who loved to come to the Dettmer home and enjoy the hospitality and friendly atmosphere that prevailed in the family circle. The writer of these lines, as a boy, and in later years after had the pleasure of calling there. She is mourned by her children, Mrs. Anna Schmidt, Elkader, Herman, on a farm one mile north of Garnavillo, Mrs. Amelia Kregel of this city, and Mrs. Emma Wirkler and Helen at home. She is also survived by nine grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren, and her sister-in-law of thia city, Mrs. Mary Bandt. Two brothers preceded her in death, Louis Brandt of New York City, in 1901, and Henry Brandt of Garnavillo, on February 2, 1917. - Contributed.