Brandt, Henry 1844 - 1917

BRANDT, MEYER, DETTMER, NIEMANN, ALLYN, BECKER, KRAMER, STICKFORT, MATT, KREGEL

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 9/18/2021 at 20:30:24

Elkader Register & Argus, Thur., 08 Feb. 1917.

Henry Brandt, son of Herman Henry Brandt and his wife, Margaretha, nee Meyer, was born January 11th, 1844, at Ostereistet, Hanover, Germany. When 13 years of age he came with his parents and one sister Maria, widow of the late Henry Dettmer, deceased, to this country. In August, 1857, the family arrived at the destination of their journey, which was Garnavillo, Clayton County, Iowa. After they had stayed with relatives for a few months they moved onto the Stiehl farm, which the parents had bought. Years of hard work and many privations followed. The boy Henry went to the parochial school, taught by Rev. Stockfeldt, and was confirmed in the St. Paul's Church at Garnavillo in the spring of 1858.

After his confirmation he assisted his father on the farm. Seven years the family lived on the farm, when they bought another farm in the neighborhood known at the present day as the Brandt home farm. Here the subject of this sketch has lived the greater part of his life. Only one year, when a young man of 24 years, he stayed with his brother Louis in New York, who preceded him in death in January, 1901.

On May 1st, 1872, he was married to Miss Maria Niemann, who has been his faithful companion and helpmate for forty-five years. This union was blessed with eight children, of which one, Maria Wilhelmina, preceded her father in death on December 31st, 1884. Those who mourn the departure of a beloved father are Anna, married to William Allyn, of Garnavillo township; Louisa, married to John F. Becker, of Elkader; Mathilda, married to Fred Kramer, of Garnavillo township; Alvina, married to Arthur Stickfort, of Garnavillo township; Louis, married to Amanda Matt, of Garnavillo township; Elmer, married to Laura Kregel, of Garnavillo township; and Nettie, at home.

After his sons had taken over the work of the home farm, the deceased, his wife and daughter moved to Garnavillo, where they have lived since January, 1911. Here he spent many delightful hour amid the circle of his dear ones who came on their occasional visits to their parents. A crippled limb which was the result of a severe illness that he experienced during the summer of 1886, together with a hacking cough, caused him much discomfort. His final sickness was very brief. It is supposed that he had a stroke on the Monday prior to his death, and it was then, following the advice of the doctor, that he remained in bed.

During the night from Thursday, February 1st, to Friday, February 2nd, at 2 a.m. quite unexpected by all, he departed from this life into the next, following the summons of his God.

The departed stood in high esteem because of his excellent qualities as a man. He was a charter member of the church and also acting chairman of same, in which position he proved his Christian faith and loyalty to the cause that he represented.

Those remaining to mourn the departure of Henry Brandt are his wife Maria, his seven children, his sister Maria, eighteen grandchildren and a host of friends. He attained the age of 73 years and 20 days.