Breniman, Gottlieb

BRENIMAN, DURIG, STRASSER, CRAYBILL, CONNELL, FRANCIS, GAUMER

Posted By: Gary Norris (email)
Date: 12/1/2012 at 08:51:00

Gottlieb Breniman, now living retired in Brooklyn, is a representative of the well known family of that name which was established in Poweshiek county at an early day. Switzerland claims him among her native sons, his birth occurring near the city of Berne, February 25, 1846. He is a son of Christian and Barbara (Durig) Breniman, natives of Switzerland, and was a little lad of six years when brought by them to the United States. They first located in Ohio and later, in 1855, took up their abode in Poweshiek county, Iowa, within whose borders the son has since continued to make his home. He was the sixth in order of birth in a family of ten children and is a brother of Christian D. Breniman, mention of whom is made on another page of this volume.
On a farm in Warren township, about four miles southeast of Brooklyn, Gottlieb Breniman spent the period between the years 1855 and 1863, and in the latter year, during the Civil war, removal was made to Lincoln township, where he continued to make his home with his parents until his marriage. He then started out independently and for almost thirty years was engaged in the operation of a farm in Lincoln township. His efforts along agricultural lines were unusually successful and it was not long before he became recognized as one of the most progressive and prosperous farmers of his district. The success which came to him made it possible for him, in 1899, to withdraw from active labor and seek the comforts of city life. Accordingly he sold his farm, which, consisting of over four hundred acres, constituted one of the finest and most valuable properties in that section of Poweshiek county, and came to Brooklyn, where he owns and occupies a most comfortable and attractive residence. He also possesses three other good dwellings in this city and also three-quarters of a section of land in the Panhandle of Texas.
It was on the 1st of September, 1870, that Mr. Breniman was united in marriage to Miss Barbara Strasser, who was born in Kenton, Ohio, May 22, 1850, and when about two years of age was brought by her parents to Iowa, locating in Keokuk county. She is a daughter of Henry and Barbara (Craybill) Strasser, natives of Ohio and Switzerland respectfully. They were numbered among the early settlers of Keokuk county, entering land there from the government when wild game was still very plentiful, and there the father passed his remaining days, his demise occurring in 1873. His wife, however still survives and now makes her home in Thornburg, Iowa, at the age of ninety-three years. With the passing years seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Breniman, namely: George Francis, of Fort Collins, Colorado; Florence E., the wife of Charles Connell, or Nara Visa, New Mexico; Alice, who passed away at the age of sixteen years; Clara T., a student at Capital City Commercial College, Des Moines; Ernest C., a successful farmer, who married Frances Gaumer and resides three miles southeast of Brooklyn; Mabel, who died when two years of age; and Ethel, also a student at Capital City Commercial College, Des Moines.
The religious faith of Mr. Breniman is that of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is a member, and fraternally he belongs to the Knights of Pythias. In politics he supports the democratic party and on that ticket was elected to the office of assessor of Lincoln township, in which he served for five years. Mr. Breniman's success in life has been most substantial and his income has been very wisely used. He has traveled considerably in the old world, visiting Switzerland in 1900 and also attending the Paris Exposition. He made a thorough tour of the British islands and also has seen much of his adopted country, while for one winter he resided in California. Thurs he has gained that broad experience which comes from travel and contact with many men, which lends color and interest to the more or less uneventful course of everyday life.

History of Poweshiek County Iowa
- A Record of Settlement, Organizations, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II
written by Prof. L. F. Parker.
Published by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., in 1911
Pages 683-684