John D. Brockmann

BROCKMANN

Posted By: Rebecca Foster (email)
Date: 7/6/2014 at 21:17:17

GERMAN PIONEER AND BANKER DIES VETERAN BANKER CALLED BY DEATH

John D. Brockmann Passes Away at Age of 73 Years
After a brief two weeks' illness, John D. Brockmann, vice president and director of the Iowa National Bank, president of the board of park commissioners and pioneer German merchant, died at his home, 1043 West Fifth Street at 8:10 o'clock Friday evening. While Mr. Brockmann had been ailing for some time and had not been in the best of health since being overcome by heat last summer he took a rapid turn for the worse Friday afternoon and death soon followed.

Mr. Brockmann was one of the organizers of the Iowa National Bank in 1889, and since that time has been a director and vice-president of the institution, being one of the best known financiers of Davenport and Iowa.

It was not alone in the banking field that Mr. Brockmann was prominent, however, as he has always been an enthusiastic advocate of a municipal park system and has been largely instrumental in the acquisition of the present Davenport parks, and in the organization of the department that has these municipal affairs in charge.

President of Park Board

For the last 17 years Mr. Brockmann has been a member of the board of park commissioners, and for several terms has been president of the board, his associates being A.W. Vander Veer and Dr. Henry Matthey. He became chairman of the board of directors of the Iowa National Bank on the death of A. P. Doe last fall.

John Dietrich Brockmann was born October 6, 1837 in Hohenwestedt, Holstein, Germany, living there until he became of age, and learning the cabinet maker's trade, which he followed on first coming to Davenport in 1865.
Upon coming to this country Mr. Brockmann settled in New York, but removed to Davenport in the same year and has for the last 45 years been one of the influential citizens of Davenport. Mr. Brockmann followed his trade of cabinet maker here until 1870, working in the carpenter shop of Victor Huot.

Becomes a Banker

In that year he began a grocery business, locating on the southeast corner of Fourth and Marquette streets and continuing in business at that location until 1890, when he sold his grocery to devote himself to his larger financial interests, having been one of the organizers of the Iowa National Bank the preceding year.

In August 1865, Mr. Brockmann was united in marriage to Miss. Hansine Petersen, also from Hohenwestedt, Germany, who, together with three children, survive, four children, Henry, Agnes, Adolph and Hugo having previously passed away. Those surviving are John D. Brockmann, Jr., teller of the German Savings Bank; Albertus Brockmann, now of Seattle, Wash., and Mrs. Minnie Hanssen Hildebrant, an adopted daughter.

Two brothers also survive, Theodore of Grand Mound and Henry of Davenport.

The funeral will be held from the home, 1043 West Fifth Street, at 2 o'clock Monday afternoon, and will be private, interment being in the City Cemetery. Gustav Donald will officiate.

Source: The Davenport Democrat and Leader, Davenport, Iowa, 18 June 1911.