For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 690
ARTHUR CHARLES BRANDT....Arthur Charles Brandt, a well known and representative resident of Muscatine county, is numbered among the worthy native sons of this county, his birth having occurred on a farm in Sweetland township on the 29th of October, 1865. His father Conrad Brandt, who was born in Hamburg Germany, on the 23d of February, 1821, learned the cabinet-makers trade and spent the first twenty-six years of his life in his native land. In 1847, he crossed the Atlantic to the United States and after traveling about the country for a year located in Muscatine, Iowa, where he worked as a cabinet-maker for a number of years. Subsequently he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Sweetland township, being successfully engaged in general agricultural pursuits until called to his final rest in August, 1906. He added to his holdings as his financial resources increased and at one time owned three hundred and twenty acres of land in Sweetland and Montpelier townships. The period of his residence in this county covered almost six decades and he enjoyed a wide and favorable acquaintance within its borders.Conrad Brandt was united in marriage to Mrs. Ernestine Blake Ziegler, a daughter of Michael and Catherine Blake, who were members of the Rapp Society at Ecomony, Beaver county, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Ziegler had three children by her first husband, namely : William, who is a resident of New York city ; Frances Z, Shields, now living in California ; and Barnhart, who died in infancy. William Ziefler erected the New Era church in Sweetland township, intended for use as a chapel or Sunday school and also for social purposes, and in 1910 the Brandt sisters built the New Era Gymnasium as a memorial to William Ziegler. Both the church and the gymnasium are model buildings of their kind. Arthur Charles Brandt is one of a family of three sons and two daughters, his brothers and sisters being as follows ; Emma C., who resides with her mother in Davenport, Iowa ; George W., who is married and makes his home in Chicago ; Edward, who is deceased ; and Clara L., who is also with her mother. Mrs. Brandt, has attained the ripe old age of ninety years.
Arthur C. Brandt supplemented his preliminary education, obtained in the district schools, by a course of study in the Eastern Iowa Normal School, which institution he attended from 1882 until 2884. In the summer of the latter year he went to Brooklyn, New York, there holding a position in the law office of W. J. Gaynor for about a year. From 1885 until 1887 he was employed as a traveling salesman by the firm of Brandt & Ziegler, dealers in baker's and confectioner's supplies. In 1888 he returned to the home farm, purchasing the property about six years later and continuing to reside thereon until 1906. The place is now rented and the homestead is in charge of a care-taker, Mr. Brandt residing thereon only during the summer months. In 1906 he removed to Muacatine in order to give his children better educational advantages, and he is now interested in the real-estate business, owning land in Kansas, Texas and Canada besides his extensive holdings in Iowa.
On the 5th of May, 1889, in Muscatine Mr. Brandt was united in marriage to Miss Ellen Green, a daughter of Dr, Jabez and Mary ( Heath ) Green. They now have two children, namely : Franzes Ziegler, who was born on the 3d of March, 1892, and will graduate from St. Mathias School in June, 1911 ; and Conrad Jabez, whose natal day was November 29, 1896, and who is now attending Todd's Seminary at Woodstock, Illinois.
Mr. Brandt has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite in Masonry and also belongs to the Mystic Shrine. He is likewise connected with Lodge No. 304 of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and is a charter member of Eagle Lodge, No.10, A. O. U. W. His life, in all of its various relations, has been of such a character as to command the respect and esteem of those with whom he has been associated.
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