Kilties, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, 4-H’ers and the Youth Recreation Program), the Lutheran Cemetery

Association and the Porter House Museum.

Brandt, Stanley and Linda (Faldet)

(Stanley Brandt)

Brandt, Walter and Annetta (Huisinga)

(Robert Brandt)

Walter and Anetta Brandt

Walter Brandt, son of John and Emma Brandt, was born 5 May 1899. On 21 Dec 1925 he married Annetta Huisinga, daughter of Herman and Mary (Seals) Huisinga from Minneapolis, MN. Annetta was born 31 Oct 1907. Walter and Annetta lived and farmed in Bloomfield Twp. until they retired to Castalia in 1965. They had 2 sons. Robert  married Marius Engelhardt on 25 Jan 1948. They reside in rural Ossian, IA. Lloyd  married Imogene Sawville . They are divorced. Lloyd lives in Belvidere, IL. He and Hilda Rangle married 13 May 1995 in Belvidere. Walter and Annetta had 5 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

When Walter was a young man, he purchased a Harley Davidson motorcycle and drove it to McClusky, ND. He worked as a ranch hand before he started farming for himself. When he quit farming, he shipped his machinery to Castalia. He then went to Minneapolis and found employment as a garbage man. He picked up garbage with a horse-drawn wagon and hauled it to farmers who used the refuse as feed for their hogs.

While living in Minneapolis, Walter met and married Annetta. In 1926 they moved to rural Castalia in Fayette Co. They farmed there until 1934 when they moved north of Castalia and farmed until retiring.

Walter and Annetta enjoyed their retirement in Castalia. They liked to play cards, visit friends and family and travel. When their health declined, they became residents in the Ossian Senior Hospice. Walter died 31 Jul 1985 and Annetta died 16 Mar 1987.

They were members of Zion Lutheran Church in Castalia for many years. Walter served on the church council. Annetta was a member of the Women’s Organization (WELCA) and a Circle. She served as Cradle Roll Mother for many years. They were long time members of the Bloomfield Twp. Historical Society and members of KEWS, a senior citizen's group in Castalia.

Brandt, Wilhelm and Marie (Block)

(Marion Laterman)

Freiderick Wilhelm Johannes Brandt was born 15 Jul 1841 in Mecklinberg, Hanover Province, Germany. He was the son of Freiderick and Magdalene (Borcherding) Brandt. F. Wilhelm J. Brandt married Marie Sophia Block. She was born 5 May 1846 in Husum, Hanover Province, Germany. She was the daughter of Heinrich and Sophia Dorothy Louise (Holst) Block. F Wilhem and Marie were married in Husum.

Wilhelm and Marie came as new bride and groom to America along with his brother, Gottlieb, to the vicinity of Garnavillo, Clayton Co., IA. Wilhelm came with a recommendation from Neinberg praising him as a good worker, good with horses and farm crops. Three brothers of Marie also came to America. They were Henry, William and Dietrich Block.

Wilhelm applied for citizenship 10 Jan 1872. He became a naturalized citizen 19 Sep 1876. Wilhelm and Marie lived in Grand Meadow Twp., Clayton Co. and Henderson Prairie area in Fayette Co. They bought 320 acres from Moses Hostetter in Winneshiek Co 1 Mar 1893. This is in Frankville Twp., one mile west of Frankville.

Wilhelm and Marie’s children were: Anna (Mrs. Albert Zieman); Martha (Mrs. James Ryan); Magdalene (Mrs Carl Dreyer); Margaret (Mrs. Eugene Birdsell); Arthur Ferdinand; Mary Ann (Mrs. James Birdsell); Walter Herman; and Cora (Mrs. Ray Birdsell).