Henry BRODRICK

BRODRICK, GEARHART, SCHURTZ, NUMIRLER, GILDNER

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 2/26/2011 at 02:42:48

BIOGRAPHY - HENRY BRODRICK.

For nearly three decades Henry BRODRICK has been identified with the farming interests of Falls township, Cerro Gordo county, Iowa, he having landed here in March, 1883. As a young man he started out in life here wife practically no capital, but he was energetic and persevering, and in 1894 he purchased his present farm. All the improvements on this place were made by him.

Mr. BRODRICK was born near Fairstock, province of Ontario, Canada, January 4, 1861, son of Henry and Margaret (GEARHART) BRODRICK, natives of Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany, who came to the continent in early life and were married in Canada. In 1885, they followed their son to Iowa, and settled in Falls township, Cerro Gordo county. Here the mother died April 7, 1887, at the age of about fifty-six years. The father died in the fall of 1908, at the age of eighty-nine years. He was a farmer and stock raiser all his life. Of his family one son, Jacob R., and six daughters are still residents of Canada, and besides Henry two other members of the family came to Iowa - Mrs. Mary SCHURTZ, of Falls township, and Mrs. Maggie NUMIRLER, of Forest City.

Henry was the first of the family to come to Iowa with the exception of an uncle, Henry BRODRICK, now deceased, who made settlement here among the early pioneers.

Henry BRODRICK, the direct subject of this sketch, married in Falls township, January 4, 1885, Miss Nettie GILDNER, who was born in the county, in June, 1868, daughter of Conrad GILDNER, personal mention of whom appears on another page of this work. Mr. and Mrs. BRODRICK have three daughters: Clara M., born August 23, 1889; Pearl M., March 14, 1892, and Lilla M., July 23, 1898.

Mr. BRODRICK was reared in the Lutheran church, and naturally gives it his preference, though he is not a member of any church. Socially he affiliates with M. W. A. of Rock Falls, and politically he usually gives the Democratic party the benefit of his vote. His postoffice address is Rock Falls, Iowa.

SOURCE: Wheeler, J. H. History of Cerro Gordo County, Iowa. Vol. II. Pp. 485-86. Lewis Pub. Co. Chicago. 1910

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, February of 2011