The Brandes Family

Lewis Brandes in History of Black Hawk County, Iowa

The full biographical sketch as printed, transcribed from the public-domain book. Spelling and wording are the original author’s; a few scanning errors may remain.

LEWIS BRANDES.

Lewis Brandes has lived in Black Hawk county for about four decades and is widely recognized as one of its substantial agriculturists and representative citi- zens, owning and operating a well improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 33, Mount Vernon township. He devotes his attention to the pursuits of farming and stock-raising and in both branches of his business is meeting with well deserved success. His birth occurred in Cook county, Illinois, in 1864, his parents being Conrad and Lena Brandes, who were born, reared and married in Germany. In 1857 they crossed the Atlantic to the United States and took up their abode in Cook county, Illinois, where the father followed farming until 1876. In that year he came west to Black Hawk county, Iowa, and here purchased land which he continued to cultivate throughout the remainder of his life, his demise occurring in 1904. In his passing the community lost one of its respected citizens and successful agriculturists. His wife was called to her final rest in 1900. They became the parents of eight children, the first born, a daughter, being a native of Germany. The record is as follows: Henry, who is now a resident of Waterloo, Iowa ; Dora, who is the wife of Charles Paul, of Cedar Falls, Iowa ; Mrs. Minnie Bartling, of Mount Vernon township, this county; Lewis, of this review; Lena and Fred, both of whom are deceased ; Annie, who passed away at the age of four years ; and John, living in Cedar Falls. ,

Lewis Brandes obtained his education in the public schools of Illinois and Iowa and when twenty-three years of age was married and started out as an agriculturist on his own account. He first cultivated rented land for five years and on the expiration of that period bought one hundred and sixty acres of raw land in Mount Vernon township, which he improved and developed and has oper- ated continuously to the present time. The property is now in a high state of cultivation and yields him a gratifying annual income.

In 1887 Mr. Brandes was united in marriage to Miss Annie Beckel, a native of Cook county, Illinois, and a daughter of William and Charlotte Beckel. both of whom were born in Germany. They came to Iowa in 1878 and in this state the father devoted his attention to general agricultural pursuits until his demise in 1880. The mother survives and makes her home in Bremer county, Iowa. The

living children of the family are as follows: Mrs. Annie Brandes ; Mrs. Lena Beoger ; Mrs. Ricke Nottger ; William ; Henry ; and Mrs. Matilda Sassman. To Mr. and Mrs. Brandes have been born seven children, namely: Sarah, who is the wife of Ernest Hamm, a farmer of Mount Vernon township, this county ; and Herman, Louis H., Bertha, William, Albert and Carl, all at home.

Mr. Brandes is liberal in his political views, always taking into consideration the fitness of a candidate rather than his party affiliation. He has served as a member of the school board but has never been an office seeker, having no desire for the honors and emoluments of public position. Fraternally he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Evangelical church, to which his wife and children also belong. He is a man of sterling traits of character, reliable in business, progressive in citizenship and at all times trustworthy and capable.

Source: History of Black Hawk County, Iowa. See the original pages at the Internet Archive.