Charles Brandsteder, 1859

Posted4U@Charter.net on Thu, 15 Feb 2001

Surname: BRANDSTEDER, KENDEL, PEDRICK, SCHMIDT, HEIM

Source: 1918 History of Clark Co., WI, by Franklyn, Curtiss-Wedge

CHARLES BRANDSTEDTER, proprietor of the A. Brandstedter general store at Humbird, Mentor Township, Clark County, and a man who has for a number of years taken a prominent part in local affairs, was born in Jackson County, Wis., Feb. 6, 1859, son of John and Mary (Kendel) Brandstedter. The parents were natives of Germany, the father coming to the United States when a young man. They settled in Jackson County, this state, where John Brandstedter engaged in farming, building a log cabin, in which his son Charles was born. The latters' mother died at the age of 47 years, having borne her husband eight children: Charles, Elizabeth, John, Mary, Catherine, Nicholas, deceased; Minnie and Emma. After his first wife's death John Brandstedter married, secondly, Elizabeth Newman. Of this marriage there were six children: George, Dena, Matthew, Joseph, Frank and Theresa.

Charles Brandstedter, at the the age of 18 years, left the farm and went to work on the Huntzinger farm for three years. He then went to Fairchild, where he obtained a position as clerk in the store of M. Pedrick, but after remaining with him a short time, took up farm work again. He was also employed in the furniture factory at Neillsville for seven years. Then he again entered mercantile business, working in various stores until 1901, in which year he bought out G. W. Crandell, of Humbird, and has since conducted his present business on a profitable basis. He is also a stockholder in the Central Wisconsin Telephone Company and the Wisconsin Light and Power Company.

He has been elected several times as a member of the town board, being its treasurer from 1903 to 1908, and from 1911 to 1912. For the past twenty years he has been a member of the M. W. A. Camp at Humbird, holding the office of clerk for the first eight years. In politics he is a Democrat, and in religion a Catholic.

Mr. Brandstedter was united in marriage Oct. 4, 1886, to Anna Heim, who was born at Waterloo, Wis., daughter of Valentine and Tresa (Schmidt) Heim. Her father, who was engaged for a number of years in the milling business at Humbird, is now retired. He is a widower, his wife having died about seven years ago. They have four children now living: Anna, Oscar, Emma and William. Mr. and Mrs. Brandstedter were the parents of three children: Mamie, born March 28,,1888, who is clerk for her father; Elsie, born, Jan. 19, 1891, who died Jan. 27, 1912, and Rozella, born June 4, 1895, who is teaching school.