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You are in Cluster 1 Back to Brennecke Genealogy

Transition Generation

1600's Onward | Citizenship Certificate

Brennecke Driving Tour | Military | Thanks | Family Notes

German Churches

Brennecke in the News

Chapter A - Heinrich "August" Julius Brennecke

Chapter B - Heinrich (Henry) Ludwig Brennecke

Chapter C - Georg August Friedrich Brennecke

Chapter D - Carl August Friedrich (Fred) Brennecke

Chapter E - Georg Friedrich Wilhelm (William) Brennecke

Chapter F - Hanna Justine Louisa (Louise) Brennecke

Chapter G - Johann Heinrich Christian Carl (Charles) Brennecke (our line)

Chapter H - Johanna Caroline Friedrike Brennecke

Chapter I - George (Schoose) H. Brennecke

Chapter J - Johann Franklin (Frank) Brennecke

Chapter K - Johann Jacob (Jake) Brennecke

Three Generations of

Johann Heinrich Christian Carl (Charles) Brennecke

The Charles Brennecke descendants owe special thanks to Leon Brennecke, a grandson, for much of the information about Charles Brennecke. Another great source of the information was the Military Service Records (NNCC), National Archives, General Services Administration (GSA), Washington, DC 20408. The notations in parenthesis within this article reference the associated document as shown after this article. These documents are not on the website, but are in the book.

Charles Brennecke was born December 15, 1838, in or near Sebexen, Kingdom of Hannover. Charles came to America at the age of six.

From the military records we find that Charles Brennecke served in the Civil War, Co. K, 5th Mo. S-M Calvary from May 8th, 1863 (G1) through July 8th, 1865 (G4), slightly over two years. His enlistment at the age of 25 was made at Cape Girardeau, Missouri, for the "period during the war" at the age of 24 years. He was paid for the use and risk of his horse and horse equipment and his bounty was $25. (G1)

He was absent on furlough from April 29 to May 14, 1864. He was paid $2.35 for an escort and transportation from St. Louis to Rolla. (G2) He was also absent July through October 1864 and shown on detached service at Rolla. He was present for duty again in November 1864. (G3) He was transferred on February 19, 1865 to Co. L in Rolla. It is understood his absences were due to his hospitalization at Rolla. (G6) His discharge was at Benton, Missouri, on July 8th, 1865. He was a private all through his service, as he was mustered out as a private at discharge. (G4)

Almost three years later, on May 9, 1868, Charles married Caroline Martens, whom we think lived in the Hanover Church community north of Cape Girardeau. They were married in Cape Girardeau by Rev. Brayton, a Baptist minister. (G8) Charles was suffering from his lung disease on the day after their marriage. (G9) His cough increased year after year. (G10) Charles and Caroline had five children.

The Charles Brennecke farm was just north of Kelso, Scott County, Missouri. U. S. Highway 61 now splits the farm into two parts. Highway 61 was built in the 1920's or 30's. The Brennecke barn was still standing in 1975, but the large two-story house burned in 1925. Not long after 1975, the barn was taken down. A modern house now sits directly behind where the old house used to sit. The address of the house is 668 N. Messmer. Messmer used to be the old Kingshighway/ Highway 29. Near the city limit sign, the street is one block east of Highway 61. The street also joins Highway 61 near the KC Hall. If you look carefully at the lawn in front of the house, you can see an indentation where the old house stood. There is also a small mound where the old well was filled in and closed up. You can get a good image of the size of the land by standing in front of this house and looking out to the other side of Highway 61, and then to the left where the gravesite stands, and then to the right where the KC Halls stands. It is known that all of this land, and maybe more, was part of the Brennecke Farm.

The Heinrich Peetz family farm adjoined the Brennecke farm at Kelso. Heinrich Peetz and Charles Brennecke grew up together on adjoining farms between Jackson and Tilsit. Evidently they were close friends. (G10)

According to the Affidavits filed, it is evident that Charles suffered during the nineteen years after the war until his death with lung trouble/disease. (G8, 9, 10) His lung symptoms had characteristics common to Tuberculosis of the lung, but that term is never used in any of the records and cannot be confirmed. Tuberculosis symptoms include cough (G9), coughing up blood (G10), chest pain (G9), fever (G10), fatigue (G9) and occurs more commonly as a long-term, progressively worsening disease (G10). (1999 World Book Encyclopedia)

Leon Brennecke remembers a story told him that in his later years Charles Brennecke had a system of ropes and pulleys rigged up above his bed to help get himself into and out of bed. He thought that probably this was due to wounds received in the Civil War; however, his military records do not mention any wounds or other disabling accidents. In Caroline's Affidavit (G8), she states he suffered from rheumatism. It may be that rheumatism or arthritis became more severe in his later years.

Charles died nineteen years after his discharge, on February 3, 1884 at the age of 45. According to military records, Charles died Feb. 3, 1884. He and his wife Caroline Brennecke (nee Martens) were buried in a field on the Brennecke farm, located on a knoll under a tree, about 200 yards west of Highway 61 and about 300 yards north of the town of Kelso. His gravestone (a government marker) has the inscription :

 

CHAS. BRENNECKE
Co. K
5TH Mo. S-M-CAV.

There are two markers for Charles. The one to the left is the military marker as described in the article. The one below has five listed on it. On the left side as this picture views it, is the inscription of Charles with his birth and death date. On the right side is Caroline's inscriptions. On the back are the names of three children who were born and died at only a few days old each. These three children are a new addition to our book.

military marker

Under the large tree is the small cemetery. There are 10 people buried here. Charles & Caroline, their three babies, and another couple by the name of Kinney and their three young children. We do not know who the Kinney's are. Possible farm hands who lived with them?

The tall marker on the left (back row) is the military marker. The tall marker on the right contains all five names. These markers have never been moved. The other markers have been moved and the exact location where they belong is not known. The family who owns the house and cemetery has worked very hard at cleaning up the markers. They were in poor condition when they came into possession of them. They will soon be putting a fence up around it.

Three or four years prior to the year 2002, the city limits of the Village of Kelso were extended north, encompassing the area of the gravesites, in order to include a new subdivision. The property was purchased and a house and garage were built near the gravesites. The markers are still present, although not in the correct locations. The big tree they were buried under also still stands. The address of the house is 141 W. Honeysuckle, on the corner of Honeysuckle and Tulip.

Almost two years after his death, Caroline sought a widow's claim for pension on March 1, 1886, stating "his death was the Sequence of his Army Service" (G5). Needing evidence for the court, on July 6, 1887, she requested war records "as to the service, disability, and hospital treatment of Charles Brennecke...was disabled by disease.and was treated in hospitals...as follows: Rolla, Mo." (G6) The records she received were not much help stating: June 20, 1864, returned to duty from hospital. The records of this office furnish no additional information in the case. Cause of furlough not stated." (G7)

In January of 1988, at the age of 37, Caroline filed a General Affidavit as follows: "I cannot furnish the record of my marriage to the deceased Charles Brennecke as we were married on the 9th day of May, 1868 by a Baptist minister, then Pastor of the Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau, MO and he failed to place the above marriage in record and there is not church or public record of our marriage and the minister was a Mr. Brayton. His present whereabouts I cannot say. I cannot furnish medical evidence as to the treatment of my husband prior to the treatment of Dr. Williams of Kelso, Missouri as the Physician who treated him was a Dr. Traythor(?) then living in the City of Cape Girardeau, MO and he is dead. He died in the 70's and his books I no not where they are and my husband used also Patten(?) and Domistoe(?) remedies for his lung disease. He also had rheumatism, but died from lung trouble." (G8)

Also in January of 1888, Henry Martins, aged 54, brother of Caroline, filed a General Affidavit as follows: I am a farmer and I reside about six (?) miles from Cape Girardeau MO and I am a brother of the claimant Mrs. Caroline Brennecke nee Martens. She has never remarried since the death of her husband Charles Brennecke and the children five in number, Julius and Anna, Dena and Franklin, and Charles are all living. I was not present at their marriage. The deceased Charles Brennecke came to my father Henry Martens deceased and he and my sister came to Cape Girardeau city Missouri on the 9th of May 1868. I was at my father's at the time and they left us later to the City of Cape Girardeau, MO and was married . They then came back to my father when they were married and on the 10th day of May 1868 I took my wagon and team and took them to their home. The deceased was then weak, had a cough, and pains in his breast and I know the above facts from personal knowledge. My post office address is Cape Girardeau, Missouri. (G9)

A third General Affidavit was filed by Henry Peetz, aged 42, on May 18, 1886, testifying as follows: Said Henry Peetz states that he was acquainted with Charles Brennecke from the time he entered the army. Know also when he come home from the army. Know also that his voice was hoarse when he came home and that he had a kind of cough which appeared to me to increase from year to year until he finally was unable to do hard work. He also had a good deal of malarial fever from the time he came home from the army (or soon thereafter) in the last year of his life he was very weak and coughed very much. Affiant states that he was present at his death and seen him spit up blood for several days before his death and that when he was on the point of dying the blood flowed out of his mouth very much. Affiant states that he has good reason to know these facts from being a close neighbor to him and seeing him most each week. (G10) Note: Webster dictionary states "malarial" was from the former notion that it was caused by the bad air of swamps.

As additional evidence for the court, the War Department filed on October 7th, 1887 a summary of the military records. (G11) There is no document granting Caroline the pension, but she did receive the pension until her death, based upon the documents filed for pension payments for their son Charles, after Caroline's death. Caroline received benefits for approximately nine years, dying on March 10, 1896.

A Minors' Application for Accrued Pension was filed on April 11, 1896, by daughter Anna Brennecke reading as follows: Caroline Brennecke Widow of Charles Brennecke was previous as the Widow of said Charles Brennecke. MO Widow's Certificate 249353. The said Caroline Brennecke never remarried after the death of her husband Charles Brennecke. Said Caroline Brennecke at the date of her death was drawing $12.00 per mouth for herself and $2.00 per month for minor Charles born 14th July 1881, dependant, continued until adult...further swear that the following are the names, with the dates of birth, or the dates of death, of all the children left by the deceased pensioner, who were under sixteen at pensioner's death: Julius Brennecke born 4th day of April 1869, Anna Brennecke born the 3rd of September 1871, Dena Brennecke born the 21st November 1873, Franklin Brennecke born 23rd day of July 1877, Charles Brennecke born 14th July 1881. (G12)

As evidence for the minor's application, P.R. Williams, M.D. filed a Physician's Affidavit stating: he has been acquainted with said Caroline, Widow of Charles Brennecke, for about 18 years, and that I have been her family physician for eighteen years and know she died March the 10/96. I also certify that the boy Charles is the only child under sixteen years. (G13)

On April 18, 1896, Anna Brennecke filed with the court a declaration that she was the guardian of her brother, Charles, minor of Charles Brennecke. There is no document granting the pension, but we can assume Anna received a pension for the care of her brother, Charles, until age 16 or his death. Our records indicated he died young (16+ years).

Caroline was officially dropped from the pension rolls on September 19th, 1896, six months after her death. (G15)

1 Johann August Friedrich BRENNECKE
b: November 5, 1801 in Sebexen, Hanover, Germany
d: October 8, 1856 in Zion United Methodist Ch. Gordonville MissouriAge at death: 54
Number of children: 11
Occupation: farm laborer and linen weaver
Special Comment: Emigrated to USA November 1844

 

+Engel Christine Wilhelmine EICKEMEIER
b: December 5, 1806 in Alshausen, Dukedom of Braunschweig, Germany
d: March 20, 1871 in Zion United Methodist Ch. Gordonville, Missouri

Age at death: 64
m: July 12, 1829 in Sebexen, Hanover, Germany
Number of children: 11

 

2 Johann Heinrich Christian Carl BRENNECKE
b: December 15, 1838
d: February 3, 1884 in Kelso, MO

Age at death: 45
Number of children: 5

 

+Caroline MARTENS
b: August 8, 1848
d: March 10, 1896 in Kelso, MO

Age at death: 47
m: May 9, 1868 in Cape Girardeau, MO
Number of children: 5

 

3 Anthony "Antonius" Julius BRENNECKE
b: April 4, 1869
d: December 25, 1949
Age at death: 80
Number of children: 2

 

+Mary Dorothy COOK
b: July 28, 1869
d: April 4, 1962

Age at death: 92
m: August 7, 1892Number of children: 2

 

4 Dena "Diana" Emma BRENNECKE
b: September 11, 1893
d: August 31, 1980Age at death: 86

 

+Edwin Otto KOEPPEL
b: July 26, 1889
d: August 5, 1932Age at death: 43
m: May 10, 1913

 

*2nd Husband of Dena "Diana" Emma Brennecke:
+Willis BAKER
b: May 10, 1877
d: August 5, 1964

Age at death: 87
m: May 9, 1935

 

4 Anita Edna BRENNECKE
b: May 28, 1902
Number of children: 1

+Othie Louis SHEPERD
b: November 28, 1902
d: March 29, 1971Age at death: 68
m: September 18, 1922

Number of children: 1

 

3 Anna Johanna BRENNECKE
b: September 3, 1871
d: April 26, 1949Age at death: 77
Number of children: 5

+Kuhndraut "Coon" SIELERT
b: December 25, 1863 in Hamburg, Germany
d: September 6, 1914

Age at death: 50
m: May 27, 1901

Number of children: 5

 

4 Carl SIELERT

b: April 14, 1903
Number of children: 4

 

+Opal Lillian TEMPLE
b: December 3, 1906
m: December 25, 1926Number of children: 4

4 Albert SIELERT
b: November 29, 1907
d: April 12, 1972Age at death: 64

 

4 Alma Faye SIELERT
b: October 13, 1905
d: January 1, 1997Age at death: 91
Number of children: 4

 

+John Henry BAILEY
b: February 13, 1906
d: August 3, 1989Age at death: 83
m: April 30, 1927

Number of children: 4

4 Smith SIELERT
b: May 14, 1910
d: November 1, 1931Age at death: 21

 

4 Ruth SIELERT
b: October 30, 1912
d: May 24, 1999Age at death: 86
Number of children: 2

 

+Chester BESS
b: May 17, 1911
m: March 15, 1931

Number of children: 2

 

4 Dena Brennecke (Kontradina Wilhelmine BRENNECKE)
b: November 21, 1873 in Cape Girardeau, MO
d: 1931Age at death: 57 est.
Number of children: 3

 

+Sam A. ALMON
Number of children: 3

 

4 John ALLMON
b: 1907Number of children: 1

+Grace RAINEY
Number of children: 1

 

4 Alma ALLMON

 

4 Lee ALLMON

 

3 August BRENNECKE
b: May 5, 1876
d: May 21, 1876 in Kelso, Missouri

Age at death: 0

 

3 Frank William BRENNECKE
b: July 23, 1877 in farm between Ancell and Kelso
d: June 20, 1956 in Memorial Park, Cape Girardeau, MO
Age at death: 78Cause of death: stroke
Number of children: 9Occupation: farmer

 

+Mary Magdalene "Lena" GLASSER
b: March 5, 1882
d: March 23, 1954 in Memorial Park, Cape Girardeau, MO Age at death: 72
m: February 20, 1900Number of children: 9

 

4 Waldo William BRENNECKE
b: December 24, 1900 in Memorial Park, Cape Girardeau, MO
d: November 2, 1982 in Cape Girardeau, MO

Age at death: 81
Number of children: 1
Occupation: General Motors, St. Louis

 

+Marie N. SCHUETTE
b: January 23, 1909
Number of children: 1

 

4 Mable Olean BRENNECKE
b: June 7, 1902
d: December 10, 1953 in Memorial Park, Cape Girardeau, MO
Age at death: 51 Cause of death: cancer
Number of children: 2

 

+Robert H. SCHIWITZ
b: May 30, 1897 in near Commerce
d: August 1957 in Memorial Park, Cape Girardeau, MO
Age at death: 60 est. Cause of death: heart attack
Number of children: 2
Occupation: rural mail carrier in Illmo and Commerce for 36 years
Religion: Eisleben Lutheran Chuch of Illmo

 

4 Leon Wilburn BRENNECKE (read more about Leon)
b: April 22, 1904
d: December 23, 1988 Age at death: 84
School: Attended Ellis School, Scott City
School: g: May 14, 1926 Fornfelt High School
Occupation: owned Standard Station, Cape Girardeau

 

+Iva Ethel FRIESE
b: June 5, 1904
d: December 19, 1998 Age at death: 94
m: June 5, 1904
Occupation: Cook at Washington Elementary School, Cape

 

4 Ella Mae BRENNECKE
b: August 16, 1907
Number of children: 2

 

+Lynn M. "Pete" BUSCHE
b: February 24, 1900
d: May 4, 1987 in Memorial Park, Cape Girardeau, MO

Age at death: 87
m: December 24, 1935

Number of children: 2
Occupation: farmer

 

4 twin Ab: 1913

 

4 twin Bb: 1913

 

4 Elmer BRENNECKE
b: 1909
d: 1917 in World War I
Age at death: 8 est.

 

4 Howard BRENNECKE

 

4 Melvin Lindell BRENNECKE
b: August 30, 1922
d: March 23, 1987 inCreston, IL

Age at death: 64
Number of children: 6

 

+Blanche Othella KENT
b: April 14, 1923
d: June 9, 1972 in Iona Cemetery, near Trail of Tears State Park
Age at death: 49
Number of children: 6

 

3 Emma BRENNECKE
b: February 17, 1880
d: February 23, 1880 in Kelso, MissouriAge at death: 0

 

3 Charles BRENNECKE
b: July 14, 1881
d: young (16+ years)

 

3 Ernest BRENNECKE
b: March 11, 1884
d: December 24, 1884 in Kelso, Missouri

Age at death: 0

Copyright Cheryl Rutledge-Brennecke
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