Debrodt

Debrodt

What a curious bunch these guys are.Seems my grandfather's generation never talked about their family or growing up.This does make it difficult at times to find out information.

What I do know is this.My grandfather, Emil Debrodt was born in 1892.His parents were Emil and Henrika Bringman Debrodt.All this from Emil's birth certificate.From the US Census records I have been able to determine all 4 of Emil's siblings that lived to adulthood, his parents' birth month/year and year of immigration.I also know the following about Emil's brothers, Frederick, lived in Baltimore and worked in advertising sales, George lived in Detroit, Louis lived for a while in Detroit and then in New York City, and Henry stayed on the farm.The most prolific of the 5 brothers was Emil with 5 children by two wives.

Emil's first marriage was to a woman by the name of Clara.They had a daughter named Mildred.After Clara died, Mildred stayed with her paternal grandparents.Emil met and married Corabell Elaine Howard Raquette, a widow with young daughter.They had 3 sons and a daughter.One of the sons, Emil Herbert, died at the tender age of 13.

That pretty much sums up the "known for sure" history stuff.The links further back in time are based on some amount of supposition and some likely scenarios.

From looking through US Census records, etc. I have determined that:

  1. Great-Grandfather Emil Debrodt (b. 1859) immigrated to the USA from Germany in 1884.
  2. August Debrodt (b. 1863) immigrated in 1884.
  3. Margaret Debrodt (b. 1822) immigrated in 1884.At the time of the 1900 Census, Margaret was a widow and listed herself as having given birth to 5 children, 4 of which were still alive at the time of the census.
  4. J. H. Debrodt (b. 1856) immigrated to the USA in 1880 and settled in St. Louis.
  5. Claus Debrodt (b. 1866) immigrated to the USA in 1895.
  6. The International Genealogical Index (IGI) shows a Johanna Charlotta Debrodt marrying in St. Louis Missouri in 1872.
  7. My father's brother recalls a Claus somewhere in the mix.He told me he always that was his grandfather's name.

So, one possible solution to the puzzle:Johanna, JH, Emil, August, Claus are siblings and their mother is Margaret.Johanna came over to be married in 1872 and her brother JH follows in 1880 settling in St. Louis where his sister lives.In 1884, Emil, August, and their mother Margaret immigrate.Margaret could have been a widow at this time.Regardless, in 1884, she is 62 years old.Claus follows in 1895.

Let us now make some further suppositions.Oral family tradition says Emil 1 was born in Hanover, Germany in, as we now know, 1859.IGI records show a Friedrich Debrodt being born in Hanover in 1818.Just the right age to be the spouse of Margaret mentioned above.His father's name was Johann Friedrich and he had siblings named Paul Johann, Johann Jacob, Johann Wilhelm, Otto Diedrich, Juergen, and Anna

Catherine.All were born in Hanover, Germany.As with many families at that time, names were passed down through the generations.Emil 1 had sons named, Frederick H., George Diedrich, Emil, Louis, and Henry.Claus had children named William, John, Arthur, Margaret, Marie, and Henry.The names Frederick, William, Diederich, and Margaret would lead one to see a familial connection.

This is the logic I used to build this part of the family tree.If I have made any errors, they are completely unintentional.If I find anything that would change these connections, I will certainly make the necessary modifications.