Bio: Brandt, Martin (1923)

 
Contact: Stan

Surnames: Brandt, Miller, Hassel, Lester, Ruskowsky

----Source: History of Wood County, Wis. (1923) page 565

Martin Brandt, a prominent representative of the meat industry in Wood County, conducting business at Nekoosa, was born in Chicago, Ill., March 2, 1878, son of Charles and Jennie (Miller) Brandt. The father was a native of Germany and the mother of Denmark. Charles Brandt came to the United States in 1870, locating in Chicago, Where he operated a meat market, and where he was married. He carried on business in that city until 1911, and then moving to Portage County, Wis., bought a farm there on which he is still living, though now retired, his son-in-law, Selmer Hassel, operating the farm.

Mrs. Jennie Brandt died in October, 1915. Mr. and Mrs. Brandt had four sons and one daughter, one of the sons, Herman, being now deceased. The surviving children are: John H., of Wis. Rapids; Martin, subject of this sketch; Charles W., Jr., and Augusta, wife of Selmer Hassel above mentioned. Martin Brandt was reared in Chicago and attended school there. In that city he also learned the meat business from his father and opened a shop of his own which he conducted until 1904, when he moved to Friendship, Adams County, Wis., and opened a market there.

On March 10, 1906, he came from Friendship to Nekoosa, he and his family having to cross the Wis. River on the ice, as the present steel bridge had not yet been erected, nor was there any other. In summer the crossing was made on a ferry boat. Here Mr. Brandt purchased the business of Charles Lester and in 1912 erected a new building for his market. He does all his killing of hogs and cattle, makes his own sausage, and his equipment includes the American Carbonic Ice Machine. He has built up a good trade and is carrying on business with profitable results. He is also a stockholder in the Nekoosa State Bank, the Beppler Roller Mill, of which he is a director, and the Swift & Co. packing concern of Chicago. For one term he served as trustee of the village of Nekoosa. Fraternally Mr. Brandt belongs to the Modern Woodmen, the Beavers and the Equitable Fraternal Union. He and his family attend the Congregational Church. Mr. Brandt was married in Chicago, in 1900, to Minnie Ruskowsky, daughter of Albert and Mary (Dittvurner) Ruskowsky, her parents being natives respectively of Germany and Wis. The father died in December, 1918, but the mother is still living in Chicago. Mr. and Mrs. Brandt have two children: Myrtle, now a student in the University of Wis., and Marion, who is attending school in Nekoosa. Mr. Brandt has identified himself closely with the interests of the village in which he has made his home and is an active member of the Nekoosa Chamber of Commerce. As a member of the Nekoosa Rod and Gun Club he takes occasional recreation.

 

 


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