- Lt. John Brandenburger with His Car, circa 1920?
John A. Brandenberger was the only son of five children born to John Andrew Brandenberger (1826-1906) and Christina M. Funke (1837-1901), both German immigrants that settled in the Bunker Hill, Macoupin County, Illinois area. The Brandenbergers ran a boarding house that listed German coal diggers as residents in the 1880 US Federal Census.
John married Helena Charbulak 10 Mar 1896, but we have been unable to find a marriage record in Illinois or Missouri for them. Their daughter Lillian, called “Lily,” was born 15 Feb 1897 in Missouri. (Lily later married Chester D. Paul.)
The Brandenbergers lived in St. Louis, Missouri for the remainder of their lives. John was a police officer, and he worked in a tough town during Prohibition and the Depression. Family lore is that he started the first Women’s Police Force in St. Louis. He can be found with his wife in the 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930 US Federal Censuses in St. Louis, Missouri. John died 24 Mar 1932 in St. Louis at age 58 and is buried in Bunker Hill, Macoupin, Illinois.
Helena lived in the home they owned with their daughter Lily and Lily’s husband living with her. Helena died 22 May 1944 in University City, St. Louis County, Missouri. She is buried in Lebanon, St. Clair Co., Illinois.
Notes, Sources, and References:
1) 1880 US Federal census: Source Citation: Year: 1880; Census Place: Bunker Hill, Macoupin, Illinois; Roll: 232; Family History Film: 1254232; Page: 64C; Enumeration District: 108; Image: 0129.
2) 1900 US Federal Census: Source Citation: Year: 1900; Census Place: St Louis Ward 9, St Louis (Independent City), Missouri; Roll: 892; Page: 11A; Enumeration District: 0133; FHL microfilm: 1240892. Accessed on Ancestry.com on 12/4/13.
3) 1910 US Federal Census: Source Citation: Year: 1910; Census Place: St Louis Ward 10, Saint Louis City, Missouri; Roll: T624_816; Page: 14B; Enumeration District: 0163; FHL microfilm: 1374829.
4) 1920 US Federal Census: Source Citation: Year: 1920; Census Place: St Louis Ward 13, St Louis (Independent City), Missouri; Roll: T625_951; Page: 21A; Enumeration District: 263; Image: 95.
5) 1930 US Federal Census: Source Citation: Year: 1930; Census Place: St Louis, St Louis (Independent City), Missouri; Roll: 1236; Page: 35A; Enumeration District: 0026; Image: 942.0; FHL microfilm: 2340971.
6) 1940 US Federal Census: Source Citation: Year: 1940; Census Place: St Louis, St Louis City, Missouri; Roll: T627_2196; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 96-361B.
7) Family oral history.
8) Find A Grave:
John A. Brandenberger: Find A Grave Memorial# 80582045, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=80582045
Helena Charbulack Brandenberger: Find A Grave Memorial# 11676686, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=11676686
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