He was born in 1832/33, in Rothiviel (presumably Rottweil), Würtemburg. [sources: date: 2 (29 in 1862), 3 (38 in 1872), 4 (26 in 1860), 5 (36 in 1870), 9 (37 in 1861), 10 (29 [or 39] in 1862). place: 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10]
On 26 December 1859, he married Elizabeth Falm (of Philadelphia), at the Salem-Zion Church. She was born on 6 May 1843, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Frederick Falm [or Folm] and Rosanna Joseph. They had four known children:
[sources: 5, 6, 9, 12, 14]
In 1860, he was living in ward 11, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a segar maker, and owned $200 in personal property. He seems not to have been living with Elizabeth. [source: 4]
When he enlisted, he was a cigar maker. [sources: 2, 10]
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 8 inches tall, and had a fair complexion, brown eyes, and brown hair. [source: 2]
On 11 September 1862, he passed a physical exam. [source: 10]
On 16 September 1862, he enlisted in the 75th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was enlisted by Captain F Winter, of the 75th Pennsylvania Infantry. He was a private in company B. [sources: 1, 2, 9 (B 75th PA), 10 (B 75th PA)]
He is on a muster and descriptive roll of a detachment of US volunteers forwarded for the 91st Pennsylvania, dated 18 September 1862. He was assigned to company C, but is not on any company's muster roll. He had been paid $25 in bounty and a $4 premium. [source: 2]
On the September/October 1862 company muster roll for company B of the 75th Pennsylvania, he was listed, but the muster roll does not state whether he was present or absent. [sources: 9 (present), 10]
From November/December 1862 through 28 February 1863, he was reported present on the company B 75th Pennsylvania muster rolls. [sources: 9, 10]
On the March/April 1863 company B 75th Pennsylvania muster roll, he was reported absent sick, in the hospital at Brook Station. [sources: 9, 10]
On a special muster roll for 10 April 1863, he was marked present. [source: 10]
On the May/June 1863 company B 75th Pennsylvania muster roll, he was reported present, but sick in hospital. [sources: 9, 10]
On the July/August 1863 company B 75th Pennsylvania muster roll, he was reported sick in hospital in Alexandria. [sources: 9, 10]
On the September/October 1863 company B 75th Pennsylvania muster roll (and on the company muster-out roll), he was reported a private, and transferred to the Invalid Corps. The roll doesn't state why he was transferred (except that it was by order of the War Department). [sources: 9, 10]
On the 26 June 1865 detachment muster-out roll of company D of the 9th Regiment of the Veterans' Reserve Corps, he was reported a sergeant, and mustered out that date by general order 116, AGO, 17 June 1865. [source: 9]
In 1870, he was living in ward 11, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was living with his wife Elizabeth, and their children Anna, Ella, and Stephen. He was a segar maker, and owned $100 in personal property. [source: 5]
On 26 September 1870, Otto Brandecker applied for a pension. He mentioned his service in the 75th Pennsylvania, but said nothing about the 91st. His physician swore that he had an inguinal hernia, which he did not have when he enlisted. [sources: 7, 8, 9]
On 27 September 1871, he applied for an increase of pension, under section 1 of the Act of 6 June 1866. His post office address was 720 New Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was received $2 per month, and believed his inguinal hernia and consequent debility entitled him to a larger pension. [source: 9]
On 21 February 1872, he died, at 720 Newmarket Street, ward 11, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He died of phthisis pulmonalis. He was a segar maker. On 23 February 1872, he was buried, at St Peters Cemetery, Philadlephia, Pennsylvania. [sources: 3, 9]
On 2 January 1873, his widow Elizabeth Brandecker applied from Pennsylvania for a pension, under the Act of 14 July 1862. Her post office address was 720 New Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her application was approved, and she received a pension of $8, retroactive to 22 February 1872. The certificate was dated 7 May 1874. [sources: 7, 8, 9, 11]
In 1880, his widow, Elizabeth Brandecker, was living at 622 Brook Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was living with their childrne Ella and Stephen. She was a house cleaner. [source: 13]
Effective 19 March 1886, Elizabeth's pension was increased to $12 per month. [source: 11]
In 1900, his widow, Elizabeth Brandecker, was living at 2230 Chadwick Street, ward 28, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She owned the house (but it had a mortgage on it). She was living with their children Stephen and Ella, and a boarder. [source: 14]
In 1910, his widow, Elizabeth Brandecker, was living at 2230 Chadwick Street, ward 28, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was living with their daughter Ellen and two boarders. She kept a boarding house. [source: 15]
On 12 May 1910, Elizabeth Brandecker died, at 2230 N Chadwick Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She died of lobar pneumonia (2 days duration), with adiposity and fatty inflitration of heart (20 years duration) contributing. On 15 May 1910, she was buried, at Mt Peace Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [source: 12]
On 19 May 1910, the Pension Office dropped Elizabeth Brandecker from the pension rolls. [sources: 9, 11]
The identity of the muster-in information and description makes clear that the Otto Brandeker who (allegedly) served in the 91st is the same person as the Otto Brandeker who served in the 75th Pennsylvania. I don't know why he was forwarded to the 91st when he clearly enlisted in the 75th. Were men ever sent with men destined for a different regiment? Or was it done by mistake? (But the regimental records do not record a transfer, as they do in other cases.)
1 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Otto Brandeker)
2 compiled service records, Otto Brandeker, C 91 PA, obtained from National Archives and Records Administration
3 death certificate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 21 February 1872 (Otto Brandecker)
4 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 11, microfilm series M653, film 1161, page 882 = 56 handwritten (FamilySearch) (Otto Brandeker)
5 1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 11, district 33, microfilm series M593, film 1396, page 28 recto = 55 handwritten (FamilySearch) (Otto Brandecker)
6 marriage record, Otto Brandeker to Elisabeth Folen, 26 December 1859, Salem-Zion, in Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Historic Pennsylvania Church and Town Records, reel 639; available on Ancestry (transcribed 22 June 2014) (Otto Brandeker)
7 pension index, by name (Otto Brandecker)
8 pension index, by unit (Otto Brandecker)
9 abstract of pension documents packet, from National Archives and Records Administration, certificate 164,794 (Elizabeth Brandecker widow of Otto)
10 compiled service record, B 75 PA (Otto Brandecker)
11 Veterans Administration pension payment cards (Elizabeth widow of Otto Brandecker)
12 death certificate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 12 May 1910 (Elizebeth Brandecker)
13 1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, enumeration district 194, microfilm series T9, film 1172, page 512 = 25 A handwritten (FamilySearch) (Elizabeth Brandecker)
14 1900 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 28, enumeration district 674, microfilm series T623, film 1469, page 239 = 10 B handwritten (FamilySearch) (Elizabeth Brandecker)
15 1910 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 28, enumeration district 628, microfilm series T624, film 1402, page 14 = 2 B handwritten (FamilySearch) (Elizabeth Brandecker)
I, Otto Brandeker born in Rothweil in the State of Wurtemberg aged twenty nine years, and by occupation a Cigarmaker DO HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGE to have volunteered this sixteenth day of September 1862, to serve as a Soldier in the Army of the United States of America, for the period of THREE YEARS, unless sooner discharged by proper authority: Do also agree to accept such bounty, pay, rations, and clothing, as are, or may be, established by law for volunteers. And I, Otto V Brandeker do solemnly swear, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the United States of America, and that I will serve them honestly and faithfully against all their enemies or opposers whomsoever; and that I will observe and obey the orders of the President of the United States, and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to the Rules and Articles of War.
I CERTIFY, ON HONOR, That I have carefully examined the above named Volunteer, agreeably to the General Regulations of the Army, and that in my opinion he is free from all bodily defects and mental infirmity, which would, in any way, disqualify him from performing the duties of a soldier.
I CERTIFY, ON HONOR, That I have minutely inspected the Volunteer, Otto Brandeker, previously to his enlistment, and that he was entirely sober when enlisted; that, to the best of my judgment and belief, he is of lawful age; and that, in accepting him as duly qualified to perform the duties of an able-bodied soldier, I have strictly observed the Regulations which govern the recruiting service. This soldier has brown eyes, brown hair, fair complexion, is five feet eight inches high.
I, Otto Brandeker, desiring to VOLUNTEER as a Soldier in the Army of the United States, for the term of THREE YEARS, Do declare, That I am twenty nine years and [blank] months of age; that I have never been discharged from the United States service on account of disability or by sentence of a court-martial or by order before the expiration of a term of enlistment; and I know of no impediment to my serving honestly and faithfully as a soldier for three years.
| line | 3 |
| Dwelling number | [446] |
| Family number | 556 |
| Name | Otto Brandeker |
| Age | 26 |
| Sex | M |
| Color | |
| Occupation | Segar Maker |
| Value of real estate owned | |
| Value of personal estate | $200 |
| Place of birth | Wittenburg [?] |
| Married within year | |
| Attended school within year | |
| Cannot read & write | |
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| line | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 |
| Dwelling-house number | 384 | ||||
| Family number | 489 | ||||
| Name | Brandecker Otto | - Elizabeth | - Anna | - Ella | - Stephen |
| Age | 36 | 27 | 8 | 4 | 1 |
| Sex | M | F | F | F | M |
| Color | W | W | W | W | W |
| Occupation | Segar maker | Keeping house | At School | ||
| Real estate value | |||||
| Personal estate value | 100 | ||||
| Birthplace | Wertemburg | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| Father foreign born | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Mother foreign born | 1 | 1 | |||
| Birth month if born within year | |||||
| Marriage month if married within year | |||||
| Attended school past year | 1 | ||||
| Can't read | |||||
| Can't write | |||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. | |||||
| Male US citizen at least 21 years old | |||||
| Male US citizen at least 21 years old who can't vote ... |
| line | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| street name | Brook Street | ||
| house number | 622 | ||
| dwelling visit # | 165 | ||
| family visit # | 218 | ||
| name | Brandecker Elizabeth | - Ella | - Stephen |
| color | W | W | W |
| sex | F | F | M |
| age | 37 | 14 | 12 |
| month born if born in year | |||
| relationship | Daughter | Son | |
| single | 1 | 1 | |
| married | |||
| widowed/divorced | 1 | ||
| married during year | |||
| occupation | House Cleaner | At home | At school |
| months unemployed | |||
| currently ill? | |||
| blind | |||
| deaf/dumb | |||
| idiotic | |||
| insane | |||
| disabled | |||
| school this year | 1 | 1 | |
| can't read | |||
| can't write | |||
| birthplace | Penna | Penna | Penna |
| father's birthplace | Baden | Wurtemburg | Wurtemburg |
| mother's birthplace | Baden | Penna | Penna |
| line | 77 | 78 | 79 | 80 |
| street | Chadwick St | |||
| house number | 2230 | |||
| dwelling number | 220 | |||
| family number | 230 | |||
| name | Brandecker Elizabeth | - Stephen | - Ellen | Schoenleber Charles |
| relationship | Head | Son | Daughter | Boarder |
| color | W | W | W | W |
| sex | F | M | F | M |
| birth date | May 1843 | Nov 1868 | May 1866 | Mch 1847 |
| age | 57 | 31 | 34 | 53 |
| married? | Wd | S | S | S |
| # years married | ||||
| mother of how many children? | 5 | |||
| # of children living | 4 | |||
| birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| father's birthplace | Germany | Germany | Germany | Germany |
| mother's birthplace | Germany | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Germany |
| immigration year | ||||
| # years in USA | ||||
| naturalized citizen? | ||||
| occupation | Mail Clerk | Clerk Spices | ||
| # months not employed | 0 | 0 | ||
| # months in school | ||||
| can read | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| can write | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| speaks English | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| owned/rented | O | |||
| free or mortgaged | M | |||
| farm/house | H | |||
| # of farm schedule | ||||
| line | 87 | 88 | 89 | 90 |
| street | Chadwick Street | |||
| house nr | 2230 | |||
| dwelling nr | 47 | |||
| family nr | 46 | |||
| name | Brandecker Elizabeth | " Ellen | Gils Katherine | Smith Anna Marie |
| relationship | Head | Daughter | Boarder | Boarder |
| sex | F | F | F | F |
| color | W | W | W | W |
| age | 67 | 43 | 50 | 27 |
| marital status | Wd | S | Wd | S |
| #years present marriage | ||||
| mother of # children | 5 | 0 | ||
| mother of # living children | 4 | 0 | ||
| birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| father's birthplace | Germany Ger | Germany Ger | Ireland Eng | Pennsylvania |
| mother's birthplace | Germany Ger | Pennsylvania | Ireland Eng | Pennsylvania |
| immigrated | ||||
| naturalized/alien | ||||
| speaks English | English | English | English | English |
| occupation | Keeper | Packer | Servant | Packer |
| nature of industry etc. | Boarding House | Spice Factory | Boarding House | Spice Factory |
| employer etc. | OA | W | W | W |
| out of work 15 Apr 1910? | No | No | No | |
| # weeks out of work 1909 | ||||
| can read | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| can write | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| school since 1 Sep 09 | ||||
| owned/rented | O | |||
| owned free or mortagaged | M | |||
| farm/house | H | |||
| nr on farm schedule | ||||
| civil war vet | ||||
| blind | ||||
| deaf & dumb | ||||
| NAME OF SOLDIER | Brandecker. Otto | |||
| NAME OF DEPENDENT | Widow | Brandecker, Elizabeth | ||
| Minor | ||||
| SERVICE | B 75 Pa Inf | |||
| D. 9 V.R.C. | ||||
| DATE OF FILING | CLASS | APPLICATION NO | CERTIFICATE NO | STATE FROM WHICH FILED |
| 1870 Feb 1 | Invalid | 152.388 | 108.559 | |
| 1873 Jan. 2 | Widow | 207094 | 164794 | |
| Minor | ||||
| ATTORNEY | ||||
| REMARKS | ||||
| DEAD NAME OF SOLDIER | Brandecker, Otto | |||
| SERVICE | Late rank Sgt. | Co. D 9 Reg't V.R.C. | ||
| TERM OF SERVICE | Enlisted | Discharged | ||
| DATE OF FILING | CLASS | APPLICATION NO | LAW | CERTIFICATE NO. |
| Invalid | ||||
| 1873 Jany 2 | Widow | 207094 | 164794 | |
| Minor | ||||
| ADDITIONAL SERVICES | Sgt. D. 75 Penn. Inf. | |||
| REMARKS | ||||
| Died | at | |||
| ISSUES | |||
| CLASS. | RATE. | DATE OF COMMENCEMENT. | DATE OF CERTIFICATE. |
| 8 | Feb 22 1872 | May 7 1874 | |
| 12 | Mar 19 1886 | ||