Shaver, F. A., Arthur P. Rose, R. F. Steele, and A. E. Adams, compilers.  "An
Illustrated History of Central Oregon." ("Embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam,
Wheeler, Crook, Lake, & Klamath Counties")  Spokane, WA: Western Historical
Publishing Co., 1905.  p. 1050.
 
JOHN W. BRANDENBURG

     an esteemed citizen of Klamath Falls, is now living retired having passed a
life of activity. He was born on November 14, 1840 in Richland county, Ohio, the
son of John W. and Lydia T. (Sisney) Brandenburg, natives of Maryland and Ohio,
respectively. The father's father, William Brandenburg, was born in Germany. He
was the son of Solomon Brandenburg, who was a wealthy and influential military
man and left Germany owing to some supposed insult to the Richstag. He came to
America in 1770. This man was descended from the old and influential Brandenburg
family, who has at one time owned the walled town of Brandenburg. Our subject's
father came to the coast in 1850 and settled in Linn county and there remained
until his death in 1864, being aged sixty-one. The mother was a granddaughter of
Colonel Conine, who was a commissary officer under General Washington, in the
Revolution. She crossed the plains several years after her husband and died at
the home of her daughter, Mrs. M. J. Countiss, at Portland, December 4, 1904,
aged eighty-two. The other children of the family besides our subject, are Otho
S. and George, the former in Harrisburg and the latter in Portland, Oregon; Mrs.
Martha Countiss, in Portland; and Mrs. Annie Kiehlmeyer, of Tacoma, Washington.
Our subject went with his parents to Ottumwa, Iowa, in 1845 and his oldest
sister is the first white girl born there. In the spring of 1859, he crossed the
plains with an emigrant train and settled near Petaluma, California. Later, he
came to Linn county and took a normal course in the academy at Lebanon. After
his school days were finished he made a trip to the Cariboo mines in British
Columbia in 1862, and the same year, came to the Santiam, where he discovered,
with five other prospectors, a year later, the Santiam mines, at Quartsviile,
which caused a marked excitement. For a time, Mr. Brandenburg served as deputy
sheriff of Linn county.
     On July 8, 1868, at Albany, Oregon, he married Melissa Cooper, who was born
in Adams county, Illinois, on December 3, 1849. Her father, William H. Cooper,
was born in Kentucky, in 1812 and was one of fee early settlers in Adams county.
He came to California in 1849, and returned in four years to Adams county, and
then went to Putnam county, Missouri. Later, he was in Texas and in the spring
of 1862, crossed the plains with ox teams. Settlement was made in Lane county
and later, they removed to Linn county where his death occurred in 1880. His
father was an officer in the war of 1812 and was of German ancestry. The mother
of Mrs. Brandenburg was Mary (Job) Cooper, a native of Indiana. Her father, a
Baptist minister, was a native of England. She was the granddaughter of Emily
Little, who lived to be one hundred and fifteen years of age. Mrs. Cooper is now
living in Albany, Oregon, aged seventy-eight. Her children, besides Mrs.
Brandenburg, are Mrs. Martha Elson, Mrs. Nancy Burkhart. Mrs. Sarah Arnold, and
Otho. Mr. Brandenburg served seven years in an official capacity at the state
penitentiary of Oregon, commencing in 1871, and was a very faithful and trusted
officer. Later he had charge of a portion of the asylum at Salem. In 1887, he
came to Klamath Falls Indian reservation and took charge of the Indian school,
conducting the same for six and one half years, his wife being matron. Later, he
had charge of me industrial school at the agency and was disciplinarian. In this
last position he served six years. In 1899, they came to Klamath Falls,
determined to live retired and there purchased a beautiful home place. It
consists of two acres of choice fruit and garden land, a nice residence and
other improvements. He also owns, ne hundred and sixty acres of land near
Merrill, a nice tract adjoining the state grounds near Salem and a quarter
section of timber.
     Mr. Brandenburg is a member of the A. 0. U. W. and is a very popular and
substantial man. The children of this worthy couple are Altha, the wife of Mr.
Pogne, an attorney of Salem, Oregon; Clyde K. of Klamath Falls; Maude M., wife
of Horace W. Cox, Indian agent and officer at Quinault, Washington; Floyd K., of
Klamath Falls; Grace E,, Mabel E. and Earl R. The last three are deceased. It is
of interest to note that Count Brandenburg, who was prime minister of Germany in
1848, was of the same family as our subject.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in May 2011 by Diana Smith.  Submitter has
no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.