Frederick Bronnenberg

Frederick (Brandburg, the original name) was born Jan 1, 1775 in Baden, Germany. His mother sent he and his brother, James, to America at the age of 15, to avoid the Germany Army. The name was changed to Bronnenberg. The brothers originally settled in Pa and lived for a while near their uncle Mathias (1740/1798). There about 1802 Frederick married his first wife who died during the birth of their second child.

The following story was taken from another source...'After the death of his wife, Frederick left for Richland Co. Ohio where he is believed to have married his second wife in 1806 and four of their children were born there. The family stopped in Indiana around 1821 when an oxen in a team pulling a wagon gav e out while moving west to Sangamon Co. Ill, shortly afterwards two of their daughters died, and being informed of no good roads further west, the family settled in Union township, Madison County, Indiana on lands ceded by the Delaware Indians to the U.S. by treaty of Mt. Mary's on Oct 3, 1818.'

Another story went that Frederick married Barbara Oaster and wanted to go to the Wabash River, on way, their two daughters died and the mother not bearing to leave them behind chose to stay. Frederick walked to the Wabash and came back and built his home on land (now known as Mounds State Park) in Madison Co. Ind.

They were the parents of: Mary 1812/1821; Sally 1819/1821; John 1810/1873; Frederick 1812/1901; Rachel 1807/1807; Henry Jacob 1824/1918; Isaac 1817/1826; Michael 1821/1896; Elizabeth 1808/1847; Susannah 1814/1883; Carroll C. 1827/1901; Nicholas 1809/??; and Jacon Bronnenberg 1815/??

The Bronnenberg family have been very respected and prominent citizens of Madison County and contributed much to the growth and developement of the county.

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Last Will and Testament of Frederick Bronnenberg Sr.

In the name of the Father of all things, I, Frederick Bronnenberg Sr. of the county of Madison and State of Indiana do make and publish this, my last will and testament. First I direct that my body be decently interred and that my funeral be conducted in a manner corresponding with my estate and situation in life and as to such worldly estate as it has pleased God to entrust me with. I dispose of the same in the following manner to wit: I direct first that all of my just debts and funeral expenses be paid as soon after my death as possible out of the money if any on hand and the remainder if any on hand I will and bequeath to my beloved wife, Barbara Bronnenberg, if she shall be living at the time of my death and I also will and bequeath to my beloved wife such personal property as she may choose of the horses, cows, and household goods, bed and bedding and any other personal property she may choose and I will and bequeath to Henry Bronnenberg, my son and heir at law the land in Sections fifteen and fourteen in Union Township, Madison County and the state of Indiana and the said Henry is to pay one-fifth of all the grain and hay reaped on the foregoing described land and deliver the same to his mother on the place she is living, that is the home farm that is so long as she is alive and after her death the said Henry is to pay on thousand dollars that is in yearly payments to wit: the first to John Bronnenberg the Second payment to Frederick Bronnenberg the third payment to Susannah Bronnenberg now wife of William Nelson the fourth payment to Jacob Bronnenberg the fifth payment to Michael Bronnenberg the one thousand dollars that Henry is to pay to the five above named children in two hundred dollar payments each year so as to pay the above thousand dollars in five direct payments annually and after my decease all such personal property of which my beloved wife has not made choice of to be sold at public vendue on a credit of nine months and when the vendue money is collected then of that money I will and bequeath to the heirs of Elizabeth Bronnenberg wife of Samuel Bodle her heirs to wit to Frederick Bodle one dollar and Barbara Bodle wife of Timothy Hardwick one dollar and to Margaret Bodle ten dollars and to John Bodle ten dollars and to Samuel Bodle ten dollars and to Hulda Bodle ten dollars the money to be paid to the heirs of Elizabeth Bronnenberg by Henry or Carroll Bronnenberg to the one that is of age and those who are not of age pay them as they come of age out of the money that will be collected by Henry or Carroll Bronnenberg and then the remainder of the money when collected by Henry or Carroll Bronnenberg to be divided between my seven children first to John Bronnenberg taking into consideration four hundred and fifty dollars which I have already advanced to him. Second to Frederick Bronnenberg after taking into consideration Seventy-five dollars which I have already advanced to him. Thirdly to Jacob Bronnenberg after taking into consideration the sum of two hundred dollars which I have already advanced to him. Fourthly to Susannah Bronnenberg wife of William Nelson after deducting the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars which I have already advanced to said Susannah. Fifthly to Michael Bronnenberg after taking into consideration the sum of two hundred dollars which I have already advanced to him. Sixthly to Henry Bronnenberg. Seventh to Carroll Bronnenberg so as to divide equally all my outstanding debts and I Frederick Bronnenberg Sr. will and bequeath Carroll Bronnenberg all my land I have in Sections ten and three in Union township in Madison county and state of Indiana for him to have and hold on the following conditions to wit I.E. the said Carroll is to pay his mother the one fifth part of the growing crop derived annually therefrom the corn to be delivered to her in the crib and the wheat and oats threshed the hay to be put into the barn and to feed her stock and to find and furnish her with firewood also to stable her stock and pasture them and to pay two thousand dollars in payments after his mothers decease the first years payment two hundred and fifty dollars to John Bronnenberg second payment to Frederick Bronnenberg two hundred and fifty dollars 3rd payment to Susannah Bronnenberg wife of William Nelson the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars 4th payment to Jacob Bronnenberg two hundred and fifty dollars 5th payment to Michael Bronnenberg the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars and then the sixth year one hundred and fifty dollars to John Bronnenberg the seventh year one hundred and fifty to Frederick Bronnenberg the eighth year one hundred and fifty dollars to Susannah Bronnenberg wife of William Nelson the ninth year one hundred and fifty dollars to Jacob Bronnenberg tenth year one hundred fifty dollars to Michael Bronnenberg and the grave yard or burial ground that is on my farm under fence it is my will it should remain a free grave yard for my children or any person wishing to bury therein. Said Carroll Bronnenberg is to keep up the fence around said grave yard and if Carroll sells of parts with the land it is to be understood whoever is living on the land or place is to keep up the grave yard fence and said Carroll is to pay the tax on the above land and Henry Bronnenberg is to pay the tax on the land where the said Henry Bronnenberg is living and the said Henry and Carroll Bronnenberg shall have the right to sell my land on Kilbuck in Section nineteen Town 20 Range 8 East in Richland Township Madison County in the state of Indiana containing one hundred and Sixty acres more or less but for no less sum than two thousand dollars or more and my land on pipecreek section 28 Township 21 Range 7 East in Madison County and state aforesaid the last mentioned piece of land is not to be sold for less that sixteen hundred dollars or more and so long as the above farms are not sold but rented the rent shall pay the tax on all the unsold land and if any money left it is to be taken out in repairing said farms and my land in section 8 and Section 4 and nine in Union and Anderson townships Madison County Indiana the last mentioned land shall not be sold for less than ten dollars per acre and if there is no money left of rent then and in that case Henry and Carroll Bronnenberg must pay the taxes out of some money they may have collected of outstanding debts and I Frederick Bronnenberg Sr. empower Henry and Carroll Bronnenberg to sell the above land to execute deeds when sold and the purchase money paid and divide the money that is between my seven children to wit John Bronnenberg, Frederick Bronnenberg, Susan Bronnenberg wife of William Nelson, Jacob Bronnenberg, Michael Bronnenberg, Henry Bronnenberg, Carroll Bronnenberg all of whom are to have an equal part of the same.

In testamony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, July 4, 1853

Signed Frederick Bronnenberg Sr.

Signed in presence Isaac P. Snelson, John Hunt, State of Indiana Madison County

In the common pleas court of said County in open court this day personally came John Hunt and Isaac P. Snelson of lawful age the subscribing witnesses to the annexed last will and testament of Frederick Bronnenberg deceased and being duly sworn that they were present and saw said testator sign said will and heard him publish the same as his last will and testament and that said officials signed said will as witnesses thereto in the presence and at the request of said testator and in the presence of each other that they believe said testator at the time of signing and publishing of said will was of sound mind and memory not under coercion or restraint and fully competent to devise such property that at the time of signing said will and at the time of his death was a resident of Indiana and county of lawful age to bequeath his said estate to be over the age of 70 years and further say not.

Signed John Hunt, Isaac P. Snelson

In absencia and tenor to in Open Court July 14, 1853 In testamony whereof I hereunto let my hand and office the seal of said court at Anderson the 14th day of July 1853

Signed James Hazlett Clk.

State of Indiana Madison County

I, James Hazlett, Clerk of the Common Pleas Court in and for the County of Madison, in the State of Indiana, do certify the annexed to be a true copy of the last Will and Testament of Frederick Bronnenburgh Sr., late of Madison County, and State of Indiana, deceased, and of the Certificate of Probate as endorsed thereon: and Henry Bronnenburgh & Carroll Bronnenburgh having duly qualified and given hand as required by law, as Administrators with the will annexed duly authorized to take upon themselves the administration of said estate, according to such Will.

Witness my hand and the Seal of said Court, this 25th day of July, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty three.

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