Herman Brinkhaus was born March 4, 1831.
Herman Brinkhaus (age 32) enlisted in the Union Army on September 22, 1864. He served in Company B, Minnesota First Heavy Artillery Regiment.
The 1875 Minnesota census showed Hermann Brinkhaus (age 41, born in Prussia) married to Bertha (age 25, born in Holland) and living in Chaska, Minnesota. Children Henry (age 14, born in Minnesota) and John (age 5, born in Minnesota) also lived with the couple.
The 1880 United States census showed Herman Brinkhaus (age 48, born in Prussia, hotel keeper) married to Bertha (age 29, born in Holland) and living in Chaska, Minnesota. Children Henry (age 19, born in Minnesota) and John (age 11, born in Minnesota) also lived with the couple.
The 1885 Minnesota census showed Hermann Brinkhaus (age 52, born in Germany) married to Bertha (age 35, born in Germany) and living in Chaska, Minnesota. Children Henry (age 23, born in Minnesota) and John (age 15, born in Minnesota) also lived with the couple.
The 1900 United States census showed Herman Brinkhaus (age 69, born in March 1831 in Germany, saloon keeper) married to Gertrude E. (age 49, born in August 1850 in Holland) and living in Chaska, Minnesota.
Herman Brinkhaus died November 14, 1903, in Chaska, Minnesota.
A Pioneer Settler of Carver County Crosses the Dark Divide Saturday. Another pioneer has joined his comrades above, another old soldier has answered the last “taps.” Herman Brinkhaus died at his home in this city, on Saturday, Nov. 14, 1903, after a lingering illness, at the age of 72 years, 8 months and 11 days. Herman Brinkhaus was born in Kreis Coesfeld, Westphalen, Germany, on March 4, 1831, and immigrated to this country in 1854, settling in St. Louis, Mo., where he remained until 1856, when he came to Minnesota, settling in the town of Chanhassen. In 1858 he was married to Miss Elizabeth Vos of Dahlgren. In the fall of 1864 young Brinkhaus, finding the war of the rebellion at its height, and the government calling for more volunteers, promptly enlisted in Co. “B,” 1st Minn. Heavy Artillery, and served with the boys in blue until the surrender of Lee. He withstood all the privations and hardships of the true pioneer, when this county was a dense wilderness, but faced all with determination and perseverance, and soon found that his efforts were not futile. He took much interest in town and county affairs, and took much pride in the upbuilding of our city. He was always prominent in business affairs, and wielded much influence. He has been in business in this city ever since his return from the army in 1865.
He was a true christian, and valiant and loyal Catholic, and gloried in the success of the church he so dearly loved. For the past six months, Mr. Brinkhaus has been in very bad health, and suffered much, but bore all with the christian fortitude that marked his life just closed. He is survived by a true and loving wife, and two sons, Henry and John, who have the sincere sympathy of the entire community in their sad loss. The funeral of the deceased took place from the Guardian Angels church, Tuesday morning at 10 o’clock, the services being conducted by Rev. Father Guido. The large and impressive concourse of relatives and friends of the deceased, was a true monument in the memory of our departed citizen and comrade. The G. A. R. Post of this city were out in a body to escort the remains of the old “boy in blue” to its everlasting bivouac below the sod. The St. Peter’s Benevolent Society, of which the deceased was a member and in which he carried an insurance of $1,000, also participated in the funeral exercises. The whole procession was headed by the Sodality band who discoursed several fine funeral dirges. The interment took place in the Catholic cemetery. The following gentlemen acted as pall bearers: Frank Schindler, Peter Van Sloun, Henry Hammers, Andrew Conshak, Hy. Eiden and John Jaspers. Relatives present from out of town were: J. P. Voss and Mrs. A. Tietz, Minneapolis; Ed. Brinkhaus, Mrs. Bockenfeld and daughter, Lizzie, St. Paul; Anton and Reinhart Vos and Mrs. Jno. Muyres, Holdingford; Mr. and Mrs. Frank Wolf, Jordan. (Weekly Valley Herald, Thursday, November 19, 1903, Volume XLII, Number 9, Page 1)