Henry Bruckschen

Name: Henry Bruckschen Company: D Discharged for disability.
Birth Date: January 10, 1931 Place: Rhine Province (Germany)	Mustered In Date: March 31, 1862 Rank: Private Age: 31 Residence prior to military service: Rheinland, Germany (1831-1855); Hamburg, Carver County, Minnesota (1855-1862)
Death Date: December 5, 1911 Place: Carver County Burial: St. John's United Church of Christ Cemetery, Benton Township, Carver County, Minnesota	Mustered Out Date: September 27, 1863 Rank: Private Age: about 32 Residence following military service: Hamburg, Carver County, Minnesota (1863-1880); Benton Township, Carver County, Minnesota (1880-1911) Vocation following military service: farmer

Henry Bruckschen Biography

Heinrich Bruckschen was born January 10, 1831, in the Rhine province of Germany. He came to Minnesota in 1855 alone, settling in southwest Carver County, at Hamburg. At the time of the 1860 U.S. Census, Henry lived and farmed in Florence Township, Carver County, Minnesota.

Henry enlisted as a Private in Company D of the 5th Minnesota on March 31, 1862, at age 31. After involvement in the defense of Fort Abercrombie, Bruckschen and Company D were sent to Germantown, Tennessee, joining the 5th Minnesota on February 14, 1863. They participated in the siege and capture of Vicksburg from May 18 to July 4, 1863. At the end of the summer Bruckschen was discharged for disability on September 27, 1863.

After serving in the 5th Minnesota, Henry returned to Minnesota and married Maria Buckentine of Hamburg in 1866. Maria died in 1873, perhaps due to childbirth. Henry then married Gertrude Flusemann, also of Hamburg, born January 29, 1839, in Germany. Gertrude had come to America in 1869. Henry's seven children were Minnie (born about 1868, married William Engelmann), Mary (born about 1870, married Fred Schneewind), Margareth/Maggie (born about 1872, married Dietrich Schneewind, brother of Fred), Gerhard (born December 6, 1873), Adeline/Adelide (born February 17, 1876), Henry P. (born November 6, 1877; married Margaret "Lizzie" Schmitz), and Gertrude (born July 1879, married Arnold Willemsen).

Henry Bruckschen sold his farm in 1880, moving to Benton Township, four miles from Young America. At the time of the 1880 U.S. Census (June 10) he and his family were living in Benton Township. The 1880 plat map for Benton Township shows his 120 acre farm with 80 acres and the house in section 9, and 40 acres across the road in section 8. Neighbors include I. Winkler and G. Engelen to the north, Isidor Vilsmeier to the south, C. Schmidt to the west, J. Bongards to the northwest, and B. and John Bitzer to the east. Also nearby (to the south) were fellow soldiers John Plackner (Blackner), Jacob Willemsen, and Michael Willemsen.

In 1900 the Bruckschen household consisted of son Henry (age 22) and his wife Maggie (age 28), son Gerhard (age 27), daughter Gertie (age 20), and Henry (age 69) and Gertie (age 61). Son Henry was recorded as the head of household, and both sons Henry and Gerhard were listed as farmers.

Henry Bruckschen died on December 5, 1911, in Carver County, Minnesota. He was buried in St. John's United Church of Christ Cemetery, Benton Township, Carver County, Minnesota. Gertrude died September 21, 1918, also in Carver County, Minnesota, and she too was buried in St. John's United Church of Christ Cemetery.

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