Heinrich 'Henry' Brase was born 8 Sep 1858 in the Kingdom of Hanover, Prussia, Germany to Herman & Anna (Fitschen) Brase. He immigrated to the USA in 1874 and lived with his Uncle, Cord Fitschen in Goodhue Co., MN until he was old enough to marry. He was Naturalized in May 1887 in Norman Co., MN where he had homesteaded 160 acres of land. Listed as Hirn. Brass in "Germans to America' Volume 32, he is age 17, a farmer, traveling with his Aunt Anna Oldhaber (Fitschen), a widow and her dau. Catha., age 1 on Ship, Suevia out of Hamburg and Havre to New York, arriving 4 Jan 1875. Anna was the widow of Christoph Fitschen, a brother to Henrys mother Anna Fitschen Brase.
Heinrich married Mary Louise Santelman, dau. of Heinrich Christoph August & Maria (Meinke) Santelman, in Hay Creek Twp., Goodhue Co., MN, on 20 Jul 1879. Henry and Mary moved to Ada, Norman Co., MN where they homesteaded, the Patent #7330, was filed 25 May 1882.
In the text of Henry and Marys Marriage license application, his father in law, August Santelman, was listed as his guardian. August and Maria appeared in person to consent to the marriage, since both Henry and Mary were under the age of 21, which was a requiement in MN at that time, 1879. The Rev. George Hartung of the German Methodist Church performed the ceremony.
The couple seem to have left Goodhue Co. in 1882 and moved to Warren in Marshall Co., MN where they stayed for 3 years, until they moved to their homestead where they lived from 1885 to 1890. In the fall of 1890, Henry and Mary moved to Valley City, Barnes Co., ND. They lived in that area for 13 years. From 1902 to 1915 Henry farmed near Gardner, ND in Cass Co. In 1915, the family moved to Fargo, until he retired for health reasons. Mary ran a boarding house in Fargo and had written to her brother George Santelman in MN, complaining of hards times and little money.
Henry was later identified with the Free Methodist Church and transferred to the Broadway Methodist-Episcopal Church in Fargo, of which he was a member at the time of his death.
Henry Brase died 24 May 1921 in Fargo, ND, of Brights disease and cardiac decomposition at age 62 yrs. 8 mos. and 16 days. During his last years he was confined to his home and suffered a great deal of pain. Henry was buried in Riverside Cemetery in Fargo where Mary was to join him in 1938. There are only gravemarkers showing their burial places. No one ever purchased tombstones for them.
Henry was survived by his wife, Mary, children,Lydia Emma (Charles) Senff of Dazey, ND, Louise S. (Jacob) Marshall of Minot, ND, Laura M. (Max) Smith of Edgeley, ND, Clara Henrietta (Harvey) Carroll of Hettinger, ND, Emma Fae (William) McDonald of Gardner,ND, Leon H. A. (Emma) Brase of Fargo, ND, Esther Mae (Harry) Toohey of Fargo, ND, Ida Hazel (Ibey) Barnes of Fargo, ND, Della Lazetta Brase of Fargo, ND, and Earl Edwin ( Margaret) Brase of Fargo, ND. Unknown if Henry had any siblings back in Germany.
Henry was preceded in death by his parents, Herman and Anna Brase, and a daughter Lillian Brase.