Heinrich Wilhelm Charles Julius Brandt was the 8th of 9 tl children born to Gottlieb Ludwig Brandt and Johanne Caroline Charlotte Brunig in Bodenwerder, Hannover, Germany. Heinrich learned the tannery business from his father who owned a tannery in Bodenweder. When his father died suddenly in 1810 and his mother remarried not long after, her new husband took over the tannery. Working at the tannery with his stepfather in charge was not to Heinrich's liking, so he went to live with an uncle to apprentice as a hatter. That, too, was not what Heinrich wanted.
So, he and brother left Germany, from the port of Bremen, and arrived in the US in Sept 1832. Sometime thereafter, he Anglicized his name to Henry William. He worked in tanneries in NY and PA, eventually owning his own tannery, chemical company, bank and furniture co in Harmony Center (Brandt), PA and Binghamton, NY. His life-long business partner was Jacob Schlager.
He married Ruth Coe of Jewett, NY in 1838. Together they had 11 children (Nancy, Charlotte, Henry, Harriet, Winfield, Putnam, Helen, Jacob, Gustavus, Josephine, and Schuyler). When he died in 1886, the town of Harmony Center was renamed "Brandt" in his honor.

Thanks to NancyM, member 47862230, for contributing the following:
MONTROSE DEMOCRAT, Montrose, PA. Friday, July 16, 1886.
Death of An Honored Citizen.

HENRY W. BRANDT PASSES AWAY.
On Thursday evening of last week, Henry W. Brandt one of the most highly respected and prominent business men of this county died at his home in Brandts, after an illness of about a month.

Mr. Brandt settled in this county many years ago and engaged in the business of tanning in company with Jacob Schlager, and by assiduous attention to business coupled with keen business foresight he amassed a large fortune. In all his dealing she was the soul of honor and his open handed generosity to all worthy objects was proverbial. He was a devoted adherent of the Presbyterian Church and his contributions to the charitable enterprises of that denomination were always liberal.

At the recent session of the Presbyterian General Assembly held in Minneapolis he was a delegate, and while in the west he visited a son and daughter in Dakota. Soon after his return he was taken ill and gradually failed until his death. He was 78 years of age and leaves a widow and nine children to mourn the loss of an indulgent husband and father.

In the death of Mr. Brandt, Susquehanna County has suffered the loss of an honorable. Enterprising and successful business man; a true Christian gentlemen, and a sterling citizen.

The funeral obsequies were held at this late residence at Brandts, on Sunday afternoon last and an immense concourse of mourning friends gathered to pay their last tribute of respect to the dead friend.