Gerhardus Brandt was born in Holland to Franz Brandt and Johanna Schouten. His father was a Lieutenant in the Dutch Dragoons (cavalry) and died when Gerhardus was fairly young. His mother was the daughter of Giles Schouten, the mayor of Wijk [Wijke]. Gerhardus became a seaman on a Dutch merchant vessel when he was quite young. By the age of 19 he became a Freemason and member of “La Prejudge Vaincue” Masonic Lodge #21 in Deventer, Netherlands. In 1873 he was united in married with Henriette Maria Benjamina Noordhoek Hegt. From their union were born one son and three daughters. Soon he ascended to the position of Captain and was involved with merchant transport to the Dutch East Indies. Captain Brandt and his family immigrated to the United States on the PS Rotterdam and arrived in the Port of New York on May 18, 1892. Over the next couple of years the Brandt family moved west to California. Like so many adventurous men, Captain Brandt was drawn to the Alaska Gold Rush. By the Spring of 1896 he was in the Turnagain Arm of Cook Inlet, Alaska. Little is known about Captain Brandt’s exact reason for being in Alaska. One thought might be that he was here for the gold, another speculation was that he was working on a merchant or passenger vessel. The larger ships arriving in Cook Inlet followed a deeper channel on the west side of the inlet to an area known as Tyonek. After that, shallow draft vessels were used to bring goods and passengers ashore at various locations around Turnagain Arm. He may have been piloting one of these vessels in the area of Sunrise, Alaska. Sunrise was a gold settlement located at the mouth of Sixmile Creek on the south side of Turnagain Arm. Though its formation was sparked by the discovery of gold in Sixmile Creek, its more significant role was supplying goods for the more productive gold rush of Turnagain Pass. Unfortunately the circumstances surrounding his death have been lost to time. What is known is he died on May 11, 1896 and was buried to the west of the mouth of Sixmile Creek. His name, date of death, and a Masonic Square & Compasses were carved into a blazing on a tree at his gravesite. Through the years, at an unknown time, by an unknown person, a Masonic headstone was placed at the gravesite. Many believe it was placed there by a family member, possibly his widow. It would have most likely been physically placed there by someone who was familiar with the grave’s remote location.
Though not technically located in Point Comfort Cemetery at Sunrise, Alaska, it is listed there as a good reference. Captain Brandt’s grave actually predates Point Comfort Cemetery. His gravesite is situated approximately 0.5 miles northwest of Point Comfort. The gravesite’s GPS coordinates are N60.90332° W149.43829° and the trailhead coordinates are N60.90109° W149.44023°. The trailhead is about a 70 mile drive south from Anchorage by way of the Seward Highway. It is best located by going to mile-marker 9 of the Hope Road and looking south down the road for a sign indicating a right-hand curve. The trailhead is located behind a large tree, on the east side of the road, about midway between the mile-marker 9 sign post and the right-hand curve sign. The trail will intersect a coastal trail in about 1/4 mile. Turn left and head west, the gravesite will be and the left side of the trail in about 150 feet. Limited parking can be found to the west of Hope Road off the side of a small dirt road just south of mile-marker 9.
Much of the historical information listed here was courtesy of Alaska Historian Rolfe G. Buzzell, Ph.D. and Rosemarie Knecht of the Hope and Sunrise Historical Society. The Hope and Sunrise Historical Society Museum in Hope, Alaska is the current repository for the original research records about Captain Brandt and can be viewed in person, along with the blazed section of the original tree, by visiting the museum in Hope.