Military Service in The Netherlands

Otto Brand / late 1880's

This is a picture of my Great-Great Grandfather, Otto Brand.  Otto (third generation with that name) was born November 9, 1860 in Zuilichem, Gelderland, Netherlands.  He served in the military while in his twenties.  The "story" is that he served more than he was personally required by selling his services to those who didn't want to serve.  He didn't marry until he was 30 years old and he and his wife had two children while still living in the Netherlands. His wife Willemke's family had been immigrating to the United States so she really want to join them.  Otto was more reluctant to move but eventually they immigrated with their two young children.

They had two additional children after the migration, one of which was my Great-Grandfather Otto who was born in 1898.  According to my grandmother, her grandfather Otto never really learned English so Dutch was still spoken in his house.  Her future husband, Gordon was able to speak Dutch with Otto which he seem to enjoy.  Otto's own grandchildren had never really learned more than a few words of Dutch.

Otto died July 3, 1947 in Holland Michigan followed 11 days later by his wife, Wilma.  They are buried in the Pilgrim Home Cemetery in Holland.