Martin J. Engelbrecht, blacksmith at Brazito, Clark Township, Cole Co., Mo., was born in that county, Osage Township, in 1861, and is the son of Michael and Maggie (Unkanff) Engelbrecht, natives of Bavaria. The parents came to St. Louis in early youth, were there married, and a short time afterward they came to Cole County, and settled in Clark Township. After buying and improving a farm they sold it and moved to Osage County, where the father purchased a farm of 200 acres. Since then he has added eighty acres, and now has one of the finest tracts in the county. He has made many improvements, set out orchards, and is known in the county as one of the best farmers in that section. Martin J. Engelbrecht is the third of ten children born to his parents. He was reared to farm life and attended school near home until fourteen years of age, but remained with his parents until nineteen years of age, when he came to Brazito and learned the blacksmith trade with Adam Hirsch, remaining two years. In 1884 he bought out the business which he has since conducted there; he is doing well and is building up a good trade. He is also the owner of about thirty-four acres, on which he has erected a neat cottage and a complete shop; has cleared about five acres, has set out a young orchard and has improved it in every way. In June, 1885, he married Miss Kate Denkel, a native of Cole County, Mo., and the daughter of John Denkel, who came to Cole County at a very early day and was one of the very earliest settlers of Osage Township. Mr. and Mrs. Engelbrecht are members of the Emanuel Honey Creek Lutheran Church. To their union two children have been born, one of whom died in infancy: Hilda, and Annie, who died March 1, 1889. Mr. Engelbrecht, though still a young man, is rapidly building up a profitable trade, and may be ranked among the prosperous and active business men of the township.

Transcribed from:
History of Cole, Moniteau, Morgan, Benton, Miller, Maries, and Osage Counties, Missouri, Goodspeed Publishing Company (1889).