County of building: St. Charles County
Location of building: N Benton Ave., 3rd house N of Morgan St., E side, St. Charles
Built: 1862
Architect/Builder: Unknown
Architectural Style: Federal
Original Occupant: Johann and Katerina Bredenbeck
Historic District Map
* Indicates Military Service
Marker Text:
CIRCA 1861
923 NORTH BENTON
1830 - Part of Block 10 of Nathan Boone's survey of the Commons
1831 - Home built. (according to tax records).
1841 - Part of Pallardie's subdivision of the Commons (5 August 1841).
1857 - Johann Bredenbeck immigrated to America from Prussia.
*1861 - Johann Bredenbeck
USRC, St. Charles County Home Guard Regiment, Krekel's Bn, Co. B.
1864 - Johann and Katarina Brendenbeck purchased lots 11 & 12 of Pallardie's Subdivision from
Joseph and Caroline Rosker. The house was built in the form that it is today. It is a four bay ½
house and is in nearly pristine condition. The effect is that of a cabin, but executed in soft
paste brick. (Sun dried, rather than kiln dried).
The style is Federal with with the work porch under the principal roof. Many examples exist
throughout St. Charles but, very few exist, like this one, without having dormers or additions.
The Bredenbeck's had five children. Minna, Wilhelm, and Frederick survived.
1872 - Johann Bredenbeck died.
1911 - Katarina died. A son, Frederick, (Fred) and his wife, Line assumed ownership. Fred worked 25
years for the Wabash Railroad. Fred and Line raised seven children, all born in this home.
*1917 - Elmer F. Bredenbeck, son of Fred and Line, served in U.S. Army Company K, 138th Infantry
Division.
1942 - Frederick (Fred) Bredenbeck died.
*1944 - Ralph Bredenbeck, son of Fred and Line, served in USN Argus Units 33 and 30.
1946 - Line died. A daughter of Fred and Line, Leona (Lee) Bredenbeck-Grosslass and her husband,
Albert, obtained ownership of the property.
1976 - Upon Lee's death a brother, Melvin Bredenbeck, and his wife Ella nee Pickering purchased the
home from his siblings. He and Ella operated Bredenbeck's market at 1615 Randolph Steet for
thirty years. Melvin served several years as a City Councilman. He also served as a volunteer
fireman.
1978 - Melvin Died. Ownership remained with his wife Ella Bredenbeck.
2004 - Ella Bredenbeck died. The property passed to Melvin and Ella's granddaughter establishing
a cycle of more than 140 years, and 5 generations, of single family ownership.