A Visit with John Brandes

By: Judy Park

Bruce and I decided to drive to Monroe and meet our 108-year old club member, John Brandes. We had heard stories about him from Kevin Otter and read an article about him in a post newsletter.

Kevin was at the Lutheran home, when we arrived, and introduced us to John. We were amazed to see how well John looked for a person his age. He could have easily passed for someone much younger. He had trouble seeing and hearing, but impressed us with his alertness and sense of humor.

In our short visit we learned that a hand held, a back rubbed and a hug given are special gifts we can give others . John has touched our hearts and we are better people for having met him ,

Tri-County Two Cylinders Eldest Member  Written By Kevin Otter (from a previous issue of the club newsletter)

Do you know who the oldest member of our club is? He is John Brandes.  Many of you may not know him, but a few of you have met him at a few of the shows he's attended including our state show.

John was born January 25th 1898, in Carleton Michigan on a farm that Guardian Glass now occupies. He was the only son with 3 sisters, one of which still lives in Wyandotte Michigan. John was a farmer until retiring in about 1959, at which time he pursued a career in politics.  He became the first full time Supervisor of Huron Township, a position he ran for and was elected three terms.  His campaign name was "Honest John".  He also was the township clerk in 1923, running the office from his home.

John has also held many other positions in the community.  He was on the board of education for the Smithville School, a town now non-existent.  He has served in several offices at his church, St. John's in Waltz.

John has many stories to tell of his years of farming his 123-acre farm with two teams of horses, raising cattle, horses and chickens. He once traded as he put it, a "rather sickly heifer" for a membership in a hunt club that is now worth thousands of dollars.

John's first tractor was a Fordson that he and another fellow went in together to buy because they were so expensive.  He later bought an Allis-Chalmers during the depression and was warned that when it came into the dealership, he had better pick it up immediately or it might not be there the next day.  He later bought a Farmall "BN" which he still uses to work tip his garden and cultivate his sweet corn.  He lived in Florida but returned to New Boston every spring to plant his garden. John stopped driving to Florida at the age of 93. He has out lived 4 wives and still has a sharp mind.

John won the oldest man contest at the Monroe county fair previously for being 102 and hoped to set future longevity records. (Currently, he is 108 years old.)  When ask what the secret to his longevity was, it's always "A firm Faith in God, and Plenty of hard work."