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Susan M. "Susie" (Conrad) Brandt-Hammill (1882 - 1964) John Albert Brandt (1875 - 1910)
Susan M. “Susie” Conrad was born on January 8, 1882 in Clearfield Township, Cambria County, Pennsylvania, the daughter of John William and Ellen Katherine (McMullen) Conrad. Susie grew up on her parent's farm in Clearfield Township, the seventh of ten children.
John Albert Brandt was born in July 1875 near Patton in Chest Township, the son of Daniel Demetrius and Sarah Ellen (Krise) Brand. He was baptized at St. Augustine Catholic Church in St. Augustine, Clearfield Township. He was the fourth of nine children, and he grew up on a farm in Chest Township. His father fought in the Civil War and received a bullet wound to his arm that left him unable to much manual labor. The children helped out at home, and when they were of age, Albert and his brothers worked as coalminers to support the family.
Susan and Albert knew each as parishioners at St. Augustine Church. In 1897 Susie's brother Walter married Albert's sister Della.
On October 1, 1901 Albert and Susie were married at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Frugality, Reade Township. They resided in Dean Township after their marriage.
Albert and Susie had four children: William J. Brandt, Bernard Daniel Brand, Helen (Brandt) Lilly, and Joseph James Brandt.
In 1906 Albert's sister Jennie married Susie's brother Ray. Three Brandt siblings had married three Conrad siblings.
In late 1909 Albert contracted typhoid fever. On February 19, 1910 Albert died at their home in Dean. He was 34. He is buried near his parents in St. Agustine Cemetery.
Because their children were minors, the courts must appoint a male to be their guardian, and their children became wards of Susie’s brother Leo, who lived in nearby Sankertown, Cresson Township with his growing family
Three years after Albert’s death, Susie remarried to Thomas P. Hammill in Cambria County. Thomas was born on September 1, 1881 in Blairsville, Indiana County, PA, the son of Frank and Margaret (McGaferty) Hammill. Frank and Susie resided in Sankertown, and he worked as a machinist in Cresson for the Pennsylvania railroad.
Above: Susan and Thomas Hammill early in their marriage.
Susie had nine more children with Thomas. They were: Merrill Hammill, Glendon “Glenn” Hammill, Lenore S. (Hammill) Trybus, Rita Mae (Hammill) Grant, Donald Hammill, Robert Hammill, Valeira/Valeara (Hammill) Heben, Thomas T. Hammill, and Elizabeth M. “Betty” (Hammill) Mechley.
Thomas did not have a very cordial relationship with his four step-children.
On March 16, 1927 Willie, the oldest, died at his home in Cresson from an illness. He was married with very young girls. He had been employed with the Pennsylvania Railroad.
Susie and Thomas raised their very large family in Cresson.
Above: Susan and Thomas Hammill.
In their old age, Susie and Thomas resided with her son Bernard Brandt at 405 Powell Ave in Cresson.
Above: Susan is flanked by two of her sons. Bernard is on her right.
Susie died on March 4, 1964 at Mercy Hospital in Altoona, Blair County. She was 82.
Thomas died two years later on March 23, 1966 at his home. He was 84.
Susie and Thomas are buried at St. Francis Xavier Cemtery in Cresson.
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Conrad 
