The Bresler family of Mecklenburg, Germany, were noted among the people of that section of Germany for their great size and strength. This particular section is the boast of Germany for the stature and strength of its inhabitants; the common tradition being that they descend from the giants of Bible history. Most of the Breslers were over six feet in height, weighing between two and three hundred pounds. They were further remarked for their longevity, their lives often being extended from ten to twenty years beyond the scriptural "three score and ten." They were a very ancient family and Mecklenburg records carry them far back into the past centuries.
(I) Frederick Bresler was born in the city of Robel, near Mecklenburg, Germany, in the latter years of the eighteenth century. That locality had been the birthplace of his ancestors for the past three centuries. He was a man of extraordinary size, being over six feet tall. He was a maker and dealer in custom footwear for men and carried on his business until an extreme old age. His wife died at the age of ninety-three years, while his years numbered ninety-two. He was a member of the Reformed Evangelical or State church of that day. Children:
- Karl, lived and died in Germany, were he reared a large family.
- William, of, whom the same may be said.
- Hendrick, served in the Germany army; also married and had issue.
- Ludwig, a soldier of Germany and the head of a family.
- Frederick (2), see forward.
- Louise, married ———— Glaevcke, government collector of duties. One of their sons, Henry Glaevcke, came to the United States, where he became famous as a painter and decorative artist. Much of his work may be seen in the churches and public buildings of the central west. The finest decorations of the State Capitol at Indianapolis, Indiana, are from his brush, and he did a great deal of work for the Catholic churches of that section.
- Mary, married Gottfried Schmidt, a famous violinist of Mecklenburg; they had a large family.
(II) Frederick (2), son of Frederick (1) Bresler, was born in Mecklenburg, Germany, March 31, 1818, died June, 1904, in Albany, New York. He was educated in the German schools, learned the trade of a shoemaker, making ladies shoes only. At the age of seventeen he began life as a journeyman and travelled from place to place until he had covered almost the entire continent of Europe. He passed sixteen years in this itinerant life, acquiring the language of the different countries in which he worked, until he could converse fluently in most of the languages of the European countries. After his sixteen years of wandering he returned to his native city, where he married and lived until after the birth of five children. In 1857 he sailed from Bremen for the United States, landing in New York, forty-two days later, one of the children dying on the voyage and was buried at sea. He continued his journey to Albany, New York, which was ever after the family home. Frederick Bresler (2) married Lizetta Thuro, a native of Rostock, near Mecklenburg. She was born March 18, 1814, died in Albany, January 18, 1896, and is buried with her husband in Rural Cemetery, Albany. They were members of the Lutheran Evangelical church, in which Frederick was a steward. In their later years they joined the Reformed church, which he served as elder. Her father was overseer of the State Church Convent School at Mecklenburg. There were seventeen sons and two daughters in the Thuro family. The Emperor of Germany learning of this large family, ordered a special grant made for the benefit of the parents. Children of Frederick (2) and Lizetta (Thuro) Bresler:
- Four daughters died young; they were twins;
- twins were again born, one dying on the voyage to America, the other shortly after the arrival in Albany.
- Frederick Ulrich, see forward.
(III) Frederick Ulrich, only son of Frederick (2) and Lizetta (Thuro) Bresler, was born in Mecklenburg, Germany, 1854. He was three years of age when his parents came to the United States and settled in the town of Bethlehem, now the first ward of the city of Albany. He attended school in his earlier years, but liking work better he left school at the age of eleven and began business life as an errand boy in a furniture store in Albany. Later he entered the employ of the baking firm of Belcher & Larrabee, beginning as errand boy, working up through the different grades of promotion until he was bookkeeper. During these years he took the course at the Albany Business College, from which he graduated. He was an efficient employee and won his promotions. He remained with Belcher & Larrabee from 1867 to 1874, then for ten years was in the grain office of Frank Chamberlain, and with R. W. Thacher until 1891. He then embarked in the grain business on his own account, and was successful until the panic times of 1893-94 caused his withdrawal. Mr. Bresler since youthful manhood has been interested and active in city affairs. He became a leader in his ward (first) of the Republican forces, and in 1878 was elected supervisor of that ward; in 1898 was appointed deputy internal revenue collector of Albany; in 1900 was elected city clerk, and has since been continuously in that office through successive re-elections. He is an efficient, popular official, and administrates the clerk's office in a manner that meets with the favor of both political friends and opponents. He has represented his district five successive years in the Republican state convention, is president of the Unconditional Club, the oldest incorporated Republican club in the United States, its charter bearing date of 1868. This is the leading Republican organization of the city of Albany and in it President Bresler has been an influential, active worker. While he has a host of personal and political friends, Mr. Bresler through his prominence in the Masonic order, commands a still wider acquaintance. He is a member of Temple Lodge, No. 14, Free and Accepted Masons, where he was made a Mason in 1875. In the Scottish Rite he has attained the thirty-third degree, the highest order that can be conferred in the United States, and one that is only bestowed for valuable services to the order. He married (first) Elizabeth Woolf, who died in Albany, in 1891, at the age of thirty-two. He married (second) Louisa Stein, of Albany. Children by first marriage:
- Frederick, died in boyhood.
- Frank C., educated in Albany; learned the plumber's trade and is now a master plumber of Rochester, New York; while still in his teens Frank started out to see the world and before returning had visited China, Japan, Australia, the Philippines, South America and other countries; he married Della Schenck; child: Frank, died in infancy.