Ernest (originally spelled Ernst in the original German) was born in Englebostel, near Hannover, Germany. His father was a Lutheran Church Pastor there for many years. His mother was the German tutor for Queen Victoria' oldest children before her marriage. Ernest was educated through High School in Englebostel, and served in the interwar peacetime German Imperial Army for several years, achieving the rank of Sergeant. He married Helene at the age of 28, and they ultimately gave birth to 8 children in 14 years, one of whom died of a childhood disease in infancy. He was well trained in the sugar beet industry, but most farmland was in the hands of old families, and not available for purchase. He became aware that prosperity was possible in America, with its large expanses of farmland and widely varying climate. Initially, he was offered sponsorship to emigrate to Hawaii, from a close relative of Helene's, Otto Isenburg, who was the German Consul to Hawaii, then just being absorbed into the U.S.A. Isenburg and his family was very active in expansion of the sugar cane industry in Hawaii, and this experience would expand Ernest's knowledge of farming this profitable crop. In August 1897, he emigrated to Hawaii "to seek fame and fortune", always hoping and planning to move the rest of his young family to wherever he eventually settled.

In Maui and Oahu he became a foreman and later manager of a plantation. In 1903, he learned that in Southern California, a financier from iron country in Minnesota, Hulett C. Merritt, was purchasing and expanding the sugar beet plantings and holdings, and needed experienced managers. He moved to Oxnard, and in a couple of years, learned Merritt was assembling land with partners in the Susan Joaquin Valley, between Visalia and Tulare, which was called "Tagus Ranch." In 1905, he learned, sadly, that his young wife, Helene, had died of disease at age 43 in Germany. His oldest son Ernest C.L. Brecht, was planning to emigrate to Hawaii, as his tour of duty in the German Army was ending. His younger son Edward, my Grandfather, was leaving High School early, due to his mothers' untimely death, and was having a hard time at age 15 getting sufficient work to help support his younger siblings. Ernest then sponsored his son's immigration to the U.S. and California, where they worked together in Oxnard, teaching his son English and the farming business. The area around Visalia was well suited by climate for both sugar beets and for a variety of stone fruit crops, and Ernest was offered the position of Superintendent (General Manager) in late 1906, as Merritt took over his partnership completely, and planned a major expansion of the Tagus Ranch holdings.

On January 1, 1907, both Ernest and Ed reported to their new ranch, and proceeded to hire crews and develop the operation to double its former size. Ernest started saving his larger salary, and in the summer of 1910, he purchased a small ranch that included some dairy cows, as well as enough fertile land to develop into a successful fruit and sugar beet ranch. In the fall, he made his first trip back to Germany since emigrating some 13 years earlier, visiting relatives, and explaining his plans to bring his children to America to join him as soon as his savings allowed him to. He returned to California, and within a few days, took the train to Los Angeles, where he met with Merritt and formally resigned as Tagus Ranch Manager, to concentrate on his own new ranch. The following day, November 24, 1910, he was getting ready to board a streetcar to attend dog races nearby, when he was struck by a fatal Heart Attack, and passed away immediately. He was only age 55, leaving so many plans unfulfilled.