Matilda was the daughter of Bernhardt Hattemer and Katharina Weiner. The family lived in St. Louis, Missouri, and Matilda's father was a shoemaker.

With the start of the American Civil War, Bernhardt Hattemer volunteered to serve with the Union Army. Tragically, he was killed in action in late May of 1864. Matilda's mother, Katharina, then married Peter Depper in 1866, and the family moved to Calhoun County, Illinois.

Matilda married August F. Brinkmann on 05 Apr 1875 in Calhoun County, Illinois. He was a farmer, and they were the parents of 11 children.

[Side note: Several of the children changed the spelling of the surname to Brinkman.]

Later in life, Matilda moved back to St. Louis, Missouri and lived with her daughter and son-in-law, Lizzie and Frank Ottie. They lived next door to the family of Henry and Anna Goetz, another of Matilda's daughters.

At the time of her death due to heart disease, Matilda was 61 years, 6 months and 5 days old. She was buried next to her husband, August, on 24 Mar 1920. August passed away in 1901.

Children: 9 daughters, 2 sons.

Mother of:
Katherine "Katie" Brinkmann Gubser
Caroline M. "Carrie" Brinkmann Becker
Lena Caroline Louise Brinkmann Placke
August Henry Brinkman, Sr.
Anna C. Brinkman Goetz
Elizabeth Matilda "Lizzie" Brinkman Ottie
Matilda Augusta "Tillie" Brinkmann Twichell
Clara E. Brinkmann
Theresa E. Brinkman Snyders
William H. Brinkmann
Martha "Freda" Brinkman Bailey

Matilda's siblings:
Mary Hattemer Zimmerman
Adolph Hattemer
Alexander "Alex" Hattemar*

Matilda's step-brothers and step-sisters:
Georg "George" Depper
Katharina Depper (deceased)
Johann Heinrich "Henry" Depper
Barbara Depper Korte
Lorence Peter Depper
Louisa Depper Depper


*Alexander's family spelled the surname HATTEMAR.