Detlef Hans Schlotfeldt was born in Schönhorst, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. he was the oldest son of Kiel area farmer Hans Henry (Hinrich) Schlotfeldt and Catherine Stoltenberg. He married Anna Christina Reese in Nortorf Parish on December 19th, 1852.
In 1851 Hinrich sold the family farm and emigrated with his younger children to America, but Detlef was unable to join them, as he had to first serve out his military service. When he was released in 1856 He and his family boarded the ship Hammonia leaving out of Hamburg. They arrived in New York on November 17th and spent their first winter with his parents in their stone home in McCausland, Iowa.
Detlef purchased a farm and for a time operated a brewery in the town of Le Claire. His businesses were successful and he and Anna brought nine children into the world, although they lost one as an infant.
Many of his children stayed in the beer business. Frederick "Fritz" remained in Scott County where one of his descendants operated a tavern known as the "Longest Bar in Iowa". Anna married in to the Kuhl family who founded a brewery and butcher shop in the mining town of Roslyn,Washington. Herman and John partnered in a Brewery in Roslyn, Washington. Later they were ranchers and and established the Schlotfeldt brothers Meat Market in the Toppenish and Yakima area.
Youngest son Hans Detlaf, a butcher in Clinton, went to Roslyn in the 1890s with his wife, Anna (nee Stahl), and young daughter, Mayme. Hans was also later involved in the Meat Business in Yakima with brothers Herman and John.
Detlef Hans Schlotfeldt died on February 12th, 1898. He was 71 years of age.
