Charles S. Eigenbrodt, born in New York and a child of German immigrants, came to California on June 4, 1849 and settled with his parents near Alvarado.  He was a West Point graduate and a member of the Alameda County Board of Supervisors.

When the Civil War started, Eigenbrodt organized a group of volunteers from Southern Alameda County and joined a number of other California volunteers in San Francisco.  Eigenbrodt could be given the rank of Captain and command of the Company A of the California Calvary Battalion (later Company E, 2nd Massachusetts Calvary).  Captain Engelbrodt would eventually killed in action in the Shenadoah Valley, Virginia, on September 2, 1864.  Capt. Engelbrodt would leave behind a sum of money to be used as the founding of a library.  This would become the foundation of the Odd Fellows library.

In the April 1962 edition of "Civil War Times Illustrated", there was an article covering excerpts from the Civil War diary of Sgt. George W. Buhrer, who served in the Company commanded by Capt. Eigenbrodt.  The following excerpts are sections of the diary that discuss Capt. Eigenbrodt.

"Wednesday--July 13 [1864] --Part of our regiment and some of the 2nd Michigan and Illinois Cavalry, in all 400 strong, started to reconnoiter. Capt. Eigenbrodt with Co. E had the advance, we commenced skirmishing with the enemy at Rockville. Most of us dismounted and took positions behind trees and logs and held the rebels back for some time, but we were driven back; we rallied three times. The rebels at last held Rockville. We had a number of men killed and wounded and about 40 taken prisoners. I had a narrow escape from the rebels, received scratch on my right arm. We went into camp a short distance from Rockville. All quiet during the night. Weather was very warm."

"Thursday--August 25 [1864] -- Made another dash on the enemy's line. Lost our Captain; he fell like a hero in a charge we made on the enemy's breastworks. Capt. Charles S. Eigenbrodt was truly one of the bravest of the brave. We all lamented the loss; a ball went through his heart and several through his body; we were in a hot place. Robert Campbell, R. Mayers, and I were with our Captain when he fell."