Grundy County IL Archives Biographies.....Braun, August A ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com April 29, 2006, 5:14 pm Author: History of Grundy County IL 1914 Braun, August A. – The pioneers in any line of endeavor, the men who are fearless enough to forge ahead along new avenues, are those who deserve to succeed. They cannot be governed by what others have accomplished, but must take the risk and not only establish a business, but create a demand for their class of work. Such a man is August A. Braun, manufacturer of cement blocks, and contractor for cement work, who was the first to engage in this class of construction at Morris is now a leader in it. He was born at Chicago, September 25, 1856, son of John Adam and Susanna (Braun) Braun, not relatives, natives of Helmstadt Baden, Germany. They married in their native land, but came to the United States about 1852, stopping first at Buffalo, N. Y., from whence they came to Cleveland, Ohio, the father working their way along the canal. In 1855, they located at Chicago, remaining there for two years, when another change was made to Mokena, Will County, Ill. There the father worked until 1875 for the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad. In that year he was promoted to foreman and went to Morris where he discharged the duties of his new position until 1880. Mr. Braun then went to a farm he bought in Saratoga Township, and there he was accidentally killed by a kick of a horse in 1898. The mother moved to Morris where she died in March, 1910. August A. Braun grew up in Will County where he attended the local schools. His first employment was as sexton of the Evergreen Cemetery at Morris, and he held this position for six years. At the expiration of that period, he moved to Morris and for several years conducted a general teaming business. From 1899 to 1902, he was superintendent of city streets, and during that period became so convinced of the superiority of cement, and the opportunity here offered for a manufacturer of cement blocks, that he founded his present business in the latter year. Since then he has branched out into cement construction work, and takes a great number of contracts for the work. In 1914 Mr. Braun built a new plant, 30x60 feet, two stories in height, and has now one of the best equipped cement plants in Grundy County. In addition to owning his plant and two residences, he also owns one of the largest gravel pits in Grundy County, 160 acres of land in Adair County, Iowa, and 160 acres of land in Canada. In September, 1882, Mr. Braun was married to Elizabeth Gorich, born at Morris, daughter of Jacob and Catherine (Werner) Gorich, natives of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Braun became the parents of the following children: Henry William, who lives at Denver, Colo.; Bertha B., Mrs. George Corke, whose husband is manager of the Chicago Telephone Company at Morris; and Louis J., who lives at Morris. Mrs. Braun died May 19, 1897. On December 3, 1902, Mr. Braun was married (second) to Mary (Steele) Aird, widow of James Aird, and mother of Russell Aird of Morris. By his second marriage, Mr. Braun has two children: Donald, who died at the age of one year; and Phillip A. Mr. Braun is a Presbyterian. Politically, he is a Republican and has served as Commissioner of Highways of Morris Township since 1892. Fraternally, he belongs to the Morris lodge of the Knights of Pythias No. 178, and is popular in it as he is in business circles, for he is a man who makes and retains friends. page 774 Additional Comments: Source: History of Grundy County, Illinois, Chicago: Munsell Publishing Co. Publishers; 1914 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/grundy/bios/braun717nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/ File size: 4.1 Kb