Nobles County MN Archives Biographies.....Bruns, John B. 1843 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mn/mnfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com November 3, 2006, 4:49 pm Author: Arthur P. Rose (1908) JOHN B. BRUNS is one of the early settlers and successful farmers of Willmont township. He owns 440 acres of land in Willmont township, all within a short distance of his home farm, which is the northeast quarter of section 29. His wife owns 40 acres on section 27, in the same township. Mr. Bruns is a native of Hanover, Germany, where he was born June 18, 1843, the son of Henry and Mary (Huser) Bruns, both deceased. Until he was thirty-two years of age he resided in his native land. At the age of twelve years he began working at the carpenter's trade, followed that occupation during all the time he lived in the old country, and became a highly skilled workman. On the tenth day of June, 1875, Mr. Bruns arrived in the new world, landing at Baltimore. He moved at once to Shakopee, Scott county, Minn., where for one year he worked at his trade. He then went to Defiance, Ohio, worked at his trade there one year, and then returned to Shakopee. He continued working at his trade there until 1886, with the exception of three months in 1885, which were spent on a visit to his old home in Germany. In the spring of 1886 Mr. Bruns came to Nobles county, bought the northeast quarter of section 29, Willmont township, for which he paid $7.25 per acre, and on October 13, of the same year, moved onto the place with his family. He has made his home on the farm ever since, and has added to his possessions until he has property as noted above. He has worked at his trade some since coming to the county, and a monument to his work are the fine buildings on his farm, all of which he erected himself. He has one of the many fine farm homes of Willmont township. Mr. Bruns was married at Defiance, Ohio, Oct. 25, 1877, to Mary C. Schmitz, daughter of William and Tekla (Eising) Schmitz. Mrs. Bruns was born in kreis Pappenburg, Germany, Aug. 23, 1849. This marriage has resulted in the birth of the following named children: Mary (Mrs. Frank Diekman), of Leota township, born Dec. 19, 1878; Henry, born Jan. 12, 1881; John B., Jr., born Aug. 20, 1882; William G., born April 19, 1884; Annie H., born Nov. 19, 1885, died Dec. 23, 1891; Joseph J., born June 12, 1891. The family are members of the Catholic church of St. Kilian. Mr. Bruns was one of the organizers of the Willmont Mutual Fire Insurance company and has served as a director of the company ever since it was founded in 1895. He served as treasurer of school district No. 66 for nine years. Additional Comments: Extracted from: AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY MINNESOTA BY ARTHUR P. ROSE NORTHERN HISTORY PUBLISHING COMPANY WORTHINGTON, MINNESOTA PUBLISHERS 1908 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mn/nobles/bios/bruns237gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/mnfiles/ File size: 3.2 Kb