Will County ILGenWeb Biographies..... Brauns, Gustavus
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File contributed for use by:
Dori Leekly & Margie Glenn

Author: History of Will County IL, 1878

Gustavus BRAUNS, merchant, Crete; is one of the best-known and highly respected 
businessmen of Crete; was born in Hanover, Germany, Sept. 24, 1832, and is the son of 
John A. F. and Henrietta (BARTELS) BRAUNS, of Germany; father was a minister of the 
Lutheran Church. Mr. BRAUNS commenced his first experience in business life as a clerk 
in a dry goods store; here he served as an apprentice for five years; then in a wholesale 
notion house, specialty of silk ribbons; here he remained until 1855; he then started 
for America, landed in New York City Aug. 1, 1855; here he first found employment as 
agent for artists outfits; then in a very large house-fitting establishment, and remained 
there until 1856; he then started West for Illinois; arrived in Chicago; here he remained 
about four months out of employment; he formed the acquaintance of a minister located in 
Crete, who advised him to go to Crete; he arrived in Crete in 1856, and accepted a 
clerkship with Charles A. MILLER in a general store at $10 per month and board; here was 
his first start, and from then up to the present date he has been very successful in 
business; he first entered business in Crete with his brother Leopold, known as L. & G. 
BRAUNS; these gentlemen also owned a branch house in Chicago, and did a very large business, 
but the panic of 1857 drove them to an assignment in 1858, but they, with hard work and 
good management, paid every dollar of their indebtedness; to-day Mr. BRAUNS owns one of the 
largest stores of dry goods, drugs and groceries to be found in Crete; also is owner of a 
large hay-press; has handled in two years 4,500 tons of hay; Postmaster; was appointed in 
1860. A Republican in politics. Married Miss Sophia DEERSEN, of Germany; five children - 
four boys and one girl.


Additional Comments:
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS; Chicago: Wm LeBaron Jr & Co, 186 Dearborn Street, 1878.

File at: http://will.illinoisgenweb.org/bios/braunsg.txt