John E. Bruns

John Englebrecht Bruns
S2515
1997
1 folder

Manuscripts & Rare Books Division
Indiana State Library

Return to the Alphabetical List of All Online Finding Aids

Processed by: Philip N. Williams
                          

Biographical Note:

John Englebrecht Bruns was born in the village of Leer, Germany on July 3, 1845.  At the age of ten, he became a sailor.  Fourteen years later, in 1859, he left Germany via the Netherlands for the United States, landing in the Village of Freeport, Long Island, New York.

He labored in the gravel pits of Pennsylvania until 1869, when he became a “drummer” for the DuPont Powder Company.  On settling in Indiana, he established his own gunpowder company, the Bruns Powder Company of Terre Haute, and was also part or full owner of “The Deep Vein” coal mine, south of Terre Haute.  He moved to Santa Ana, California about 1904 for the sake of his wife’s health.  In California, he became a citrus farmer. 

Scope and Content Note:

This collection consists of 11 letters written between July 27 and August 9, 1977, documenting Paul H. Bruns’ efforts to find records of arrival, activities, and acquisition of citizenship of his father, John Englebrecht Bruns.  Inquiries were made of the village of Freeport, Long Island, New York; the Citizenship and Naturalization Office, United States Immigration and Naturalization Service; the Secretary of State of Indiana; the Indiana State Library; and Henry P. Smith, President, The Deep Vein Coal Company, Terre Haute, Indiana.

The letters also contains information on John Englebrecht Brun’s wife, Sonora Smith, her father, her sister Adeline, and her brothers Lyman and James.

Photocopying Policy:

Manuscript materials CANNOT be photocopied or digitized in their entirety. Photocopies and/or digital images cannot exceed 25% of a collection or a folder within a collection. In some cases, photocopying may not be permitted due to the condition of the item. Check with a Manuscript Librarian for other options.

Item Listing:

27 July 1977 TL, Paul H. Bruns to City of Freeport, Long Island, New York, Attention of City Clerk
29 July 1977 TLS, copy, H.M. Gramlich, Jr., Deputy Village Clerk, Village of Freeport, Long Island, New York
31 July 1977 ALS, copy, Clinton E. Metz, Village Historian, Freeport, New York
1 Aug. 1977 TL, Paul H. Bruns to United States Immigration and Naturalization Service, Attention of Citizenship and Naturalization Office
4 Aug. 1977 TN, Paul H. Bruns to Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office
5 Aug. 1977 TL, Paul H. Bruns to Honorable Larry Conrad, Secretary of State, State of Indiana
10 Aug. 1977 TLS, copy, Henry P. Smith, Indiana Board of Mines and Mining, Terre Haute, Indiana, to Paul H. Bruns
16 Aug. 1977 TL, Paul H. Bruns, Secretary of State, State House, Indianapolis, Indiana, Attention of Paul E. Gifford, Director, Corporations Division
19 Aug. 1977 TLS, Paul H. Bruns to Indiana State Library, Indianapolis, Indiana
19 Aug. 1977 TL, copy of above letter, Paul H. Bruns to Indiana State Library
19 Aug. 1977 TL, Paul H. Bruns to Henry P. Smith, President, The Deep Vein Company, Terre Haute, Indiana
n.d. One envelope from Paul H. Bruns, addressed to Indiana State Library

Collection Information

Size of Collection: 1 folder
Collection Dates: 1977
Provenance: Paul H. Bruns, 17 Aug. 1977
Restrictions: None
Reproduction Rights: Permission to reproduce, exhibit, or publish material in this collection must be obtained from the Manuscript Section, Indiana State Library.
Alternate Formats: 
Related Holdings: 
Notes: