GEORGE BRAUN, deceased, a conservative business man who, nevertheless, was connected with various interests of commercial and industrial importance in Denison, was born in Berlin, Germany, in 1835, and came to America soon after the close of the Civil war, settling in St. Louis, Missouri. In his native country he had acquired a good practical education and had become a civil engineer, following that business until his removal to the United States. In St. Louis he conducted a restaurant in one of the large parks, being so engaged until he came to Texas in 1879. Here he became the agent in Denison for the Anheuser-Busch Brewing Company of St. Louis, acting as its representative for several years. In connection with others he established an ice plant in Denison and was successfully connected with various business enterprises. He was always conservative and careful in making investments and his judgment was sound and reliable in all business matters. In his trade relations he was strictly honorable and his prosperity was attributable entirely to his own labors.
In 1873, in Illinois, was celebrated the marriage of George Braun and Miss Minna Beltz, who was born in Germany, but was raised in St. Clair county, Illinois, a daughter of Charles and Julia (Graff) Beltz.Her father, a native of Germany, came to America in 1850 and settled in Illinois, where he followed the occupation of farming and also ran a general merchandise store in Mascoutah, Illinois, until his death, which occurred when he was fifty-four years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Braun became the parents of five children, of whom three are living: Lottie, the wife of Harry J. Bettis, a resident of South McAlester, Indian Territory, by whom she has one child, Dorothy; George; and Tonie, now wife of R. S. Vann of Dallas.
The death of the husband and father occurred at Denison on the 17th of November 1903. He was a Republican in politics but was without political aspiration. In a financial way he was very successful, for he carefully planned his advancement and every step was thoughtfully made and his life was an exemplification of the possibilities that are afforded in America to young men were effort and enterprise are not hampered by caste or class.
Source: B. B. Paddock, History and Biographical Record of North and West Texas (Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1906), Vol. I, p. 390.