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WILLIAM BRAUCHER.
WILLIAM BRAUCHER, of Humboldt, Allen County, is a gentleman whom the citizens of his county have delighted to honor. His character is a combination of traits that make true men and worthy citizens and his life has been an open book to the people of Allen County for nearly a third of a century. Mr. Braucher was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, January 24, 1845, and is a son of a pioneer to the Buckeye State. The latter was Joseph Braucher, born in Pennsylvania and a son of
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German parents whose migration to the United States occurred about the opening of the 19th century.
Joseph Braucher married Julia Antoinette Hawley (Halley), a native of New York and of English parents. He engaged in the dry goods business in early manhood and made merchandising his business through life. The scene of his business activity was in Ohio, and he retired when the infirmities of age were found to be creeping upon him. He died at the age of eighty years.
William Braucher attended the common schools until he was prepared to enter college. At sixteen he became a student at Wittenburg Lutheran College and there took up the study of the orthodox faith. The ministry was his ultimate goal. For a further preparation and following a completion of the course in the Lutheran institution he entered a military college in Cleveland, Ohio, and while there the war between the states was in progress. His enlistment followed in the course of time and his regiment, the 129th Ohio Volunteers, saw some of the real service in that struggle. It aided in the capture of Cumberland Gap and then re-enforced General Burnside at Knoxville and aided General Sherman in releasing Burnside after a twenty-five day siege.
Upon his return from his army service Mr. Braucher went into his father's store and remained three years. Having accumulated a small amount of cash in the spring of 1868 he came into Allen County. He purchased a farm five miles south of Humboldt and entered upon a new and semi-strange experience. A new farm always furnishes ample opportunity for the display of industry and art in its improvement and in these elements Mr. Braucher was not lacking. His soil was fertile and the industry and good taste of its owner rapidly made the farm one of the attractive country homes in his township.
During the early years of his residence in Kansas Mr. Braucher was associated with G. Y. Smith in the dry goods business in Humboldt. Mr. Smith, now located in Fort Worth, Texas, was one of the prominent merchants of Allen County and Mr. Braucher's connection with his store covered a period of over five years. Later he spent two years behind the counters of Hysinger & Rosenthal, another firm whose history covers many of the early and prosperous years of Humboldt's existence, In February, 1898, Mr. Braucher lost his wife and he rented his farm to which he had moved and returned to Humboldt soon thereafter. Seeing an opening he engaged in the furniture business but soon sold this and engaged in the hardware business,
In December, 1870, Mr. Braucher married Isabel Heath. She left three children, viz.: Joseph W., Edward Allen and Halley Heath Braucher. The first two are in Kansas City and the last named is with his father in Humboldt. In January, 1899, Mr. Braucher married Mrs. Margaret (Bragg) Johnson.
In the matter of the conduct of public affairs in Allen County Mr. Braucher has always shown an active and intelligent interest. His rare judgment and his wise discrimination in matters of public policy make him
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an admirable public servant. He served Cottage Grove township in an official capacity and was elected County Commissioner for a term of three years. His political affilations[sic] are with the Republican party.
In his business and social relations Mr. Braucher is the prototype of honesty and sincerity. His practice of meeting his engagements promptly and otherwise maintaining his good name are matters of common report. He is courteous and affable and is without the objectionable qualities of manner too often present with the business and professional men of our day.
Pages 300-302, transcribed by Carolyn Ward from History of Allen and Woodson Counties, Kansas: embellished with portraits of well known people of these counties, with biographies of our representative citizens, cuts of public buildings and a map of each county / Edited and Compiled by L. Wallace Duncan and Chas. F. Scott. Iola Registers, Printers and Binders, Iola, Kan.: 1901; 894 p., [36] leaves of plates: ill., ports.; includes index.
