Death of Fred B. Braun

A Well Known Farmer of Ann Arbor Town

President Insurance Co

Had Held Every Office in the Township and Had Been President County Fair Association

Mr. Fred B. Braun, of Ann Arbor township, died at the home of his street at 8 o'clock Wednesday evening, of a combination of Bright's disease and pleurisy. Mr. Braun had been ill for pleurisy. Mr. Braun had been ill for months, but had been visiting his sons and sister in this city and, growing weaker, had been unable to return to his farm.

Mr. Braun was one of the best known and most highly respected men in the county. He was born in the township where he had spent his whole life, which he had served in public positions and every person in the township knew him and respected him. If we had many more such as he who has passed away, the world would be the better for it.

Fred B. Braun was born October 20, 1840. He was the oldest son of John Braun, who was born in Wuertemberg, Germany, in 1816 and died in Ann Arbor town in 1866. The father, John Braun, emigrated to this county and settled in Ann Arbor in 1836, where he followed the trade of a stone mason and married here Miss Anna M. Eberhardt. It was in Ann Arbor city, that Fred B. Braun, their eldest son, was born. In 1851 they moved to Scio township and eight years later to Ann Arbor town, where they accumulated a fine farm property. Mr. Braun was one of eight children, who became respected citizens. He attended the public schools and one of early seminaries in this city. As a young man he took an active interest in politics and in 1877 was elected town clerk of Ann Arbor township, which position he held two years. In 1874 and 1875 and again in 1878, he was elected township treasurer. At five different times he was elected supervisor of the township and had held every office in the township. When the county was hopelessly democratic, Mr. Braun made creditable runs on the republican ticket for sheriff and again for the legislature. He was for years an active worker in the County Fair association and had served as its president and again as its manager. He was also an active worker in and director of the Washtenaw Farmers' Mutual Insurance Co., and for the past year had been its president. He was a Maccabee. He was a member of Zion Lutheran church.

In 1869 Mr. Braun was married to Miss Regina Kirn, like himself a native of Ann Arbor, who died in 1881 at the age of 31 years. He leaves two sons, Carl F., in the Ann Arbor Savings bank, and Benjamin N., in Wahr's bookstore on State street. A daughter, Caddie M.. died in 1887 at the age of 17. He leaves four brothers, John M., Charles, the newly elected county treasurer, Christian and Henry, and two sisters, Mrs. Fred Kirn and Mrs. J. M. Stein. They all reside in the city or township. One brother, Simeon, died in 1887.

He was a public spirited man and took a deep interest in all public questions. He believed in attending caucuses and rose from a sick bed to attend a republican caucus last fall at which he exerted considerable influence. He had decided views on public questions and did his best to further his beliefs. He was a good citizen, a high minded man, a kindly neighbor, a good friend and it is not alone in his family that his loss will be felt.

The funeral services will be held from his farm house at 1 o'clock Saturday afternoon and from Zion Lutheran church at 2 o'clock Saturday afternoon.