His obituary in the Evening Kansan Republican noted that Brunner reportedly purchased the very first copy of the first Kansan printed in August 1872. Henry Brunner Grave Evergreen Cemetery, Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County Georgia. The well on Fifth and Main was finally started and dug by ‘Oklahoma Payne.'” Evening Kansan Republican, 17 September 1909, p. But the first water on the old town site was a weak spring in the northeast corner of Military park. Everybody knew Laughing Joe and Silent Andrews. It was dug by Joe Rynearson and Henry Andrews. The first well dug at the intersection of Sixth and Main. seeing none I deem it but a privileged to step up and speak out, since I was at that time a part of the early pioneers and on the spot to observe. found several errors, but was watching for the errors to be corrected. “Dear Sir: While reading from this distance in the Weekly Kansan-Republican of the two public wells now obscure on Main street. On 11 August 1909 he offered correction on the location of two wells. It was during his time in Fitzgerald that he frequently sent letters to the Newton paper commenting on events that he remembered. Her name was Harriet Alice Cole Goodman Brunner. At some point, Brunner married for a second time. She died in 1910 and was buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Harvey County. Brunner filed for divorce in Harvey County. He wanted to create a colony for Union veterans and families in the South where they could “spend remaining days in a milder climate.” Brunner apparently thrived in the Colony where he was “an influential businessman” running a successful restaurant. Fitzgerald, Georgia was sometimes referred to as “the Colony,” and it was the dream of Philander H. In 1895, at the age of 53, he moved to Fitzgerald, Georgia. He is an honest, reliable and trustworthy business man, in whom the confidence of the public is placed.” Mr’ B’s Newton possessions to-day are alone worth thousands of dollars. Brunner came here as poor as Job’s turkey, without friends, and without any earthly assistance except his own hands and his strong will power. “Here is another instance of fortune’s favor.
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The Decemissue of the Evening Kansan noted that At some point in the 1880s, he built a popular skating rink on “ West Sixth street opposite the Presbyterian church” which was torn down in 1895.īy 1888, Brunner was again in business, this time opening a hardware store at 708 Main, Newton, Ks. than he had anticipated.” Ill health forced him to retire from the business in 1881. He was reportedly the “first baby boy born on the town site.” In 1875, Brunner opened a small grocery, called the “Blue Front,” and the venture met with “greater success. His family had joined him by July 1872 when his son, Henry L. He left his family behind until he could earn sufficient funds to bring them to Kansas. In 1871, Brunner arrived in Harvey County, initially settling on a homestead on Section 24, Emma Township. Brunner enlisted on 24 April 1861 and served with the Union Army, Company M, 1st West Virginia Cavalry during the Civil War. Heinrich ‘Henry’ Brunner was born in Germany 27 January 1842.