Although yet a young man the gentleman whose name introduces this
biographical sketch has accomplished much toward ameliorating the condition
of his fellow men, often laboring with disregard for his own welfare if
thereby he might attain the object he sought to make some one better,
happier. Such a life as his is rare and is eminently worthy of emulation,
being singularly free from all that is deteriorating or paltry, for his
influence is at all times uplifting and thousands of people have been made
better for having known him.
Father John H. Bruns, who has done such
a commendable work in promulgating the interests of the Catholic church and
school in Centralia, Illinois, was born in Borken, Germany, June 30, 1870,
the son of Joseph and Adalaid (Rademacher) Bruns, .being the oldest child of
a family of eight children. He came to America in 1880. His early education
was obtained in the common schools of Europe and partly at Pinckneyville,
Illinois. Under the Franciscan Fathers at Tentrepolis, near Effingham, he
studied the classics and graduated in 1891 with the degree of Bachelor of
Arts and as the valedictorian of his class. He afterward took a degree,
Master of Arts, in a school of philosophy at Quincy, Illinois. Then he took
a tree years' course in theology at St. Francis, near Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Being ambitious our subject applied himself in a most assiduous manner to
his studies and made an excellent record in all those schools.
Father Bruns was ordained to the priesthood June 16, 1895, and soon
thereafter assigned to be assistant pastor at St. Peter's cathedral,
Belleville, Illinois, where he remained for a period of eight years, having
in the meantime accomplished much in the building up of this organization
and winning a lasting monument in the hearts of the people of that church.
He was appointed pastor at Centralia August 20, 1903, and is at this
writing, 1908, carrying on the work here with that discretion, energy and
devotion that insures abundant success. Many improvements have been
inaugurated since his coming, among which might well be mentioned the
installation of a new and modern heating system in the church and school, an
addition to the school building, costing about three thousand and one
hundred dollars, the purchase of a cemetery at a cost of one thousand and
five hundred dollars, also the purchase of a hospital site at a cost of four
thousand dollars. He has labored faithfully in the building up of the church
and the school, the former now representing one hundred and sixty families,
and there are at this writing one hundred and fifty-six pupils enrolled in
the school. Three teachers are employed and the course includes the eighth
grade work and a complete course of bookkeeping. Six sisters are employed to
take care of the sick. When the work on the new hospital is completed a
large number of sisters of the highest efficiency will be constantly engaged
to care for the sick and those who are brought for treatment. The church
building is one of the handsomest in the city and would be a pride to any
city, having cost fifty thousand dollars. The parsonage cost four thousand
dollars, and the school building proper cost five thousand dollars, the
second floor of the school building having an elegant hall and stage, where
entertainments and other exercises are held, such as socials for the church
and the school. The original building of the hospital will cost when
completed about twenty-five thousand dollars. It will be so built that new
additions can be added without marring the beauty and unity of any part.
It has been no small task to do what Father Bruns has done. It required
much hard work and a zeal and perseverance that only those who were closely
connected with and took active part in the work of the parish can clearly
understand and appreciate. Beside the business end of the work, he has been
busy in building up the parish and raising the spiritual standing of the
congregation, which is now in a good condition, both temporal and spiritual.
In the purchase of property, the erection of buildings and in
looking after the transactions attendant upon them he has shown business
tact and energy, as well as a spirit of devotion to his church. His acts,
both spiritual and temporal, have met with the united approval of his own
people and all others. But these are too well known to require further
detailed mention, and the writer knows that whatever of good the reverend
priest may have accomplished he would far rather have it engraved on the
hearts of the people than to be put into print, and that the approval of his
own conscience and of his Divine Master are the reward he wishes for his
labors in behalf of the church.
Extracted 27 May 2019 by Norma Hass from 1909 Biographical and Reminiscent History of Richland, Clay and Marion Counties, Illinois, pages 558-559.