B. H. Zauk
Sherman, Grayson County, Texas
Marker Inscription
(September 11, 1857 - May 12, 1919) Bruno H. Zauk came to America alone at age 16 from his native Germany. He founded Sherman's first cigar factory in 1876, and became a naturalized U. S. citizen in 1880. Mr. Zauk acquired extensive land holdings in West Texas and Oklahoma. A successful immigrant who took full advantage of opportunities available in America, he served as vice president of the Commercial National Bank in Sherman and the First National Bank in Bennington, Oklahoma. (1997)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Bruno H. Zauk crossed from Germany alone at sixteen and, by 1876, had founded Sherman's first cigar factory; he became a naturalized citizen in 1880. He parlayed his success into extensive landholdings in West Texas and Oklahoma and served as vice president of banks in Sherman and Bennington, Oklahoma.
Why it matters
Zauk's rise from teenage immigrant to banker and landowner is a textbook chapter in the American immigrant success story that built the country's small-city commercial class.
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Related people
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Themes & tags
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