Frederick S. Bruner, since 1900 the postmaster at Fruita, Mesa county, was born near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on March 26, 1847, and is the son of George and Maria C. (Smiley) Bruner, also natives of Pennsylvania, though of German ancestry. The father was a farmer throughout his life, and was killed by accident by a railroad train while crossing the tracks when he was seventy-nine years old. He was well known and highly respected in his section of the country, and held a number of local offices from time to time in his county. The children in the family numbered six, all of whom are living, the youngest at the age of fifty and the oldest at that of seventy, Frederick being the third born. He grew to manhood on the paternal homestead, receiving his education at the district schools and New Bloomfield Academy, which he attended two terms. After leaving school he learned the molders’ trade and worked at it a few years in Ohio. He moved to Cedar county, Iowa, in 1871, and there engaged in farming.
Four years later he returned to Pennsylvania, but moved to Iowa again in 1881, and engaged in the coal business at Greenfield, remaining there so occupied until 1891, when he came to Colorado and located on a fruit ranch which he bought half a mile north of Fruita. He made valuable improvements and developed thirteen acres to great productiveness in fruit of fine varieties and superior quality. Four years later he sold this and purchased of C.C. Post a grocery stock and consolidated the two stores. After three years of successful operation on the consolidation, in which he did a business of thirty thousand dollars a year, he sold out to the Fruita Mercantile Company. Soon afterward he was appointed postmaster at Fruita, receiving his commission in 1900, and he has since filled this office with credit to himself and satisfaction to its patrons and the community in general. He has taken an earnest interest in the business and public life of the town and county, and been of substantial service in promoting all the best interests of both. Among other enterprises to which he has given helpful attention is the Fruita Realty Company, of which he was one of the founders and which he now serves as vice-president, he being one of the leading stockholders. This company owns the townsite and has been energetic and enterprising in building up the town. He also owns other real estate in the town and is the town treasurer. He was married in 1874 to Miss Myra Bushey, a native of Pennsylvania, who accompanied her parents to Missouri when she was young. She became the mother of four children, all living, Anna, wife of George Amsbary; Walter; and Bessie and George, twins. Mrs. Bruner died in 1900. In politics Mr. Bruner is a Republican, and in church membership a Methodist Episcopalian. He is a member of the church board of trustees.
Source: Bowen, A. W. Progressive Men of Western Colorado. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co., Publishers. 1905.