Bratush, James D., 1893-1982

Dmytro Bratush was born to Vasyl and Kateryna Duda on August 26, 1893 in the town Koniushky, Rohatyn county, Galicia. He left Ukraine in 1910 for the United States. Bratush settled in Rochester, New York, where he met and married Maryna Burak in February, 1916. He became a United States citizen in 1926. Bratush worked alternately as a woodworker, farmer, real estate broker, and machinist. Bratush also actively participated in both American and Ukrainian political and social life. He served as both ward and county committeeman of Rochester's Seventeenth Ward for 27 years; was a leader in the Ukrainian Democratic Club and a supporter of the Democratic Party. He was involved in various Ukrainian educational, political and cultural societies, such as the Federation of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Reading Club, Defense of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Central Relief Committee, and the Enlightening Circle. He was a member of the Ukrainian National Association; the Fraternal Order of Jersey City, New Jersey; Branch 316 of the Ukrainian National Association in Rochester, New York; the Ukrainian Workingmens' Association, Fraternal Order of Scranton, Pennsylvania; the Drahomaniv Society; Branch 244 of the Ukrainian Workingmens' Association of Rochester, New York; the Ukrainian Civic Center; the Ukrainian Civic Center Pioneer Club; the Rochester Civic Music Association and the Rochester Museum Association. Bratush helped found the Ukrainian Civic Center in Rochester and served as its president from 1934-1940. He wrote A Historical Documentary of the Ukrainian Community of Rochester, New York (Rochester: Christopher Press, 1973), and contributed articles to Ukrainian periodicals.