On 26 July 1813, Isaac Bauman, a Jewish pioneer and trader in Bloemfontein, was born in Kassel Hesse, Germany. Baumann later immigrated to South Africa in 1837 to join his friend Mosenthal in Graaf Reinet.

After returning to Germany to marry his wife, Caroline Allenburg, Baumann returned to South Africa. He decided to settle in Bloemfontein in 1848, and bought the land between Church and Charles Streets, Westburger and Maitland Streets after the town was first divided.

Baumann then became a shopkeeper, and established Baumann Bros together with his brothers. Baumann was one of the first Jewish people to settle in the Orange River Colony, and would be the mayor of the town twice, and the director of the national bank.

His son, Gustav Baumann, would go on to become a surveyor and official in Bloemfontein, who was private secretary to President Brand (1877) and was the first person to properly survey farms in the Free State.

References:

1. Isroff, S. (ed) (2003) South African Jewish Communities: Bloemfontein [online] Available at: www.jewishgen.org [Accessed 21 July 2010]
2. Jacobs, J. (2002) South Africa: Orange River Colony from Jewish Encyclopedia [online] Available at: www.jewishencyclopedia.com
3. Potgieter, D.J et al. (eds) (1970) Standard Encyclopaedia of South Africa, NASOU Limited: Cape Town. Vol.2, pg. 214.
4. Wallis, F. (2000) Nuusdagboek: feite en fratse oor 1000 jaar, Kaapstad: Human & Rousseau