Alwin Carus was born in 1901 in LaSalle, Illinois, to Paul and Mary Carus. He was the youngest of six children in a large German family. Educated at home until high school, Carus attended the University of Chicago, studied chemistry and worked for metal and chemical companies during his professional career. Coming from an educated family, Carus learned German, math, and music at an early age. During his early years, he grew fond of astronomy, farming, the railroad, and the natural world. His early interests would lead him to work with the La Salle County Railroad Bureau, buy and develop his own farms, and play witness to over a dozen solar eclipses around the world. Alwin Carus died in 2004.
From the description of Alwin C. Carus Papers, 1900-2004. (Southern Illinois University). WorldCat record id: 173189952
