John Garibaldi (1831 - October 28, 1921) was born in Genoa, Italy. He came to the United States, arriving in New York in 1858. He moved to Charlotte a few weeks later. He was the father of Joseph Garibaldi, founder of Garibaldi and Bruns Jewelry Store in Charlotte. He served in the Civil War, enlisting first under Captain White in Fort Mill, and later Unter Captain John Wilkes, for whom he was later employed.Garibaldi amassed extensive land holdings in Charlotte. He farmed and had a cotton gin and a corn mill on South Mint Street, in what is now downtown Charlotte. In addition to being a leading businessman, John Garibaldi was a civic leader. He served on the City Board of Aldermen. The Garibaldi family remained a prominent part of Charlotte's business community. John Garibaldi's son, Joseph, was the entered and was later a partner in the jewelry firm that is now Garibaldi and Bruns.