Kramer, Anton 1843-1918

KRAMER, GEHRLEIN, BRADLEY, CAIN

Posted By: Judy Bender Moyna (email)
Date: 1/27/2004 at 05:14:03

Clayton County Register/Journal, 20 Apr 1918:

ELKADER MOURNS TWO GOOD MEN,
The Passing of Anton Kramer and P. J. Cain

DIED SATURDAY AND SUNDAY,
Mr. Kramer Died in Chicago on Saturday and Mr. Cain at Home Sunday Morning

Within a few hours of each other, two of the most respected and well known citizens of Elkader
passed away. They were Anton Kramer and P. J. Cain. While both men were well along in years, it
was the hope and expectation of all that they would be spared to the community for many years.

Mr. Kramer, who had been in rather poor health for some time, was in Chicago at the Illinois Central hospital at the time of his death, which took place on Saturday morning at a little after nine o’clock.

The news of Mr. Cain’s death came as a complete surprise and shock to the people of Elkader, for
he had been in his usual health on Saturday and had gone home about nine o’clock that evening. The
people on Sunday morning heard of his death without any previous intimation that he was not as well as usual.

Anton Kramer
The subject of this sketch was born in Vienna, (actually Nova Bystrice, Austria about 80 miles NW
of Vienna, sometimes spelled Neübistritz) Austria Aug. 26, 1843, and died at a hospital in Chicago,
April 20 1918, age 74 years, 7 months and 24 days.

Mr. Kramer came to America in 1867 or when he was twenty-four years of age. He made his way
to Clayton county soon after his arrival, going to work first on the farm of his uncle, Joe Kramer.

Young Anton had learned the butcher business in his native city, and he soon found that farming was too heavy in those days of pioneering, so he applied for a job in a butcher shop in Elkader, but was refused. Nothing daunted, he walked to McGregor and asked Tom Williams to take him into his shop, making no stipulations as to wages or other details, only saying that he wanted an opportunity to go to work and prove his ability. He had no money, only a limited knowledge of the English language and no experience with American ways. Yet he did so well in the McGregor shop that the next year he was enabled to come to Elkader and start a shop of his own, located just where the Kramer shop is now.

His early training in the Austrian city, where stern necessity made it imperative that he do his work well and learn it to the fullest extent stood him in good stead here, when he entered into the business life of his chosen town. He prospered and built up a name for himself as an upright, liberal and progressive business man, who was a credit to his community.

A few years later he sent for his brother John and took him into business with him, this partnership lasting some years.

Just as soon as the laws of the United States permitted, Mr. Kramer became a citizen of this country, always giving the most unreserved allegiance to his adopted country. And he showed by his whole life in this community, where he was known by practically everybody, that he was a good citizen and a true and loyal American. He made one trip to France and Austria some years ago, but returned better satisfied with America than ever before.

The marriage of Mr. Kramer to Caroline Gehrlein was consummated in October, 1872, and they
began housekeeping in the house on the site of the one now occupied by Henry Gmelin. Seven
children were born to this union, five sons and two daughters.

The youngest child, Florence, died in infancy. The others, all living, are: A. F., Garnavillo; L. J., Elkader; Mrs. Kathryn Bradley, Manchester; Henry, Buhl, Idaho; Arthur Leo, Hugo, Colo., and Raymond C., Chicago.

The two sons in Idaho and Colorado were not present at the funeral, because of the distance and their inability to reach here in time for the funeral.

Mr. Kramer was in active business in Elkader from 1869 to 1900—more than forty years. In that
time he also engaged in the buying and livestock. In 1900 he sold the establishment to his two sons,
A. F. and L. J., who conducted it together for a period, and later the former retired from the active participation in it, leaving the establishment to L. J., who is continuing the business at the same stand and under the same name, ”Kramer’s Market.”

For twenty-five years, Mr. Kramer had been a director of the First National Bank of Elkader, and was one of the prime movers toward the rebuilding of the edifice that houses that institution, now one of the handsomest and most convenient buildings of its kind in Northeastern Iowa.

He was a member of the Elkader Congregational church, a member of Elkader Lodge, No. 72, A. F. & A. M., also a member of the Chapter and Commandery and the Shriners.

The wife and partner in his early life passed away Feb. 5, 1902.

Two years ago, in the summer of 1916, Mr. Kramer had the pleasure of a family reunion of his
children at his home here, which was a source of great gratification to him.

In spite of the fact that Mr. Kramer was supposed to be numbered among the men of an earlier
generation, he was, while a young man, and all of his life since, been identified with every progressive movement for the betterment of his town. He was liberal with the world’s goods that came to him holding that money was for the use of man rather than man a servant of money. He numbered as friends everybody with whom he came in contact, and was looked upon as one of the most valuable members of the community. His passing will be mourned by far more than his immediate relatives, who understand that they have lost more than a father. Their sorrow is shared by all.

The remains were brought here from Chicago on Monday and lay in the home until the funeral which
was held at the Congregational church Tuesday afternoon, Rev. Isaac Cassel preaching the sermon.
Interment was in the East Side cemetery. The pall bearers were: J. F. Becker, William Becker, E.
Bergemeyer, H. C. Pahlas, F. C. Leibrock, and W. J. Jeffers. The Masonic lodge took charge of the
remains.

The cause of his death was cancer. He had been in failing health for more than a year, and this was
his second trip to Chicago to seek relief.