Krampe, Frederick, Sr.

KRAMPE, SANDERMAN

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 8/13/2009 at 07:14:38

Frederick Krampe, Sr. within the limits of Jasper County, or indeed of the entire state, no better representative of honest and industrious manhood can be found than the gentleman with whose name we introduce this sketch, and whose history for many years has been intimately associated with that of Malaka Township. Beginning in life without means or influential friends, beset on every side by obstacles, hampered by poverty and burdened with the cares and hardships incidental to life on the frontier, he has nevertheless, worked his way to the front rank among the agriculturists of Jasper County and through his unaided exertions has accumulated three hundred and eighty acres of valuable land.

Reference is made to the history of the Krampe family in the sketches of Kord H. and Henry Krampe, presented elsewhere in this volume. Our subject was born in Germany, July 24,1834, and in his early life followed the occupation of a shepherd, having about eleven thousand sheep under his care. It was his custom to remain out at night, keeping watch over the sheep with the aid of his faithful dog, and to return home at three o'clock in the morning. For seven years he was a student in the common schools, where he learned to read in the Bible, and to the knowledge there acquired he has since added by system all general reading.

At the age of seventeen years, Mr. Krampe took passage on a sailing vessel and after a tedious voyage of thirty-three days arrived in America. Proceeding directly to Wisconsin he purchased a tract of land there, but did not at once commence it improvement. For three years he worked out upon farms in the employ of others, and during that early period of his life in Wisconsin he endured all the hardships incidental to life upon the frontier, at a time when Indians and wild animals were a still numerous.

When twenty-six years old, Mr. Krampe was united in marriage with Miss Louisa Sanderman, who was born in Prussia, Germany, and came to America in girlhood, residing in Wisconsin until her marriage. In 1866 Mr. Krampe came to Iowa and with the money which he had economically saved during all the years of his hard work, he invested in property in Jasper County. His original purchase comprised eighty acres, to which he has since added, until be is now the owner of three hundred and eighty acres. Three weeks after arriving here, one of his brothers died, and he had other discouragements to contend with during the early period of his residence in the county.

The union of Mr. and Mrs. Krampe has resulted in the birth of four children: Frederick, who resides near the home farm; Gustav, Matilda and Eddie, who are with their parents. The religious home of the family is in the German Reformed Church, in which they are active members. Mr. Krampe takes a keen interest in the progress material development of the county, and in his political belief gives his support to the Republican Party. Portrait and Biographical Record, Jasper, Marshall and Grundy Counties, IA Page 243.