KRAMER, John Andrew - 1890 Bio (1820-1892)

KRAMER, NOTZ, SCHNOUDER, SAGE, NATION

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 2/13/2006 at 18:03:38

"Portrait & Biographical Album", Jefferson & Van Buren Counties, Pub. Chicago, 1890
Pages 489-490

JOHN ANDREW KRAMER, highly respected citizen and leading farmer of Locust Grove Township, Jefferson County, was born near Stuttgart, Germany, in 1820, and was the oldest son in the family of Jacob and Johanna (NOTZ) KRAMER. The days of his boyhood and youth were spent at home, and in accordance with the laws of his native land he was for nearly six years in the army. Wishing to better his condition and believing the opportunities afforded by the old world were inferior to the privileges of the new and more rapidly growing Western Hemisphere, he resolved to try his fortune in America and suiting the action to the word he crossed the Atlantic in 1846. He made his first location in Pennsylvania but resided in various places until 1848, at which time he entered one hundred and sixty acres of land in Jefferson County, Iowa, on a land warrant received for services in the Mexican War. Hardly had he reached this country before he entered its service, in November 1846, for the war against Mexico, and was assigned to Company E, of the First Pennsylvania Regiment. He continued with his command until the following March, when at the siege of Vera Cruz, he was wounded by a shell on the inside of his right knee which caused paralysis of the entire right side, resulting in total deafness and blindness of the right ear and eye. On account of the injuries sustained he was discharged on the 16th of May, 1847. His service in the German Army had fitted him for the struggle here and he did effective work until disabled as above mentioned.

After being mustered out, Mr. KRAMER returned to Pittsburg, Pa.; and the years between 1849 and 1856 he spent in the Keystone State and Iowa. In the latter year he made a permanent location in Jefferson County, where he has since carried on farming and stock raising. He was married in Pittsburg to Miss Margaret SCHNOUDER, a native of Germany, and their union, which was celebrated in 1849, has been blessed with a family of three children, one son and two daughters -- Andrew who makes his home in Madison County, Iowa; Catherine who is living in Jefferson County and Matilda who is still at home. Mr. KRAMER lost his first wife in 1860, and the following year he was again married, his second union being with Miss Mary J. SAGE, daughter of Harrison P. and Elizabeth (NATION) SAGE. Her parents were natives of Kentucky and she was born in Knox County Ill. By this union there are eleven children and with one exception all are living, namely: Elizabeth, William and Henry, twins, Margaret, Israel, Jennie, Sadie, Rosie, Mohr and Perry. Jacob, who was the second child of the family, is now deceased but the others are yet living.

During the late war it was Mr. KRAMER's desire to enter the service and he enrolled his name among the boys in blue of Company H, Thirtieth Iowa Infantry, commanded by Captain Drehr, but on account of the injuries received in the Mexican War he was not accepted. He is an active Democrat in politics and a warm advocate of the party principles. Socially he is a member of the Odd Fellows society. For thirty-four years he has made his home in this community and by his upright life has gained many warm friends who value him for his worth and appreciate his faithful discharge of the duties of citizenship.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s).