KRAPP, JOHN

KRAPP, MILLER, KRAMER, SPURCK

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 1/29/2004 at 13:14:40

Biography reproduced from page 262 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

A highly cultivated and well improved farm of five hundred and twenty acres, located in section 34, Greenwood township, is a tribute to the thrift and diligence of John Krapp, who engages in general farming and stock-raising. His birth occurred in Germany and there he passed the early years of his childhood, emigrating to the United States with his parents, John and Barbara (Miller) Krapp in 1878. Soon after their arrival in this country they located on a farm in Floyd county, Iowa, where the father still resides, but the mother passed away in 1895. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Krapp numbered 12, the four eldest of whom were born in Germany. The father is a member of the Roman Catholic church, of which the mother was also a communicant.

The education of John Krapp was begun in his native country and completed in Floyd county, Iowa. He has always engaged in farming, having laid the foundation for this vocation by assisting his father with the work of the fields and care of the stock from his early childhood. As he has always directed his undertakings with much foresight and intelligence he has prospered and is now recognized as one of the most efficient and substantial agriculturists of his community. After his marriage he engaged in farming in Floyd county for two years, and then came to Kossuth and purchased the farm where he now lives. Many changes have been wrought in this property since he took possession. His land is thoroughly tiled and substantially fenced, he has erected large, commodious barns and outbuildings and has a comfortable residence on his place. Through scientific and careful rotation of crops, his soil has been brought up to a high standard of cultivation and his farm is equipped with all implements and machinery deemed essential to the modern agriculturist. He raises a high grade of stock and is meeting with lucrative returns from this line of this work. In addition to his fine homestead, Mr. Krapp is one of the stockholders in the Farmers Elevator at Bancroft.

For his wife and helpmate, Mr. Krapp chose Miss Gertrude Kramer, a daughter of Matt and Katherine (Spurck) Kramer, to whom he was married in Floyd county. They are the parents of five children, all of whom were born in this county with the exception of the eldest, a native of Floyd county. In order of birth they are J. P., Gertrude, Barbara, Martin and Leo.

The family are members of the Roman Catholic church. Mr. Krapp votes the republican ticket and is public-spirited in matters of citizenship and takes an active and helpful interest in local governmental affairs. He has been chairman of the board of trustees of Greenwood township for ten years and has also served as school director and treasurer. On the 20th of May, 1911, he returned to the scenes of his early childhood in Germany, extending his trip through Austria and France, arriving home on the 11th of July, 1911. He is most loyal to the land of his adoption, and while he has great admiration for Germany and many of its institutions has no desire to return there permanently.