KRAMER, MATT

KRAMER, SPURCK, KRAPP, SCHILTZ, MARFIELD, RAHE

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 1/30/2004 at 12:50:27

Biorgraphy reproduced from page 183 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

Matt Kramer engages in general farming and stock-raising on four hundred and eighty acres of fertile land located on section 34 of Greenwood township, three miles southwest of Bancroft. He was born in Germany on the 19th of April, 1845, but has been a resident of the United States for twenty-eight years.

Mr. Kramer was reared and educated in his native land and there passed the early years of his domestic life, emigrating to the United States in April, 1884. He has always engaged in farming and upon his arrival in this country he settled in Floyd county, this state, where he continued his agricultural pursuits until November, 1891. On the 20th of that month he purchased one-half of section 34, Greenwood township, which at that time was uncultivated prairie land. He erected thereon such buildings as were necessary for the comfort of himself and family and the protection of his stock and began breaking his soil and placing it under cultivation. He is most energetic in anything he undertakes, but systematically applies himself to the accomplishment of a definite purpose and thus makes rapid progress in his achievements. His land is well tiled and substantially fenced and during the intervening years he has erected ample barns and outbuildings for the shelter of his stock and grain and has built a comfortable residence on his place. His fields are largely devoted to the raising of cereals, and as they are well tilled and capably cared for annually yield abundant harvests of excellent quality. He has prospered in his farming and stock-raising and has extended his holdings until he now owns four hundred and eighty acres of land, the greater portion of it under high cultivation.

Mr. Kramer was married in Germany to Miss Katherine Spurck, a daughter of John Spurck, who passed his entire life in the fatherland. Mr. and Mrs. Kramer have seven children, all born in Germany. In order of birth they are as follows: Gertrude, the wife of John Krapp, who is mentioned at greater length elsewhere in this work; Anna, who married N. B. Schiltz, of Ramsey township, by whom she has had seven children; Katherine, the wife of John Marfield and the mother of eight children; Mary, who married Joseph Rahe, of Ramsey township; Lizzie, the wife of Peter M. Schiltz, also a resident of Ramsey township; and Peter and Matt, both of whom are at home. Mr. and Mrs. Kramer also have one adopted child.

The family are communicants of the Roman Catholic church, and Mr. Kramer is a democrat, but he sometimes casts an independent ballot at local elections. In addition to his fine farm he is one of the stockholders of the Bancroft creamery and his two younger sons are interested in the Farmers Elevator Company at Bancroft. He is known as one of the enterprising and progressive citizens of his community, toward the development of which he has substantially contributed.