Kruse, John H.

KRUSE, REEMPS

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, Plym. CC (email)
Date: 3/19/2005 at 11:50:14

John H. Kruse

Among the many well-known farmers and successful stockmen of Washington township, is John H. Kruse, who was born in Grundy county, Iowa, on August 2, 1871, being the son of Hiram and Anna Kruse. Hiram and Anna Kruse were natives of Germany and the state of Iowa, respectively, and received their education in the local schools. Hiram Kruse grew to manhood in the land of his nativity and, as a young man, came to the United States and located in Grundy county, where he worked as a farm hand for some years. It was here that he was married and established his home on a rented farm, where he engaged in general farming until 1885, when he came to Plymouth county. Here he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Grant township, which he developed and improved and later increased to three hundred and twenty acres. This farm he made his home until the time of his death, in 1894, and here the widow still lives. Mr. Kruse was a man of exceptional ability and a good manager and a hard worker. Coming to this country a poor boy, he by his hard work and close application to business, established himself as one of the successful and substantial men of Plymouth county. He made many friends and at the time of his death he was held in the highest regard and esteem by all who knew him. He and his wife were the parents of the following children: D. H., John H., Hiram H., Hilka, Anna, Zena and Clara.

John H. Kruse received his education in the public schools of Grundy county and there grew to manhood and, as a lad, assisted his father on the home farm. He later engaged in farming on the home place until he was twenty-three years of age, when he rented land for ten years, at which time he purchased his present farm in Washington township. The tract at the time he made the purchase was for the most part undeveloped and unimproved, but he now has one hundred and sixty acres of most excellent land, all under a high state of cultivation and well improved. He cultivates about sixty-five acres of corn each year, and the rest of his place he devotes to small grain, hay and pasture. He keeps some sixty head of Chester White hogs and some fine cattle.

John H. Kruse was married in 1895 to Johann Reemps, the daughter of Fred Reemps and wife, and to this union seven children have been born, five of whom are now living as follow: Anna, Flora, Tena, Hannah and Ida, all of whom are at home.

Mr. and Mrs. Kruse are active members of the German Lutheran church of Preston township and are prominent in the social life of the community, where they live. Politically, Mr. Kruse is an independent, yet he takes much interest in the local affairs of his township and uses his best efforts to securing good local government.

BOOK SOURCE:
History of Plymouth County, Iowa
Indianapolis, Ind.: B. F. Bowen, 1917