HENRY C. KRAMER,
was during many years one of the most prominent agriculturists of
Benton county, a progressive and honored citizen and a self-made man.
He was born in Jacobstown, Germany, February 14, 1861, and died in
Benton county, Iowa, February 15, 1909, and the community then mourned
the loss of a true and honored citizen. Gotfried and Marie Kramer, his
parents, came to the United States in 1890 and located near Norway in
Benton county, Iowa, spending the remainder of their lives there. The
father was a shepherd and butcher in his native land, but followed
farming after coming to Benton county. There were six children in their
family, and the five now living are: Will and Bmil, both in Chicago,
Illinois; Herman and Albert, in South Dakota; and Paul, also of South
Dakota.
After receiving a common school training in his native land of Germany,
Henry C. Kramer came to the United States alone in 1883, and locating
at Norway he worked as a farm hand there until 1888. He married in that
year and rented a farm of two hundred and forty acres in section 36,
Union township, and eight years afterward bought the farm. He improved
his place, built a modern home, and was for years one of the largest
stock feeders in this section of the county, owning at his death nine
car loads of steers and four car loads of hogs. He was a representative
citizen and a splendid business man. On the 2nd of April, 1888, he was
married to Emma Kaeberle, born in Iowa county, Iowa, June 18, 1867, a
daughter of John and Martha (Schook) Kaeberle, who were born in
Germany. The father, born in Wurtemberg, died in May of 1899, when
seventy-one years of age, and the mother died in 1906, also when
seventy-one years of age. Four of their five children are now living.
Otto, of Newhall, Iowa; Lewis, whose home is near Meckling, South
Dakota; William, of Minnesota; and Emma, who became Mrs. Kramer. Mr.
and Mrs. Kaeberle came to the United States in the early years of the
'60s, and spending three years in Iowa county, Iowa, they came to
Fremont township, Benton county, and after the death of Mr. Kaeberle
his widow lived with her daughter, Mrs. Kramer. Mr. Kramer was a member
of Camp No. 292, Knights of Pythias, at Blairstown, and he was also a
member of the Van Home German Lutheran church.
Mr. and Mrs. Kramer were the parents of six children, five of whom are
living: Martha, wife of Arden Schulze, and they have recently purchased
a farm in Fremont township, where they intend moving; Ralph, who
conducts the home farm; Elmer, Elsie and Lillian who are also at home;
and Roy who died when about four months old.
Picture of Henry C. Kramer
