The Crome Family

Fred Crome in History of Marshall County, Kansas (1917

The full biographical sketch as printed in 1917, transcribed from the public-domain book. Spelling and wording are the original author’s; a few scanning errors may remain.

FRED CROME.

Fred Crome, the well-known manager of the elevator at Bremen, Kan- sas, was born on the home farm in Logan township, on January 28, 1878, the son of Conrad and Alary ( Sluter) Crome, natives of Germany, where the father was born in 1828 and the mother in 1838.

Conrad and Alary Crome were educated in the schools of Germany and there grew up and were married. Air. Crome spent five years of his young life in Australia, where he worked in a gold mine. The rest of his life, until 1 87 1, he lived in his native land where he was engaged in farming. In 1 87 1 he decided to come to the irnited States, where he might better make a home for those dependent upon him. On his arrival in this country he located for a time in Indiana, where he worked in a smelter, making rail- road rails. The following year he came to Kansas and purchased one hun- dred and sixty acres of land in Logan township, Marshall county. This land he developed and improved and engaged in general farming and stock rais-

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ing until the time of his death in 1904. He and his wife always look an active part in the services of the German Lutheran church, of which they u'ere members and of which Mr. Crome was a trustee for many years. He was identified with the Republican party and was prominent in the civic and political life of tlie townshi]x l^'"or a number of years he served as road boss and was a member of the local school board.

Conrad and Mary Crome were the parents of thirteen children, of whom eight are living, as follow: , Conrad F., Herman, Fred, Hermine. William, Anna, John and Emma. Conrad is a farmer in Alarshall county ; Herman is engaged in general farming in Washington county ; Hermine Pralle is the wife of a well-known farmer of Logan township: William is farming the home place: Anna Duever resides on a farm in Washington county, where her husband is a successful farmer: John is a rural mail carrier out of Bremen and Emma Lauderbach is living in Logan township, where AL". Lauderbach is a successful farmer and stockman. Mr. and Mrs. Crome were ever prominent in their home community, took much interest in the social and moral development oi the district and were held in the highest esteem and regard by all who knew them.

Fred Crome received his education in the local schools and was reared en tlie home farm, where as a lad he assisted his father with the farm work. At the age of sixteen years he was employed as a farm hand and worked bv the month for nine years. He then rented a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in section 31, Logan township, and after three years he purchased the place. He made many extensive improvements and placed the farm under a high state of cultivation. After nine years he traded it for the elevator at Bremen and a residence property in that place. In connection with his farm work, Mr. Crome operated a threshing machine from 1901 to 1906.

The elevator which Mr. Crome now owns, was established about 1894 by W. H. Koeneke, who enlarged and improved the property in 1901. Since assuming possession of the elevator,' Mr. Crome has made many \-aluabie improvements and is now doing about thirty thousand dollars in business each year. He is most progressive and believes in keeping his elevator up to a high standard of excellence. He has the confidence of the public and his business shows an increase from year to year.

In 1908 Fred Crome was united in marriage to Kate \A'assermann. who was born in Herkimer township, Marshall county, in 1887, the daughter of Chris and Katie (Germerroth) Wassermann, natives of Germany and now prominent residents of Herkimer township. Mrs. Crome died at the birth of her child, Katie, who was born on October 2'/, 1909. In 191 2 Mr. Crome

was united in marriage to Lizzie Wassermann, a sister of his first wife, who was born in Marshall county in 1889 and received her education in the schools of her home township. To this union three children have been l)()rn as f(jl- low : Fred, whose birth occurred on January 29, 1913 ; Munford, on Novem- ber 19, 1914. died cm January 22, 191 7, and Edgar, on April 9. 1916. Mr. and Mrs. Cronie are members of the German Lutheran church and are prom- inent in the social life of the town.

Source: History of Marshall County, Kansas (1917. See the original pages at the Internet Archive.