The Cramer Families of Ray County, Missouri

A native of Germany, was born near the village of Geharde, in Hanover, May 16, 1817. His father was a farmer of that province and with him our subject lived, working on the farm, until he was about eighteen years of age. A short time previous his brother had gone to America, and wrote back such glowing accounts of the new world beyond the great waters, that young Daniel determined to go and try his fortune there, and at the same time escape military service in his native country.

He sailed from Bremen in the month of April, 1835, and the following June landed on the American shore at Baltimore, where he worked in a cotton factory for two years. He then went to Pennsylvania and was employed on a boat plying the Schuylkill river, until the year 1844. In the spring of that year he came to Ray county, Missouri, and entering one hundred and sixty acres, two miles northwest of Millville, established his home there and has never removed from it, but has bought and improved more land, from time to time, until now he has a large farm of four hundred acres of very fertile land. Mr. Cramer was married in Pennsylvania, on the 19th day of December, 1841, to Miss Louisa Litzenger. They became the parents of five children, three girls and two boys. All are married except Frank, the youngest, now business partner of J. P. Grimes, at Millville. The youngest daughter, who was the wife of Mr. Owen, is dead, and her three boys live with their grandfather, Mr. Cramer. Our subject took no part in the war of the rebellion, and was bitterly opposed to it. He has always been a good, loyal citizen of his adopted country. In 1864 Mr. Cramer was appointed justice of the peace by the county court, and served till 1866, when he was elected to that office, and discharged its duties until 1868, when he resigned to qualify for the office of judge of the county court, to which he had been elected by his fellow citizens. Mr. Cramer was reared in the faith of the Lutheran Church, but as there has been no organization of that denomination in his locality, has never connected himself with the church here. Mrs. Cramer is a worthy member of the M. E. Church at Millville. Mr. Cramer is a prosperous farmer, a good neighbor, and an honorable and a valuable citizen of his adopted county.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

J. F. CRAMER.

Is a native of Ray county, Missouri. He was born on the 4th day of March, 1856. He worked on his father's farm in summer, and attended school in the winter, until he had completed the course usually taught in the common schools. He then entered Central College at Fayette, Missouri, and remained a student in that excellent institution for two years. After returning home from college, he began merchandising, in 1878, with his brother-in-law, Mr. John P. Grimes, under the firm name of Grimes & Cramer, at Millville, Ray county, Missouri. In this business, Mr. Cramer is, at present engaged. He was enumerator, in his locality, of the tenth United States census. He is a gentleman of steady business habits, and a member of the Good Templar lodge at Millville. Grimes & Cramer are very popular, and they are doing a lively and prosperous business.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JOHN H. CRAMER.

This gentleman was born near the town of Geharde, in the province of Hanover, Germany, on the 15th day of May, 1810. He was educated at the schools of Geharde. His father was a farmer, and in the choice of a calling, the son followed his example. In 1834 our subject immigrated to the United States, landing at the port of Baltimore, in the month of May. In this city he remained eleven years, employed in a commission house. Here he was married the same year of his arrival, to Miss Ann A. Strodtmann. Of this union one son was born, John Henry, now a practicing physician of Mandeville, in Carroll count) Missouri. Mr. Cramer came to Ray county in June, 1845, first landing at the town of Camden. Ten days after his arrival he bought the same farm upon which he now lives, except that he has since enlarged it by additional purchases. It numbers now five hundred and forty acres, with good, comfortable, and room house, large, substantial barn, and other necessary out-buildings, and a fine orchard. Mrs. Cramer died June 18, 1858, and Mr. Cramer was subsequently married to Miss Ruth E. Crithtield. Six children were the result of this union, but three of whom are now living with their father, the others having died. In religion, Mr. Cramer is a Lutheran, but as there has been no church convenient, he has never connected himself with his brethren in this county. Mrs. Cramer is a member of the M. E. Church South, at Knoxville. All his children are educated in English, and his eldest son, Doctor Cramer, in both German and English. Mr. Cramer is a successful farmer, a kind-hearted neighbor, and a good citizen of the county of Ray.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.