Frederick Krieger

As printed in 1906

FREDERICK KRIEGER was born June 20, 1864, in the house which is still his home and has passed nearly all his life under its sheltering roof. His parents, Peter and Dorothy (Shank) Krieger, were married m Germany, January i, 1848. The former was born June 21, 1816, and the latter April 26, 1826, in the same locality in Prussia. Her death occurred in November, 1869, and on the 25th of November, 1870, Peter Krieger was married to Mrs. Fredericka Carl, a widow, who bore the maiden name of Wackrow. His death occurred August 23, 1891, and his second wife survived until January 15, 1906. She had left the old homestead nine years before and her last days were spent in Millburg. It was in the year 185 1 that Peter Krieger came to the United States and settled in Berrien county, Michigan, where three years previous John, Adam and Jacob Krieger had already located. All were born in Bainbridge township and of these Adam is the only survivor. Fie is still living in Bainbridge township. Charles Krieger came at the same time as his brother Peter and for some time conducted Hotel St. Charles in St. Joseph but is now living in Chicago. Christian Krieger, another brother, also lived in Bainbridge township, and his son Jacob is still residing upon his old homestead there. Peter Krieger took up his above upon the farm where his son Frederick now resides, and when it came into his possession it was still a tract of timber land, but in the midst of the forest he hewed out the fields, cut the timber, built a house, making his home there throughout his remaining days. He owned three different farms, one in Benton township and one in Bainbridge Center in addition to the old homestead. He and his first wife were among the charter members of the German Lutheran Church near Bainbridge, and of the original membership Mr. Swartz and Adam Krieger are the only ones now living. In Peter Krieger's family were the following named: Christian, who died at the age of fifty-one years; Karl, who died at the age of twenty-four; Adam, on the old homestead; John; Peter; Henrietta, who was burned to death when only a year old; Dorothea; and Frederick.

Christian and Adam Krieger never married and remained in charge of the old homestead, devoting their lives to general farming. John Krieger was married at the age of twenty-five and lived in Bainbridge Center until about two years ago, when he removed to a farm near Watervliet. Peter is now engaged in farming in Benton township, while Dorothea is the wife of Daniel J. Smith, a resident farmer of Watervliet township.

Frederick Krieger, whose name introduces this record, has spent nearly his entire life upon the old homestead farm which belonged to his father. At nineteen years of age he began working out as a farm hand and was thus employed for three years, after which he went to Chicago, where he spent one year. Subsequently he was engaged in the liquor business in Benton Harbor for eight years and seven years ago he returned to the old homestead, where he has since devoted his attention to the manage-.ment and conduct of the farm, which comprises seventy-four acres, of which about thirty acres is in fruit, over half of this amount being in peaches. He also raises small fruit, making a specialty of strawberries and likewise cultivates years, apples, grapes, etc. His sales of fruit for 1905 amounted to about two thousand dollars and he has extended his fruit industry, which is already a very profitable source of income. His business is prospering and he is now purchasing the interest of the other heirs in the home property.

On the 20th of December, 1893, Mr. Krieger was married to Miss Mary Koob, a daughter of Jacob and Magdalena (Strawley) Koob, of Watervliet township. She was born on the farm near Coloma and was married at the age of twenty years. This union has been blessed with three children, Louis, Mildred and Ray Delbert. In politics Mr. Krieger is a Democrat and has frequently been a delegate to party conventions.

As printed in A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan (1906). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.