Jacob C. Krieger

As printed in 1906

JACOB C. KRIEGER was born on the farm where he now lives in Bainbridge township August 4, 1858, a fact which indicates that in the early period of progress and development here his parents had become residents of Berrien county. He is a son of Christian and Caroline (Shearer) Krieger. Christian Krieger arrived in this county a year or two before his wife came and they were married here. She had a brother, Christian Shearer, living in Bainbridge township and with whom she resided until she gave her hand in marriage to Mr. Krieger. They began their domestic, life in a log cabin and later he erected a more commodious residence to replace this pioneer home, which, however, is still standing. He had forty-nine acres of land in the home place and forty acres a half mile south, together with forty acres on Territorial road about two miles south. Mr. Krieger secured about thirty acres of the home place and set out apple and each trees. His death, however, occurred when he was but forty-four years of age, so that he did not live to see his orchards come into bearing. He left a widow with seven sons, the eldest being but fourteen years of age. She remained upon the old homestead and to the best of her ability cared for her children. One of the sons, Ferdinand, died at the age of eighteen years, and the mother passed away when about fifty years of age. The sons of the family were John, now living in St. Joseph, where he is engaged in the real estate business; Peter, who died at the age of twenty-one years; Jacob; Charlie, a barber of Chicago, who died in Bainbridge township at the age of thirty-five; Albert, living in Bainbridge township; William, of Benton Harbor; and Ferdinand, Avho, as stated, died at the age of eighteen.

Jacob C. Krieger remained at home until his mother's death, which occurred when he was about twenty years of age. He afterward worked in Benton Harbor at packing apples, etc., and worked the home place two years before marrying. At the age of twenty-three he wedded Miss Sarah Lindseymeier, also of Bainbridge township, then a young lady of eighteen years, since which time he has devoted his a-attention to the cultivation and improvement of the old homestead which he purchased. It is a fruit farm with thirty-five acres utilized for horticultural interests. He has fifteen acres of peaches, also many pear and apple trees and much small fruit and his sale of fruit for the year 1905 brought him two thousand dollars. He is enlarging his business in this direction, annually setting out more trees and he has recently erected a new residence. He has also rebuilt the barn, which is thirty-six by fifty-four feet and upon the place is a well and windmill with water piped to the barn. In fact all of the modern accessories found

800 upon a fruit farm are here seen and his place is altogether a model property.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Krieger have been born six children: Wallace, Ida, Maud, Carrie, Esther and Earl, all at home. Mrs. Krieger is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, while Mr. Krieger's membership relations are with the Woodmen of the World. She is identified with the Maccabees and the Grange. In his political views Mr. Krieger is a Democrat but while he keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day he is not an aspirant for office and on the contrary prefers to give his undivided attention to his business affairs which are now bringing him well merited success.

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.