Biographies from Historical and Biographical Annals by Morton Montgomery

KRAEMER,
ADOLPH

p. 530

Surnames: KRAEMER, ROSENTHAL, OTT, ALBRECHT

Adolph Kraemer, of Reading, Pa., the owner and manager of a
printing and publishing establishment at No. 236 North Ninth
street, was born July 28, 1875, and is a son of Joseph and Balbina
Kraemer, who emigrated from the Duchy of Baden, Germany, locating
at Philadelphia, for a period of time, and in 1882 settling in the
northeastern section of Reading, Pennsylvania.

Adolph Kraemer attended the Reading schools
until fourteen years of age, whereupon he entered the printing
office of Mr. W. Rosenthal to learn the printer’s trade. For a
period of five years he remained at this establishment, working his
way during the day into the secrets of the art of printing, and at
night studying his books to advance himself further in the
knowledge of general literature. For nearly three years he attended
a local college, taking courses in business, literature and
languages. During 1894 he made a tour of the States for the purpose
of studying the various conditions, methods and systems of printing
establishments throughout the country, being during this tour
employed in about thirty different printing plants. In the fall of
1894, he returned and engaged in the printing business at No. 621
Moss street (the residence of his parents) in a small back room,
operating his one job press by foot power.

In 1897 Mr. Kraemer removed his establishment to
larger quarters at Ninth and Oley streets where he acquired the use
of an electric motor. In 1898 he removed his place of business to
No. 208 North Ninth street, and six months later to No. 310 North
Ninth street, where he remained for seven years. In 1905 he
purchased his present quarters, the desirable property at No. 236
North Ninth street, which he remodeled and rebuilt to suit his
increased requirements and he has occupied same since September,
1905. During 1909 he entered into the career of publisher of
fiction under the name of The Kraemer Publishing House–in addition
to his Book and Job Printing.

On Sept. 8, 1987, Mr. Kraemer married Miss Mary
L. Ott, of Reading, daughter of Magnus and Josephine (Albrecht)
Ott. This union has been blessed with five children: Louisa M.,
Marie A., Gertrude L., Theresa B. and Herman J.

KRAEMER,
LOUIS F.

p. 348

Surnames: KRAEMER, PFEIL, HALL, RIPKA

Louis F. Kraemer, son of Louis and Catherine (Pfeil) Kraemer, was
born at Greeneville, a suburban town of Norwich, Conn., July 30,
1854, and was educated in the schools of that place, at Trenton, N.
J., and at Myerstown, Pa. Upon arriving of age in 1875 his father
gave him an interest in Stony Creek Mills, which the father had
established in Berks county, three miles east of Reading, in 1865,
and was operating successfully at that time. There the son began
his active career in connection with this prominent manufacturing
plant, and has continued with it until now.

In 1893 Mr. Kraemer assisted in organizing the
Reading National Bank, and became one of its first directors,
serving as such up to the present time. In 1900 he co-operated with
capitalists in establishing the third trust company at Reading, and
upon its organization under the name of the Colonial Trust Company
he was elected president, and this responsible position he is still
filling. After an existence of but a few years, the company erected
a nine-story office building on Penn Square, toward securing a
convenient and prominent place for its business, and the building
is not only the finest and largest of its kind at Reading, but also
one of the finest in Pennsylvania, truly a monument to the
enterprise and management of this financial institution and proving
a most substantial investment.

Mr. Kraemer married, in 1877, Ella Hall, of
Huntingdon, Pa. They are active members of St. Paul’s Memorial
Reformed Church at Reading, and since their marriage have resided
at Stony Creek. He has been serving as an elder of the congregation
since January, 1906, filing a position which his father had filled
for many years.

Louis Kraemer, the father, was born at
Berleberg, in the province of Westphalia, Germany, on Jan. 2, 1928,
and was brought up and educated in that place. He learned the trade
of dyeing at Barmen on the Rhine river, a prominent textile
manufacturing town. Upon completing a thorough apprenticeship, he
emigrated to Pennsylvania in 1848, while still under age, and
located at Manayunk, where he secured the position of dyer in the
manufacturing plant of Joseph Ripka. He remained at this place
three years, and then went to Norwich, Conn., to assume charge of
two large dyeing establishments, one at that city and the other at
Greeneville, an adjoining town. After continuing there nearly
fifteen years, he visited Reading, Pa., and becoming favorably
impressed with this growing city as a promising center, he selected
a site for a mill on the Antietam Creek, at a point three miles
east of Reading. In 1864 they commenced making woolen goods under
the name of Kraemer, Schaefer & Co. In 1879 the company was
re-organized under the name of Louis Kraemer & Co., and the
works have been operated under this name ever since. This industry
has been very successful for over forty years, the goods
manufactured obtaining a high reputation, and being shipped to all
parts of the United States. Quite naturally a thriving settlement
was formed in the vicinity of the plant by its employes, and this
came to be know as Stony Creek, comprising nearly fifty dwellings,
and a population exceeding 200. The leading spirit in the community
was the founder of the plant which supports the people, all of whom
respected him highly for his simple but noble nature and true
Christian character. His love of people under and about him and the
reciprocity between them was as admirable as it was appreciable.

Mr. Kraemer, the father, was married in 1852 to
Catherine Pfeil, daughter of John Pfeil, of Westphalia. They were
the parents of four children, of whom the son named is the only
survivor. They were members of St. Paul’s Memorial Reformed Church
of Reading, being among the first members at its organization, when
they withdrew from the First Reformed Church. The wife died in
1872, and the husband in 1903.

During the last twenty-five years of his life
Mr. Kraemer made several trips across the ocean, giving special
attention to Switzerland and Germany, for which countries he had a
strong affection. The establishing of “Textile,” a promising
industrial suburban town (since absorbed by Wyomissing), a mile
west of Reading by young German manufacturers from Barmen on the
Rhine, is directly attributable to his great success and influence.

KRAMER,
ALBERT F.

p. 700

Surnames: KRAMER, LINDERMUTH, SNYDER, DETURK

Albert F. Kramer, a member of the Bard Hardware Company, of
Reading, which is among the largest jobbers of hardware in
Pennsylvania, was born in Berks county, Sept. 27, 1843. He is a son
of Daniel R. Kramer, who was a prominent contractor in masonry in
that county, and whose other children were: Daniel, John, George,
Henry, Edward, Louisa (m. Daniel Lindermuth) and Catherine (m. Adam
Snyder).

Every advance which Mr. Alfred F. Kramer has
made in life, however slight, has been accomplished solely through
individual exertion, and like others who have reached a high and
substantial foundation, he may justly count as his inexhaustible
fortune, his constant stock of patience, perseverance, honesty and
industry. He passed his school days in his native county of Berks,
gathering what learning he could, and securing an invaluable
training in systematic work and economy as a laborer in the
neighboring farms. From the age of seventeen to twenty he was
especially engaged among agricultural labors. As it proved, this
preliminary training was the requisite preparation for a successful
business career, and in 1866 Mr. Kramer became a resident of
Reading and a clerk for Bard & Reber, dealers in hardware.
After remaining five years in that capacity, in 1881, he was
admitted as a member of the firm under the style of Bard, Reber
& Co. The business was established in 1856. The house now known
as the Bard Hardware Company, a full history of which appears
elsewhere, deals chiefly in building hardware, machinists’
supplies, tin plates and coach goods. Since Mr. Kramer has been a
member of the firm he has paid special attention to the coach
department, being the sole buyer in that line.

Albert F. Kramer married Anna DeTurk, who died
April 4, 1904, leaving the following children: Harvey DeTurk, Edith
M. and Esther C. Mr. Kramer is a member of the First Reformed
Church, and is not only highly esteemed as a straightforward,
successful business man, but for his admirable qualities as evinced
in all the private relations of life.

KRAMER
FAMILY

p. 871

Surnames: KRAMER, LAUTZ, HAND, RUHL, ROTH, RICHARDSON, HEISTER,
BOHN, HARBACH, BODY, FISHER, KRICK, KOENIG, LERCH, DETURK, SNYDER,
REBER, KIRKHOFF, SPATZ, WEITZEL, MOGEL, WINTER, SHIFFERT,
LINDEMUTH, DUNKELBERGER, ROTHERMEL, LIEB, RICHARD, BARR, LASH,
STAMM, HARTMAN, RAPP, STOUT, AHRENS, O’REILY, SUENDERS, EISENHARD,
POTTEIGER, GIBSON, ROTH

The name is a common one in Berks country, and among those bearing
it worthily in the present generation may be mentioned Daniel F.
Kramer, present prison inspector of Berks county, and George F.
Kramer, tax collector of Bern township, both also engaged in
farming in Bern township.

Bernhard Kramer, the ancestor of most of the
name in Berks county, settled in Albany or Allemaengel township.
His wife was Susanna Catharina Lautz. They had a son, Johannes,
born Sept. 11, 1777, and baptized in Weisenburg Church on Oct. 19th
following, the sponsors being Johannes Furg Hand and his wife Anna
Margaretha. The birth certificate is in the hands of Daniel F.
Kramer, of Bern township, who has also an interesting relic in the
shape of the old road tax book of Bern, showing expenditures in
that line from 1774 to 1848. The first records are made in fine
German script with a quill pen. In 1775, the amount expended was
46, 8s., 3d.; in 1789, 45, 12s., 8d.; in 1799, 94, 6s., 4d.; in
1815, $578.91; in 1830, $230.20; and in 1845, $244.07. In 1909 the
sum spent was $6,000.

John (Johannes) Kramer, son of Bernhard, born
Sept. 11, 1777, died at the age of eighty-nine years. His wife,
Catharine Ruhl, born March 29, 1780, died at the age of sixty-eight
years, and both are buried at Epler’s Church. He became a
stonemason and followed his trade in Bern township. He also owned a
small tract of land situated in Bern township between Bern and
Epler’s Church. His children were: Elizabeth, born Jan. 2, 1803, m.
Christian Roth, and died at the age of eighty-eight years; Anna
Maria, born Dec. 17, 1804, married James Richardson and died at the
age of seventy-five years; Catharine, born August 28, 1806, married
John Christ Heister, and died at the age of eighty-two years; John
born in 1807, married Kate Bohn, and died at the age of
ninety-three years; Margaret, born Jan. 12, 1809, married Peter
Harbach, and died at the age of eighty-two years; Sallie, born in
1811, married Jacob Body, and died at the age of ninety-three
years; Daniel R., born Oct. 20, 1813, married Catharine Fisher, and
died at the age of seventy-two years; Susanna, born July 25, 1816,
married Jacob Heister, and died at the age of forty-one years;
Jacob born Sept. 11, 1819, married Mary Krick, and died at the age
of seventy-six years. The average length of life of this family was
seventy-eight years.

Daniel R. Kramer, son of John (Johannes), was
born in Bern township Oct. 20, 1813. By trade he was stonemason and
this trade he followed all his life in connection with farming a
small tract of land in Bern township. For twenty-five years he was
assessor and tax collector, and he gave good service to the public,
faithfully and conscientiously performing the duties of his
respective offices. He died June 21, 1886, and is buried in Bern
cemetery. He was a deacon and elder in the Bern Church, and in his
political faith he was a Democrat. He married Catharine Fisher,
daughter of John Fisher, of Heidelberg township, and this union was
blessed with eleven children, eight sons and three daughters, as
follows: (1) One son died in infancy. (2) John F., born May 24,
1837, served in the Civil war from 1861 until the close of the
struggle. Afterward he settled in the State of Wisconsin, where he
was married to Catharine Koenig, and they were blessed with four
children, David, Charles, Lizzie (deceased), and Lawrence. (3)
Daniel F. is mentioned below. (4) Benneville F., born in Bern
township April 25, 1841, married Rebecca Lerch. None of their
children are living. Mr. Kramer died at the age of sixty years. (5)
Albert F., born in Bern township Sept. 27, 1843, married Anna De
Turk, and their union was blessed with four children, Harvey,
Edith, Esther and one deceased, all of Reading, Pa. (6) Catharine,
born in Bern township May 17, 1845, married Jacob Snyder, and they
were the parents of six children, Clara (married to Jonathan
Reber), Ida (married to Jacob Kirkhoff), Eva (married to W. Spatz),
Irwin (a farmer, married to a Miss Weitzel), Howard (married to a
Miss Mogel, is at present a teacher in the West Leesport high
school) and Allen (unmarried, and the overseer of public school in
New Jersey). (7) Eliza, born in Bern township Jan. 1, 1848, is
unmarried and living in the same house where she was born. (8)
Louisa, born in Bern township Aug. 8, 1850, was married three
times, first to Franklin Winter (deceased), second to David
Shiffert (deceased) and third to Daniel Lindemuth. (9) George F. is
mentioned below. (10) Henry F., born in Bern township March 24,
1856, was married to Emma Dunkelberger, and they had three
children–Bertha, married to Franklin Rothermel, of Reading; Macie,
deceased; and John, at home. (11) Edward F., born in Bern township
Jan. 9, 1860, married Emma C. Lieb on April 7, 1884, and their
union was blessed with children as follows: Harry Lieb, Florence
May and Daniel Joshua, all of Reading, Pennsylvania.

Daniel F. Kramer was born in Bern township may
23, 1839, and attended public school until he was twenty years of
age, when he went to Perry county and assisted in building the
county barn. This was in 1860, and at the end of six months he
returned to Berks county, where for sixteen years he had a good
force of men working for him all over the county, building houses
and barns. He then engaged in farming, having a tract of twenty-two
acres. He has served as assessor in his township for a period of
nineteen years, the court of the county having first appointed him
to that position upon the death of his father. In politics he is a
Democrat, and has served the county for nine years as prison
inspector. He is a member of the Lutheran congregation at Epler’s
Church, and has been deacon and elder. He has been married twice,
his first wife, Lovina Lash, daughter of John and Susanna (Richard)
Lash, dying Jan. 19, 1877, the mother of five children: Maria
married Abraham Barr; Milton died in 1865, aged one year; Ellen
died in 1875, aged ten years; Adam was married twice, first to
Gertrude Stamm, who died leaving two daughters, Stella and Ellen,
and second to Mary Rothenberger; Clara died in 1876, aged two
years. Mr. Kramer married (second) Elizabeth R. Hartman, daughter
of the late Samuel and Hannah (Rapp) Hartman, and by this union
there were two children: George William, who died aged three years;
and Carrie, who married Samuel Stout, of Reading.

George F. Kramer was born in Bern township March
1, 1853, and is at present a truck farmer and tax collector of his
township. He was reared to farming, and when eighteen years of age
learned the trade of stone-mason from his brother Daniel F. This he
followed until 1895, working at different places. He was foreman
for Howard E. Ahrens, a contractor of Reading for a number of
years, for whom he worked in Steelton, Newport (Perry county),
Reading and elsewhere, having under him all the time from twenty to
thirty men. He was also in the employ of Joseph P. O’Reily, a
contractor of Reading, for whom he worked at the Schuylkill avenue
bridge at Reading and also at the Cross Key bridge. Since 1895 he
has lived at the old home farm, having about twenty acres of good
truck land, keeps two cows and an average of 125 chickens (besides
what he uses for his family), and during 1908 sold five hundred and
sixty-three pounds of butter from the two cows, the price ranging
from thirty to thirty-four cents a pound, and ten hundred and
seventy-one dozens of eggs, the price ranging from sixteen to forty
cents a dozen. He attends the Reading market.

Mr. Kramer is a Democrat in politics, and his
first public office was that of precinct inspector. Then he became
judge of election, and in 1903 was appointed by the court, tax
collector of Bern township, and three years later was elected to
the same office. Mr. Kramer is a Lutheran member of Bern Church,
while his wife belongs to the Reformed Congregation. He has served
as deacon and elder.

Mr. Kramer has been twice married. On May 19,
1875, he married Louisa Suenders, daughter of George and Catharine
(Eisenhard) Suenders, native of Germany. Mrs. Kramer died at the
age of thirty-five years. By this union there were two children:
Charles M., born in 1878, married Rebecca Potteiger and has had
three children, Luella M., Edna L., and one daughter who died in
infancy; Jennie B., born in 1883, married Charles Gibson, and has
two sons, Ira M. and C. Elwood. Mr. Kramer married (second) Susan
E. Lerch, daughter of Jacob and Rebecca (Roth) Lerch, and by this
marriage he became the father of two daughters, Annie R., born in
1895, and Mary C., born in 1903.

KRAMER,
FRANK D.

p. 994

Surnames: KRAMER, DIETRICH, SHADEL, ADAM, GEHRET, BOWER, RIEGEL,
RENTSCHLER, REPPERT, DRIEBELBIS, FRAUENFELDER, LENHART, FINK

Frank D. Kramer, a prosperous farmer of Berks county, Pa.,
operating in the southeastern end of Greenwich township, was born
Oct. 3, 1859, in Richmond township, son of George and Catherine
(Dietrich) Kramer.

John Kramer, grandfather of Frank D., was a
farmer and extensive land-owner of Greenwich township, and in
addition conducted a distillery near where Schofer’s schoolhouse
now stands. Mr. Kramer was a captain of militia during the
Revolutionary war, his company meeting at Grimville about every two
months, and on battalion days all of the companies of the Sixth
Battalion of the western section of the county would meet. Captain
Kramer was tall and of fine physique, a giant in strength and a
great disciplinarian. He married Sarah Shadel, and their children
were: John; Mary m. William Adam, a carpenter; Sally m. William
Gehret, also a carpenter; George; and a daughter (name not given).

George Kramer, father of Frank D., followed
farming in Greenwich township, owning 122 acres of fine land, and
in addition carried on carpentering, being an excellent mechanic.
He married Catherine Dietrich, daughter of George Dietrich, a
prosperous and well-known miller and farmer of Greenwich township.
To this union were born: Mary m. John Riegel, a farmer of Richmond
township; Sally m. Henry Bower, a miller; Hettie died aged eleven
years; Catherine died at the same age; Frank D.; Carrie m. Thomas
Rentschler, of Tilden township; Amanda m. Henry Reppert, a farmer
of Greenwich township; Chester U. died aged three years; and Rosie
m. Simon Driebelbis.

When seven years of age Frank D. Kramer was
taken to Greenwich township to the farm now owned by Alfred
Dietrich, near Grimville. Here the Kramers resided until 1871, and
in this year removed to a farm of over 100 acres in the
northwestern part of the same township.

On Jan. 1, 1880, Mr. Frank D. Kramer married
Esther A. Frauenfelder, daughter of Adam and Wilhelminia (Lenhart)
Frauenfelder, of Greenwich township, and to this union were born:
George R. m. Annie Fink, and has one daughter, Erma; Percy died in
infancy; Mattie M. m. Henry Adam, and has two children, Edna Mabel
and Franklin Henry; Robert P.; Curtis E, J.; Frank A.; Chester U;
Maud M.; Walter W.; Florence; Amanda L.; Herbert H.; Esther C. died
in infancy; Edgar P., and Harvey S. J.

Frank D. Kramer is one of the good, practical
agriculturists of this locality. He has worked hard ever since his
childhood, and his industry and energy have been rewarded with
well-merited success. In 1898 Mr. Kramer purchased the Jonas
Dietrich homestead, consisting of 243 acres of land.

Honest and upright in his dealings with his
fellowmen, he has won a high place in the esteem of the people of
the community. The family are members of Dunkel’s Lutheran Church.
Politically Mr. Kramer is a Democrat.

KRAMER,
HENRY F.

p. 1532

Surnames: KRAMER, FISHER, LUTZ, HAND, RUHL, ROTH, RICHARDSON,
HEISTER, BOHN, HARBACH, BODY, KRICK, KOENIG, LASH, HARTMAN, STOUT,
LERCH, DETURK, REBER, SNYDER, KIRKHOFF, SPATZ, MOGEL, WEITZEL,
SHIFFERT, LINDEMUGH, SUENDERS, DEEM, HOLDRY, GEHRIS, ROTHERMEL,
MESSENGER, AMARELL, DUNKELBERGER, HECK

Henry F. Kramer, a successful contractor and builder, who is well
known throughout Muhlenberg township, was born in Bern township,
Berks county, March 24, 1856, son of Daniel R. and Catharine
(Fisher) Kramer.

The name Kramer is a common one in Berks county.
Bernhard Kramer, the ancestor of most of the name in the county,
settled in Albany or Allemangell township. His wife was Susanna
Catherina Lutz. They had a son Johannes, born Sept. 11, 1777, and
baptized in Weisenburg Church on Oct. 19th following, the sponsors
being Johannes Furg Hand and his wife Anna Margaretha. The birth
certificate is in the hands of Daniel F. Kramer, of Bern township,
who has also an interesting relic in the shape of the old road tax
book of Bern, showing expenditures in that line from 1774 to 1848.
The first records are made in fine German script with a quill pen.

John (Johannes) Kramer, son of Bernhard, born
Sept. 11, 1777, died at the age of eighty-nine years. His wife,
Catharine Ruhl, born March 29, 1780, died at the age of sixty-eight
years, and both are buried at Epler’s Church. He became a
stonemason and followed his trade in Bern township. He also owned a
small tract of land situated in Bern township between Bern and
Epler’s Church. His children were: Elizabeth, born Jan. 2, 1803, m.
Christian Roth, and died at the age of eighty-eight years; Anna
Maria, born Dec. 17, 1804, married James Richardson and died at the
age of Seventy-five years; Catharine, born August 28, 1806, married
John Christ Heister, and died at the age of eighty-two years; John
born in 1807, married Kate Bohn, and died at the age of
ninety-three years; Margaret, born Jan. 12, 1809, married Peter
Harbach, and died at the age of eighty-two years; Sallie, born in
1811, married Jacob Body, and died at the age of ninety-three
years; Daniel R., born Oct. 20, 1813, married Catharine Fisher, and
died at the age of seventy-two years; Susanna, born July 25, 1816,
married Jacob Heister, and died at the age of forty-one years;
Jacob born Sept. 11, 1819, married Mary Krick, and died at the age
of seventy-six years. The average length of life of this family was
seventy-eight years.

Daniel R. Kramer, son of John (Johannes), was
born in Bern township Oct. 20, 1813. By trade he was a stone mason
and this trade he followed all his life, in connection with farming
a small tract of land in Bern township. For twenty-five years he
was assessor and tax collector, and he gave good service to the
public, faithfully and conscientiously performing the duties of his
respective offices. He died June 21, 1886, and is buried in Bern
cemetery. He was a deacon and elder in the Bern Church, and in his
political faith he was a Democrat. He married Catharine Fisher,
daughter of John Fisher, of Heidelberg township, and this union was
blessed with children as follows: (1) A son that died in infancy.
(2) John F., born May 24, 1837, enlisted for the Civil war in 1861
and served nine months. Afterward he settled in the State of
Wisconsin, where he was married to Catherine Koenig, and they were
blessed with four children, David, Charles, Lizzie (deceased) and
Lawrence. (3) Daniel F., born in Bern township May 23, 1839, was
twice married, (first to Lovinia Lash, by whom he had five
children, Maria, Milton, Ellen, Adam and Clara. He married (second)
Elizabeth R. Hartman, and by her had two children, George William
and Carrie (Mrs. Samuel Stout). (4) Benneville F., born in Bern
township, April 25, 1841, was married to Rebecca Lerch. None of
their children are living. Mr. Kramer served four years in the
Civil way, and died at the age of sixty years. (5) Albert F., born
in Bern township, Sept. 27, 1843, married Anna De Turk, and their
union was blessed with four children, Harvey, Edith, Esther and one
deceased, all of Reading. (6) Catharine, born in Bern township, May
17, 1845, married Jacob Snyder, and they were the parents of six
children, Clara (married to Jonathan Reber), Ida (married to Jacob
Kirkhoff), Eva (married to W. Spatz), Irwin (a farmer, married to a
Miss Weitzel), Howard (married to a Miss Mogel, is at present a
teacher in the West Leesport high school) and Allen (unmarried, and
the overseer of public schools in New Jersey). (7) Eliza, born in
Bern township, Jan. 1, 1848, is unmarried and living in the same
house where she was born. (8) Louisa, born in Bern township, Aug.
8, 1850, was married three times, first to Franklin Winter
(deceased), second to David Shiffert (deceased), and third to
Daniel Lindemuth. (9) George F., born in Bern township March 1,
1853, died March 27, 1909, and is buried at Bern Church. He was tax
collector of his township. He was twice married, (first) to Louisa
Suenders, and by her had two children, Charles M. and Jennie B. He
married (second) Susan E. Lerch, and by her had two daughters,
Annie R. and Mary C. (100 Henry F. is mentioned below.

Henry F. Kramer was educated in the schools of
Bern township, and first learned the stone mason’s trade with his
father, which he followed for eight years, and then learned the
butcher’s trade with Daniel Deem and Daniel Holdry. This was his
occupation for twenty-one years, during which time he established
the business stands now conducted by Mahlon Gehris, Frank Rothermel
and E. K. Messenger. In 1898 he sold out to the latter two
gentlemen, and engaged in the building business, his first building
being at Twelfth and Robeson streets, where he erected in all
seventeen buildings. He then erected forty structures on Front
street, between Green and Oley, Mr. Charles Amarell being in
partnership with him in this deal. Later he erected ten houses on
Kutztown road, near Alsace Church. Mr. Kramer’s fine residence is
situated in Muhlenberg township, on the Pottsville pike, an
extension of Centre avenue, Reading, where he is well known and
highly esteemed.

Mr. Kramer married Emma H. Dunkelberger, a
daughter of John and Mary Ann (Heck) Dunkelberger, of Spring
township, and three children were born to this union: Bertha, who
married Frank Rothermel, of Reading, has one child; Macie died when
one and half years old; and John is at home. In religious belief
Mr. and Mrs. Kramer are Lutherans. He is a Democrat in politics and
for nine years has been a member of the school board of Muhlenberg
township, serving now as its president, and he was its treasurer
for six consecutive years.

KRAMER,
MILTON H.

p. 1168

Surnames: KRAMER, HOWE, RUTH, HEISTER, BADEY, ROTE, HARBACH, BOHN,
BOWMAN, SNYDER, LERCH, REESER, FETTER, SCHRACK, REESER, STRAUSE,
TRAUTMAN, SAILOR, SPATZ, REBER, BABB

Milton H. Kramer, proprietor of a blacksmithing establishment at
Brownsville, Berks Co., Pa., was born Aug. 23, 1878, in Bern
township, son of Harrison and Lydia (Howe) Kramer.

John Kramer, great-grandfather of Milton H., was
a stone mason by trade, an occupation which he followed for many
years in Bern township, where he died at the age of ninety years.
He married Catherine Ruth, and to them there were born these
children: John; Daniel; Jacob; Catherine m. John Hiester; Susan m.
Jacob Hiester; Sarah m. Jacob Badey; Elizabeth m. Christian Rote;
and Rebecca m. Peter Harbach.

John Kramer, grandfather of Milton H., was born
in 1808, in Bern township, and was a farmer by occupation, owning a
tract of land near “Leinbach’s Hotel.” At the time of his death,
Aug. 22, 1901, he was the oldest resident of Berks county. Mr.
Kramer was a Lutheran member of the Bern Church. He married
Catherine Bohn, and they had the following children: Harrison is
the father of Milton H.; Matilda m. Henry Bowman; Catherine m.
Elias Snyder; Caroline m. Daniel Lerch; Jacob B. m. Susan Reeser;
Jared m. Amelia Fetter; Mary m. Milton Schrack; and Sarah m. Frank
Reeser.

Harrison Kramer, father of Milton H., was born
in Bern township, whence he removed to Penn township and carried on
agricultural operations there for about twelve years. He was
residing in Montgomery county at the time of his death, June 6,
1892, at the age of fifty-nine years, eleven months, twenty-six
days. Mr. Kramer also resided in Chester county for six years prior
to going to Montgomery county. He was a Democrat in his political
affiliations. In religious connection he belonged to the Reformed
Church, and was buried at the Mingo Meeting House, in Montgomery
county.

He married Lydia Howe, born Sept. 21, 1830,
daughter of Joshua Howe, of near Fairview, Berks county, and she
now resides with her daughter Ellen at Limerick Square, Montgomery
county. To Mr. and Mrs. Kramer there were born these children:
Clara, who died in infancy; Clara (2); Mary, deceased; Emma,
deceased; Rosa; Isaac; James, deceased; Ellen; George, deceased;
Charles; Harry, deceased; and Milton H.

Milton H. Kramer remained on the home farm until
nineteen years of age, at which time he learned the blacksmith’s
trade with Adam W. Strause, near Bernville, in whose employ he
continued for two years. He then worked at Schaefferstown for one
and one-half years for Wilson J. Trautman, spent two years on
Samuel Sailor’s farm at Shillington, and in the fall of 1904 came
to Brownsville and opened his present establishment. In October,
1905, he purchased the Adam Spatz home, and three and one-quarter
acres of land joining the eastern side of his shop, and here he has
continued to do business on a large scale. Mr. Kramer is a skilled
mechanic and an honest workman, and his business methods have won
him the respect as well as the trade of the people of his
community. In politics he is a Democrat, and he and his family are
Lutheran members of St. Thomas Union Church.

On July 26, 1898, Mr. Kramer married Tillie
Reber, daughter of Moses and Catherine (Babb) Reber, of Jefferson
township, and they have had five children: William and Paul died in
infancy; Eve died aged six years; Mabel was born Dec. 6, 1904; and
Annie was born May 14, 1908.