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Note: Notes for Henry Kramer - Source: Lea Sharp's Naeve Family History, Annelene Klink, Buchenring 34, 24848 Kropp, Germany.
In 1875, returned to homeland for a short visit.
Worked in a brick yard near West Creek, IN and then as a farmer.
On April 6, 1877, started his own mercantile business in Sherburnville Grove - operated until 1880.
In 1881, was postmaster of Sheburnville.
About March 15, 1882, opened a new establishment in Grant Park.
Was the police magistrate of Grant Park.
On October 11, 1898, established the Grant Park and Sherburnville telephone line which he owned until March 12, 1904.
In January, 1899, organized the Yellowhead Bank.
Was a Republican, and member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
Was a member of St. Peter's Evangelical Church.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- There is a biographical sketch concerning Henry Kramer in the Portrait and Biographical Record of Kankakee County, Illinois. Chicago: Lake City Publishing Co, 1898.
Portrait and Biographical Record of Kankakee County, Illinois. Chicago: Lake City Publishing Co, 1893, p. 512
Henry Kramer, who is engaged in general merchandising in Grant Park, is an example of America's self-made men. He came to this country a poor boy, without a dollar and with no knowledge of the language, and has steadily and perseveringly overcome all obstacles in his pathway until he has acquired a fortune. He is the eldest child in a family of four children, two sons and two daughters, and was born on the 15th of March, 1850. Germany is the land of his birth, and his parents, Hans Detlef and Dorathea (Blohm) Kramer, still make their home in the Fatherland.
When only ten years of age Henry Kramer embarked on one of his father's ships as a sailor and sailed between inland ports for nine years. At that time, then nineteen years of age, he emigrated to America and landed in the village of Sherburnville, Kankakee County, on the 1st of May, 1869. His first employment was in a brickyard, where he was a faithful worker for about half a year. For the following five years he engaged upon a farm and during that time obtained a fair knowledge of the English language. He returned in the fall of the year 1875 to his native country on a visit, but remained there only a short time. Returning to Illinois, he again worked by the month for two years, carefully husbanding his income. On the 6th of April, 1877, he built a small store in Sherburnville Grove, on the Momence road, and there engaged in the mercantile business until 1880. He then sold out his stock and again visited his native land.
On the 11th of September, 1880, Mr. Kramer wedded Miss Heilewig Kruse, who was born in Germany January 23, 1855. They were married in Chicago by the Rev. Mr. Hartmann. Three children were born of their union: Hans Detlef, Claus J. and Frederick Wilhelm. The mother of these children departed this life on the 4th of July, 1888. Mr. Kramer was again married, on the 27th of January, 1889, at which time Miss Margaretha Naeve became his bride. The lady was born in Germany on the 29th of April, 1868, and by her marriage has become the mother of two children, a son and daughter, John Hinrich Albert and Anna Dorathea Caroline.
On his return from Germany in 1880, Mr. Kramer again purchased the Sherburnville store, where he engaged in business. For about a year he was Postmaster of the village. In 1882, removing to Grant Park, he purchased the store which he now occupies and where he has since carried on a successful and increasing business. He also still owns and operated a store at Sherburnville, and is the owner of three hndred acres of land.
For four years, Mr. Kramer has served as Police Magistrate in Grant Park, and in regard to politics is a stalwart Republican. He and his family are members of the German Lutheran Church. His educational privileges in his early years were those of the common schools, but by wide reading he has become very well educated and is well informed. He is a great reader and owns one of the largest private libraries in the town.
Historical Enclcylopedia of Illinois and History of Kankakee Co. Edited by Newton Bateman. Vol. II. 1906.
Kramer, Henry--The stability of character noticeable in the German race finds expression in the temperament and talents of Henry Kramer, owner of the Yellowhead Bank in Grant Park, Kankakee county, where he also carries on a thriving real estate business. By reason of a wide personal experience in foreign countries Mr. Kramer is thoroughly qualified to transact business for his clients in all parts of the world, and makes a specialty of foreign collections, power of attorney and the issuing of passports. In addition to the interests already mentioned he carries on a general merchandise business in Grant Park, where he owns considerable real estate, besides four hundred and eighty-five and one-half acres of fine land in Kankakee county. To one who knew Mr. Kramer when he first came to this county in 1869 the success which has followed his efforts has been little short of marvelous. Coming here a poor boy, without a dollar and without the slightest knowledge of the language, he has steadily and perseveringly overcome every obstacle in his pathway until he has acquired a fortune, all of which has been made honestly and honorably.
Born near Schieswig, Germany, March 15, 1850, Henry Kramer is a son of Hans Detlef and Dorathea (Blohm) Kramer, the former born October 31, 1819, and the latter June 7, 1825. Their entire lives were spent in their native country, where their marriage was celebrated March 18, 1849, and they held their golden wedding on that date, 1899. In death they were not long separated, the father dying December 24, 1899, and the mother passing away April 1, 1901. As a sailor Hans Detlef Kramer followed the sea throughout his active years, owning a ship which plied the waters surrounding his native country principally. There were four children born to this worthy couple, of whom Henry, the subject of this article, was the eldest. The others are: Christina, who became the wife of John Krauthammer, and resides at Sherburnville, this county; Dorathea, the wife of Alwin Werilch, living near Hamburg, Germany; and Hans D., who is married and resides at Friedrichsholm, Germany.
Henry Kramer always loved to honor his father and mother, to whose guidance, training and teaching in his childhood, the happiest of all periods, he owed much of the success attained in his later years.
Until about ten years of age, he attended the schools of Foehrden, Germany, but the attractions of life on the sea proved too strong for further school work and for about eight years thereafter he was employed as a sailor on his father's ship. His life on the water bringing him in contact with sailors from the various ports of the world created a great desire in this youth of nineteen years to immigrate to the United States, of whose superior advantages to ambitious young men he had heard so much. He landed at New York city the 21st day of April, 1869, and at once started for Kankakee county, Illinois, reaching Sherburnville May 1 of that year. As he was without money or friends and had no knowledge of the English language, he considered himself fortunate to find employment in a brickyard near West Creek, Indiana. This lasted for a few months, and gave him a good insight into American ways and customs. For the next five years he worked on a farm, and at the end of that time, in the fall of 1875, he returned to his native country for a short visit. In the meantime he had taken out his naturalization papers, September 25, 1874. Upon his return to Kankakee county he again worked as a farm hand by the month for two years, and on April 6, 1877, branched out in business for himself, building a small store in Sherburnville Grove, in which he conducted a mercantile business until 1880. April 8, 1879, he purchased his first land of Erwin Dickey. Selling out his stock of goods, he again visited his native land, six months later, however, establishing himself once more in Sherburnville, where he purchased a stock of goods and carried on a mercantile business until the spring of 1882. It was in that year that he removed his stock to Grant Park, opening his new establishment about March 15. While the mercantile business is perhaps the least absorbing of the various interests which engage Mr. Kramer's attention it has grown steadily from the day of its inception and ranks among the substantial business houses of Grant Park.
September 11, 1880, at Chicago, Illinois, Mr. Kramer was united in marriage with Miss Hedwig Kruse, who was born in Germany January 23, 1855. Three children were born of this marriage, as follows: John D., Claus J. and Frederick W., all of whom are in business for themselves in Grant Park. The mother of these children died July 4, 1888, and on January 27, 1889, Mr. Kramer married Miss Margaretha Naeve, also a native of Germany, born April 29, 1868. Her father is a retired farmer, living at Friedrichsneuland, Germany. Three children were born of this union: Johann H. A., Anna D. K. and Ernst A., all of whom are at home with their parents.
Although Mr. Kramer has always been a very busy man his attention has not all been given to private interests, but on the other hand he has given of his time and means to all projects which have been promulgated for the betterment of existing conditions. While residing at Sherburnville he filled the position of postmaster during the year 1881, and is at present police magistrate of Grank Park, having filled the office for two terms. On October 11, 1898, he established the Grant Park and Sherburnville telephone line, which he owned and controlled until March 12, 1904, when he sold it out to the Independent Company. The Yellowhead Bank was organized by Mr. Kramer in January, 1899, and from that day until the present it has had a continuous and steady growth and is today classed among the solid financial institutions of Kankakee county. In 1884 Mr. Kramer began reading law, which he has steadily pursued to the present time, and he is now conceded to be one of the best-posted men in legal affairs in this part of the county. He possesses a private library of over twenty-five hundred good books, in the German and English languages, gathered since January 25, 1888, the largest library in Grant Park, if not the largest private collection of books in the county. Politically, he supports the principles of the republican party, and fraternally he affiliates with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Both Mr. Kramer and his wife are members of St. Peter's Evangelical church, to which they give material support. In every sense of the word Mr. Kramer is a self-made man, and has always given of his time and means to promote the welfare of the county of his adoption, in which he has a host of friends.
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Illinois, Deaths and Stillbirths Index, 1916-1947 about Henry Kramer
Name: Henry Kramer
Birth Date: abt 1850
Death Date: 20 Sep 1916
Death Place: Kankakee, Illinois
Death Age: 66
Gender: Male
Father Name: Hans Deithlef Kramer
Mother Name: Dorothy Blohm
FHL Film Number: 1531029
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