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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.