Yolo-El Dorado County CA Archives Biographies.....Cramer, Lewis 1832 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com December 13, 2005, 6:36 pm

Author: Tom Gregory

LEWIS CRAMER

    Many have been the changes in the life of Lewis Cramer and in the aspect of
Ms environment since first he identified his destiny with that of Yolo county.
With the transformation wrought by almost sixty years of ceaseless progress he
has been associated quietly but effectively and in the prosperity of the present
era he may rejoice as a participant. Here, following the uneventful round of
agricultural labors, he has passed from the activity of youth to the serenity of
old age; and here in honorable retirement he now enjoys the fruits of his
industry and the companionship of those pioneers who, like himself, have been
spared to witness the gratifying results of their early and sagacious
investments. As he reflects upon the material prosperity of the community in the
twentieth century he may feel a just pride in his contribution thereto and a
pardonable gratification in his identification with movements for the local
upbuilding.

    A review of the Cramer genealogy indicates the Teutonic origin of the
family, whose first representative in America, Lawrence Cramer, was born, reared
and married in Germany, but crossed the ocean to the new world in young manhood
and for many years made his home in Hamilton county, Ohio. It was during the
brief residence of the family at Covington, Ky., that Lewis Cramer was born June
25, 1832, but he has little knowledge of his native city, for the years of
childhood and youth were passed in Ohio. It was his privilege, to attend the
excellent schools of Cincinnati and after completing the study of the common
branches he gave his attention to the duties in conection with the management of
the home farm. News concerning the discovery of gold in California reached him
in 1849, but it was not until 1852 that he was able to carry out an early-formed
determination to seek a livelihood in the far west. During the spring of 1852 he
started across the plains with a wagon and ox-team, joining a train of emigrants
that pursued the tedious journey in safety until their destination was reached
at Placerville during the latter part of August, the trip being made in about
four months. The sole experience he ever had as a miner was gained in the mines
of that world-famous camp.

    The spring of 1853 found Mr. Cramer a newcomer in Yolo county and here he
has since made his home, throughout all of his active life following general
farming and stock-raising. At first he bought and developed one hundred and
sixty acres of land, but in 1862 he purchased and removed to one hundred acres
within one mile of Yolo. On this farm he has since resided and in the meantime
he has purchased forty acres adjoining. Under his supervision desirable
improvements have been made. Trees have been planted in abundance, some for
ornament and shade and others for fruit. Substantial barns have been built
affording every facility for the shelter of stock and the storage of grain. A
commodious and comfortable residence of two stories furnishes a pleasant home
for the family and there is also a building provided for the accommodation of
the hired men. The farm yields large harvests of grain and ranks among the most
fertile in the locality. At one time the owner made a specialty of raising sheep
and carried several thousand head on the range, but with the incoming' of
settlers and the cultivation of the lands the industry ceased to be profitable.
Of recent years he has devoted his attention to the dairy business and carries
on the farm a splendid herd of twenty-four milch cows, selling the product to
the local creamery.

    For a long period after his arrival in Yolo county Mr. Cramer kept a
"bachelor's hall," but October 24, 1871, he established domestic ties and since
then has had the advantage of the co-operation of his estimable wife, formerly
Miss Mattie Pace, a native of Boone county, Mo. She was the daughter of Russell
Pace, and a sister of John L. Pace, who came to California in 1850, and was a
pioneer of 1852 in Yolo county. Mrs. Cramer came to California in 1869 on one of
the first trains across the continent. Mr. and Mrs. Cramer are the parents of
five children, namely: Lawrence E., into whose capable charge has been given the
oversight of the homestead and who is married and the father of two children;
Bertie, Mrs. Edward Riley, and Mattie, Mrs. John Summers, both residing in San
Francisco; Vernon, a rancher in Yolo county; and Greta, who married Curtis
Hoffer, of Berkeley. In questions affecting national prosperity Mr. Cramer
supports the Democratic party, but in local matters he gives his vote to the man
he considers best qualified to represent the people. For many years he has been
identified with Masonry, belonging to Yolo Lodge No. 81, F. & A. M., Woodland
Chapter No. 46, R. A. M., Woodland Commandery No. 21, K. T.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from

HISTORY OF YOLO COUNTY CALIFORNIA
WITH
Biographical Sketches
OF
The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been Identified With Its Growth
and Development From the Early Days to the Present

HISTORY BY
TOM GREGORY
AND OTHER WELL KNOWN WRITERS
ILLUSTRATED COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME

HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA [1913]




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