Bio for William Cramer Fulton County, Illinois William Cramer. It gives us pleasure to place on these pages the record of the life and to present the portrait of this venerable pioneer of Peoria County, who is numbered among its wealthy and influential farmers and stock dealers. He is one of the old settlers of Trivoli Township, where his farming interests have been centered for many years. John Cramer, the father of our subject, was a native of Pennsylvania, a son of one of its farmers who was a soldier in the War of 1812. He was reared to agricultural pursuits, and in early manhood went to Ohio on foot and settled ten miles east of Columbus as one of the early pioneers of Franklin County. He cleared away the forest and broke the soil of one hundred and sixty acres of land on which he had a hewed log house for a dwelling. There he tilled the soil and raised stock until 1839, when he again took up the westward march and, coming to Illinois, located in Farmington, where he rented and farmed until he settled permanently on ninety-five acres of land that he bought on section 8, Trivoli Township. This was partly developed and he continued its improvement until his premature death, at the age of sixty-two years, in 1845. He was a Democrat in his political affiliations, and while a resident of Ohio was a member of the United Brethren Church. The maiden name of the mother of our subject was Catherine Cobell, who was born in Pennsylvania, a daughter of Jacob Cobell, of that State, who became an early settler and a farmer in Franklin County, Ohio, where he died. She resided on the homestead for a few years after her husband died and then removed to Farmington where her death occurred at the ripe old age of seventy-seven years. Of the eleven boys born of her wedded life, eight grew to maturity: Jacob, who died in Trivoli Township; William; Daniel, a resident of Iowa; Isaac, who lives in Livingston County; Samuel Keys, who died in Cambridge; Irving, a resident of Cambridge, and Wesley, who lives at Nashville, Tenn. June 26,1818, the subject of this biographical review opened his eyes to the light of the world in the primitive home of his parents, amid the primeval forests of Franklin county, Ohio. When he was only a small boy his services were required in the labors of the farm, and he was early taught to reap with a cradle, and to carry on agriculture generally after the primitive methods of yore. The schoolhouse in which he gained a knowledge of the contents of the English reader and the spelling book and learned to wield the goose-quill pen, was built of logs, had slab benches and puncheon floor, and greased paper served instead of glass in the opening that was cut for a window, and the establishment was heated by fire in a rude fireplace. His great delight in his youth was in hunting foxes, turkeys and other wild animals with hounds, and he became an expert in the use of the rifle, and is still the champion shot here, and was never beaten in a contest but once. Mr. Cramer remained at home with his mother until twenty-six years of age. In October of 1839 he left Ohio with a six-horse team, covered wagon and carriage, beginning his eventful journey to the new home on the wild prairies of this state. He was five weeks on the way, over the rough roads and the rude pole bridges, crossed the Wabash at Terre Haute, and came directly to Farmington, enjoying himself all the way by hunting. He remained some two years in Farmington, and during the second summer engaged in chopping wood for one month, which was the only time he ever worked out. He continued with his father until 1846, when he became the possessor of eighty acres of raw land, he having previously rented land of his father. He located on this place, building a log house, and for twelve months engaged in drawing logs. He used two horses to break his land, turning two acres of the prairie sod each day. He worked hard and obtained money enough to buy forty acres adjoining his first purchase which he improved and finally, in 1860, replaced the log dwelling that he had constructed himself, by his present commodious residence. He built a barn, in 1848, of hard wood, which was the largest in the township at that time. Mr. Cramer made his money principally by raising corn, grain and hogs, and finally bought of his brother ninety-five acres of the old homestead, for which he paid $6,000. He kept it ten years and then sold it. At one time he owned a lot in Peoria. He bought an acre of land in Farmington and built a house on it for his mother, which he still owns. His farm is hedged, has a fine orchard and is amply supplied with small fruits, and has pleasant groves upon it. He rents his land, but still raises some full-blooded Poland-China hogs and good cattle. He used to raise fine horses and has a standard bred colt, "Mattie Hatton," and he used to have stallion roadsters. In 1881, when the Iowa Central Railroad was being built, he was solicited to use his influence, and was very active in securing its passage through this township. He was the first man that put down $200 on the subscription paper. The company wanted $12,000 from Trivoli Township, and after obtaining $5,000 they called upon the people to raise more, then wanted $1,000 before building the road. He was one of three who raised the necessary $1,000-John Larkin and Thomas Higgs being the others. The company put a flag station here and the Division Superintendent named it Cramer in honor of our subject as it is located on his farm. A few months later they secured the location of a post-office here, thus making it a regular station. About this time, Mr. Cramer built a store and leased it, the building costing $2,000. He then put up another building, intending to rent it to some one to go into the grain business. For two years Mr. Cramer managed the store himself, but has since rented it. He has ever manifested a marked interest in whatever enterprise would promote the welfare of township and county. He gave right of way to the railroad across his land and subscribed $533.33 1/3, which would amount to about $2,000 in all. In politics he has always been loyal to the Democratic party and was at one time a delegate to a convention. He has served on the Petit Jury but would never accept public office. August 17, 1843 was the date on which the marriage of our subject to Miss Ann Rodgers was solemnized. She was born near Belfast, Ireland, October 24, 1824, and was a child when she came to Philadelphia with her father, John Rogers, who was a native of the same place as herself. His wife died in Ireland and he came to this country in 1826, with his little daughter, and made his home in Philadelphia where he engaged in weaving in a factory until coming to Illinois in 1835. He located at Harkness Grove, Trivoli Township, on three acres of land and engaged in weaving. He prospered at his trade until he lost his health and died. He was a Presbyterian in his religious belief. He was twice married, the maiden name of his first wife, Mrs. Cramer's mother, being Mary A Nicholson. His second wife was Eliza McMurdy, who died in Trivoli Township in 1886. There were two children born of the first marriage-Ann and an infant. The following are names of the children of the second marriage-John, James, Mathew William, Samuel George and Mary. Mrs. Cramer lived in Philadelphia until she was more than ten years old, and then came by boat to Peoria County with her father and lived in Trivoli Township until her marriage. Mr. And Mrs. Cramer have had five children: Arthur; Margery, who married Joseph Miller, a farmer of Utica, Neb.; Royal, who lives at home; Calvin, at home, a graduate of a college at Quincy, Illinois and at one time Township Clerk for four years. Arthur was only eighteen years old when he enlisted, in August, 1862, in the Eighty sixth Illinois Infantry, company D, for a period of three months. Soon after enlistment he was taken sick and died, in December, 1862, in Nashville, Tenn., where he lies sleeping his last sleep, having sacrificed his young life for his country. Silas pre-epted a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in Kansas. He was taken sick there and started for his old home, but on his way to the station, thirty miles distant, he died on the Kansas prairies, being only nineteen years old. Additional Information (from another county history book) NOTE: There are a few discrepancies): William Cramer was a farmer born in Madison Township, Franklin County Ohio Jan. 26, 1818. He was the son of John and Catherine Cobell Cramer, both of Pennsylvania. Paternal Grandfather was Stofer. Native of Germany who came to Illinois in 1839 and settled in Farmington for two years. Father and mother are buried in Farmington. He hauled grain to Reeds Landing on the Illinois River. He married Ann Rogers at Peoria Aug. 17, 1843. They had five children:Arthur (May 28, 1844)Margery (June 5, 1846), Silas (Dec. 30, 1848), Royal (Feb. 20, 1851), Calvin (April 5, 1844). Arthur was a member of Company D. 86th Illinois Voluntary Infantry. He died in service in Tennessee Sept. 17, 1870. Royal lives with his father and Calvin owns a store at Cramer crossing on the Iowa Central Railroad. Calvin held office of Township clerk for four years. He was U.S. Storekeeper for two terms at distilleries in Peoria. Margery married Joseph Miller and lives in Utica, Nebraska. Mr. Cramer is a Democrat. William Cramer served in the IL Cavalry, Co. K, 7th Regt --------------------------------------------------------------------- UGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations or persons. 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