BIO: John E. Kraft; New York State
surname: Kraft

submitted by W. David Samuelsen (no relation)
***********************************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.org/copyright.htm

http://www.usgwarchives.org/ny/nyfiles.htm
***********************************************************************
An Illustrated Legislative Manual
The New York Red Book
Containing the Portraits and Biographies of the U.S. Senators, Governor, State
Officers and Members of the Legislature; also with the Portraits of Judges and
Court Reporters, the New Constitution of the State, Election and Population
Statistics, and General Facts of Interest.
By Edgar L. Murlin
New Constitution Compiled by R. C. Cumming, O. L. Potter and F. B. Gilbert
Published, Albany, J. B. Lyon Company, Publishers, 1909

Copyright by J. B. Lyon Company, 1909

     John E. Kraft was appointed a Civil Service Commissioner by Governor
Odell in January, 1901, to succeed Silas W. Burt.

     Mr. Kraft, at the time, was editor of "The Kingston Leader," and
president of the company that publishes that paper. The appointment was made
primarily because Mr. Kraft is a straight-out Democrat, and because he was so
strongly supported in influential quarters for the position.

     Mr. Kraft was born, about forty years ago, int he city where he has
attained eminence. His father was a native of Germany, and came to this
country when a young man. After gaining an education in the best Kingston
institutions, the present Commissioner learned the printing trade in the
office of the Kingston Press.

     While serving for several years as Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, he
read law with Judge alton B. Parker, and assisted that eminent jurist in
important litigations.

     Before admission to the bar, Mr. Kraft, with John W. Searing, purchased
the Leader establishment, and continued the publication of the Daily and
Weekly Leader, being the organ of the Democratic party of the city of Kingston
and county of Ulster. Mr. Kraft is still the principal owner of the newspaper.

     Commissioner Kraft has been the presiding officer in different orders of
the Masonic fraternity, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Knight
sof Pythias. He is also a member of Mecca Temple of the Mystic Shrine, and of
the Order of Elks.

     Before the Twentieth Battalion was disbanded, he was for a number of
years captain of Company H of that commandery, which did effective service in
several riots and railroad strikes.

     Mr. Kraft was the first president of the Kingston City Hospital
Association, and is one of the trustees of the Kingston Savings Bank. He has
represented his ward in the Common Council as an Alderman, and was elected
Mayor of the city in 1890 - the younest man who ever held the position. During
his incumbency of that office he instituted many reforms. He personally
conducted raids on houses of ill-repute, besides reducing the tax rate to the
lowest point ever known in the history of the city.

     He is senior warden of the Mission Church of the Holy Cross, that does a
very large amount of work among the poor of the city; and has always taken an
active interest in everything pertaining to Kingston's best interests.

     In politics Mr. Kraft is a strong Democrat, and has represented his
district in State and National Conventions, and on the State committee.

     In additiont o his other activities, Commissioner Kraft is general
manager of the Dr. J. A. Deane Co.