Bucks County PA Archives Biographies.....Krake, Gerard Henry, Rev. Father
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joe Patterson, Patricia Bastik & Susan Walters Dec 2009

Source: History of Bucks County, Pennsylvania; edited by 
J.H. Battle; A. Warner & Co.; 1887
Haycock Township


  REV. FATHER GERARD HENRY KRAKE rector, P.O. Bucksville, 
was born in Germany, March 21, 1849.  His father, also named 
Gerard Henry, the second son of Hermann, and Mary Krake, was 
born June 15, 1815.  After having attended school eight 
years he remained on his father's farm in the township of 
Gruetlohn, borough of Borken, MŸnster, Westphalia, Germany.  
About 1846 a friend named Drogterd persuaded him to go with 
him to America. They sailed to New Orleans and thence went 
to St. Louis.  Mr. Krake soon after returned to his 
fatherland, and married Christina Hebing, of Borken.  Their 
children were:  Gerard Henry, our subject; John Gerard, now 
a Franciscan father in Wisconsin; Gerard Joseph, who died in 
1879, while preparing for the priesthood; and Hermann 
Bernard, who is at home. Having finished the eight years' 
course of study required by law in Germany, his parents 
required him to work at home and at his father's sister's 
aunt, Mrs. Adelheit Schulze Schierenberg, in Borken.  A year 
later he was sent to a near college to study languages, etc. 
 He chose the missionary life of a priest in this country, 
and in 1869, after having finished his course in college, 
and having taken special lessons from neighboring clergymen, 
when the Catholic Bishop of Philadelphia stopped off his 
journey to Rome at MŸnster, desiring some German students, 
Gerard H. Krake wished to go, and soon he came to 
Philadelphia and was sent by the Right Rev. Bishop Wood into 
the seminary of St. Charles Borromeo.  In 1874 he was 
ordained subdeacon March 12, and later in the same year 
deacon.  March 7, 1875, he was ordained priest by Right Rev. 
Bishop Crane, and on the 17th of the same month was 
appointed assistant at St. Bonifacius church, at 
Philadelphia.  July 30, 1876, he received his present charge 
of St. John the Baptist's Parish, at Haycock, including the 
missions of Durham, Marienstein and Piusfield.