Sullivan-Schuylkill-Philadelphia County PA Archives Biographies.....Kraus, Conrad 1858 - ************************************************ 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: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com January 28, 2008, 7:52 pm Author: Thomas J. Ingham (1899) CONRAD KRAUS. - It so seldom happens that the incumbent of a public office reaches that position solely by the force of his own merits, recognized by his fellow citizens and without the use of the machinery so well known to all politicians, that the biographer feels that a sketch of such a one cannot fail to be interesting to residents of his town and county. As an industrious, honest and intelligent citizen and a conscientious and wise judge, Conrad Kraus in his daily private business and in his duties as associate judge of Sullivan county has earned the esteem and respect of everyone, and no more popular or honored man is to be found in his community. Mr. Kraus, who resides in Cherry township, his post-office being Dushore, was born in Tamaqua, Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, December 27, 1858. His parents, Henry and Catherine (Blumenstein) Kraus, were natives of Hesse-Cassel, Germany. The father, after serving five years in the army in his native land, grew tired of military life and came to America in 1849. In Tamaqua he met and married his wife, Anna Catharine Blumenstein, who, with her sister Elizabeth, came to the United States in 1854. Mr. and Mrs. Kraus lived in Tamaqua until 1887, when they moved to Sullivan county and located near Cherry Mills. Henry Kraus was a drover and dealt largely in stock. Forty years ago he commenced to drive cattle from Sullivan county to Philadelphia and other markets, and by this, and by dealing in meats, in the course of years he accumulated a comfortable fortune, much of which was lost, however, at the time of the panic at the mines in Schuylkill county in the 70's, caused by the protracted idleness of the hundreds of miners working in the coal mines there. These miners Mr. Kraus had long been supplying with meat, and he thought he ought not to desert them in their time of need. The strike lasted long and failed. The miners had no money to pay anything and Mr. Kraus's losses rose into thousands of dollars. Mr. Kraus lived to the good old age of seventy-two years and died on October 16, 1896. His wife died on November 4, of the same year, aged sixty-three. They are buried in the German cemetery at Dushore. Both were members of the Lutheran church, and in politics Mr. Kraus was a Democrat. Mrs. Kraus had three brothers, Peter, and Jacob and Casper (twins).Peter was for many years principal of a school in Rodenburg, Hessen, Germany; Jacob served in the German army through the entire Franco-Prussian war of 1870-71, and now lives in Prussia, a proprietor of an extensive manufactory of brick; Casper served in the same war as an officer, and at the historic and bloody battle of Gravelotte was severely wounded. In recognition of his distinguished bravery in this and other engagements he received the decoration of the Iron Cross from the emperor. He is now living a retired life in Prussia. The two sisters of Mrs. Kraus are Elizabeth and Doratha. Elizabeth came to America with Mrs. Kraus, as already stated, and lives near Hazelton, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania. Doratha remained in Germany, where she married a prominent official, Burgomaster Conrad Weimer. The paternal grandfather of our subject, also Henry Kraus, passed his entire life in Germany, where he served in the army for several years and subsequently carried on the trade of butcher. His wife's maiden name was Julia Helwig. The children of this couple were Conrad; Henry, father of our subject; William G.; George and Susannah. All came to America, where the sons engaged in droving and the butcher business, and all are now deceased except George, who lives at Tamaqua, Pennsylvania. The family of Henry Kraus comprised five children, of whom Conrad, the subject of this sketch, was the eldest; Elizabeth married Conrad Koehler, a designer for a carpet company at Philadelphia; William H. married Miss Sarah Atherton and carries on butchering in Cherry township; his sketch may be found on another page; Henry, who is also a butcher, married Miss Emma Litzelman and lives at Laporte, Pennsylvania; Sophia married Frank Weinshenk, a baker of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Conrad Kraus, the subject of this sketch, was married May 4, 1880, to Miss Kate M. Hecker, who was born in Philadelphia May 4, 1860, and of their union the following children have been born, all of whom are at home with their parents: Frederick C., Conrad H., Charles A., Matilda C., Henry C. and Albert S. Mrs. Kraus is the daughter of Charles and Elizabeth (Miller) Hecker, who were natives of Saxony and Wurtemberg respectively, and who came to this country in 1852. They settled in Philadelphia, which was their home until 1881, when they came to Sullivan county, locating in Cherry township, where they still reside. The children of this worthy couple were four in number: Ernestina, who married David Phillips, and is deceased; John, who died in childhood; Frederick and Kate M., who are now living. A sketch of the Hecker family will be found on another page. Conrad Kraus remained with his parents until reaching the age of eighteen, in the meantime pursuing his studies in the district and also private schools. He became well acquainted with both German and English literature and on leaving school helped his father in the work of driving cattle and also perfected himself in the trade of butcher. He later went to Philadelphia, where he was for two years in the employ of John Wuster, a port butcher, and then took charge of two meat and provision stores for Levy & Bloch for about five years. In 1881 Mr. Kraus removed to Sullivan county with the intention of going into business at Dushore, but owing to the closing down of the tanneries at Laporte and Thorndale he went into the lumber woods, where he worked about two years for Jennings Brothers. He subsequently went to Dushore, engaging in the meat business with John Utz, Jr., whose interest he bought two years later, and, sending to Philadelphia for his brother, William, the two carried on the business for five years or more. Mr. Kraus then bought his brother's interest and operated a few years by himself, then sold out, and in 1893 removed to his present place, which he purchased from his father-in-law, Charles Hecker. On this farm is a large butchering plant. This establishment is fitted out with steam chopper, tanks and all the necessary appliances for operating an extensive slaughter house. In connection with this he carries on general farming. While never an aspirant for office, his private business, occupying so much of his time, Mr. Kraus was induced by friends, who admired his sterling common sense and his upright course in business matters, to accept the nomination for associate judge of the county court, and in November, 1896, he was elected to that office, polling the largest vote ever given to a single candidate in Sullivan county. His straightforward, manly discharge of his duties in that office have justified the confidence placed in him. In politics he is a Democrat, loyal at all times to the principles of his party. He is a member of the Lutheran church and is classed as one of the most thrifty, intelligent and popular men in the county. His fine library, well stocked with the best of modern as well as classical works, shows his good taste in literary matters, and he passes as much time with his books as his extensive business and public duties will permit. His combined library and office is a unique sight in a country section. It seems more in accord with metropolitan life, and on its walls are carved heads of various domestic animals wrought out by the clever skill of his father. Judge Kraus possesses a very social nature and enjoys society life. In 1875 he was a member of a junior lodge of the United Order of American Mechanics at Tamaqua. On October 19, 1880, he was enrolled a member of Company B, Second Regiment of the National Guard of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia, in which he served until he left Philadelphia for Sullivan county. He was also a member of the Odd Fellows lodge at Laporte, and at present is a member of Union Lodge, No. 108, of Towanda; Union Chapter, No. 161, of Towanda, and of Northern Commandery, No. 16, Knights Templar. In these Masonic bodies, as in all social relations, Judge Kraus is most highly esteemed, and he enjoys a wide friendship with the leading people of a large extent of country. Additional Comments: Extracted from: History of Sullivan County Pennsylvania by Thomas J. Ingham Compendium of Biography The Lewis Publishing Company Chicago: 1899 This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/pafiles/ File size: 9.2 Kb