BIO:  Jesse Kraft, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

Copyright 2005.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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Part II, Biographical Sketches, Heidelberg Township, Pg 109

JESSE KRAFT, a representative of one of the old families of York County, miller 
and farmer of Heidelberg Township, was born August 5, 1828, in Manheim Township, 
York County, son of George and Mary (Loucks) Kraft.  Subject’s great-grandfather 
was born on the ocean, when his parents were immigrating to America.  They landed 
at Baltimore, and resided there.  Subject’s grandfather, Frederick, lived in 
Baltimore as proprietor of a hotel until 1810, when he came to York County, and 
founded the town of Kraftstown, which, since Jefferson’s presidency, is known as 
Jefferson.  He was born December 6, 1773, and died July 20, 1836.  Subject’s 
father, George, was ten years of age when his parents came to Jefferson.  He was 
married in 1823, and soon after commenced teaching.  Subsequently he removed to 
Manheim Township, continued teaching, and opened up a small store, remained in 
Manheim, farming and merchandising about ten years; then returned to Jefferson 
and opened up in general merchandising and dry goods.  He was associated in 
business there with a son-in-law, Jacob Spangler.  He subsequently retired from 
business life, and lived in retirement until his death in 1868, being sixty-eight 
years old.  He was a prominent Democrat, and at one time represented his district 
in the State Legislature.  His wife died in 1872.  Jesse Kraft is the third child 
of a family of six – three sons and three daughters.  Subject’s early life was 
passed as an assistant of his father; educated in schools of the day; married, in 
1851, to Lucinda Baughman, of Manheim Township.  This union was blessed with ten 
children – four sons and six daughters.  Subject farmed for about ten years near 
Jefferson, when he exchanged his farm for the Mummert Mill property, lying in 
Heidelberg Township, where he is still residing, engaged in farming and milling.  
He is a prominent member of the Lutheran Church of Jefferson, and has been deacon 
and elder of the church at different times for over twenty-five years; active in 
Sunday-school, etc.  He is one of York County’s well-known citizens and highly 
esteemed.  He is a Democrat, but not active in politics.