Was Plain named by one of the Cramer brothers? Cramer family in Franklin, Pennsyvania Joseph Cramer and his wife, Catherine Killinger Cramer, had 7 children: Jeremiah, Susan, John, Soloman, Adam, Julia and Mary. The oldest child, Jeremiah, was born in 1813. The Cramer family lived in Franklin, Pennsylvania. Their son, Soloman, was born in Franklin, PA. In Pennsylvania, there are four towns called Franklin, located in the counties of Chester, Westmoreland, Cambria and Venango. Cramer family in Richland County, Ohio Around 1824, the Cramer family moved from Pennsyvlania to Richland County, Ohio. Joseph Cramer died June 19, 1851. He is buried at Lexington Cemetery in Richland County, Ohio. Findagrave website.  Cramer family in Franklin Township, Sauk County, Wisconsin Various sources say that between 1848 and 1857, Catherine Killinger Cramer (the widow of Joseph Cramer) and her family moved to Rock County, Wisconsin, and four years later they settled in Franklin Township in Sauk County. It seems the family moved to Wisconsin at different times and not as a group. Several of Catherine's children were married with children when they moved to Wisconsin. "A History of Plain" written in 1982 by Hildegarde Thering, page 5, paragraph 4, says: "On September 28, 1848 Sol Cramer located 320 acres in this area. In 1851 Adam Cramer, his son Joseph, Sol Cramer, and the mother of Adam and Sol Cramer arrived here from Ohio with wagon and the first team of horses to be seen here. In September 1851, Sol Cramer, a carpenter by trade, married Mary Ann Engel by Nathaniel Mitchell, Esq., at the home of her stepfather, John Born." Burial place for Catherine and four sons Catherine Killinger Cramer, who died September 10, 1873, is buried at Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Franklin Township, Sauk County, Wisconsin. Her sons Soloman, Adam, John, and Jeremiah are also buried at Pleasant Hill Cemetery. Findagrave website. Obituaries for the first generation of Cramer Brothers The obituary for John Cramer, who died November 11, 1892, says: "Died, at his home in Franklin, on Friday last from a stoke of paralysis, John Cramer, aged 73 years. He was one of the first settlers in that town, coming from Pennsylvania. He was buried in the Pleasant Hill cemetery, close by his old home. . ." The obituary for Jeremiah Cramer, who died June 27, 1894, says, "Jeremiah died June 27th at daughters home in Franklin. He was born Franklin County, Pennsylvania on September 26, 1813. His wife died about 18 years ago. Funeral was Friday from daughters home." The obituary of Soloman Cramer Sr., who died June 28, 1906, says: "Solomon Cramer, one of a family of six children - three boys and three girls - was born in Pennsylvania, March 3d, 1821. Here, in his boyhood years, he chose carpentry as his vocation in life. Some years after his parents and family moved to Ohio. While living there he pursued the same trade until, in the year 1849, he came to Wisconsin, taking up a homestead in the town of Franklin in 1851, in what was then practically a wilderness. He was among the first of the earliest settlers in this vicinity, and by his own laborious efforts developed, cultivated and improved his land to the present beautiful farm and home that it is. In September, 1851, he was united in marrige to Miss Mary Ann Angel, by Nathaniel Mitchell, Esq. at the home of Mr. John Born." The obituary for Adam Cramer, who died March 30, 1907, says, "Adam Cramer was born in Pennsylvania, November 11th, 1823 [tombstone says 1822]. His parents soon afterward moved to Ohio, where he spent his school days and early youth. He was one of a family of seven, having three brothers - Solomn, John, Jeremiah, and three sisters, Julia, Susan and Mrs. George Morgan, of Dakota, who is the only one to survive him. In the year 1847 he was united in marrige to Kathrine Garfield, and lived in Ohio as a farmer until coming to Franklin about the year 1857, when he located on what is now the George Lins farm. To this union there was one child born, Mr. Jos Cramer of this place." Second generation of Cramer Brothers Rev. John G. Laurer wrote in his pre-1907 book, "History of St. Luke's Parish, Plain, Wisconsin": "Cramer Bros. deren Vater Sol. Cramer in 1853 aus Ohio nach Plain." Translation: "Cramer Brothers, their father was Solomon Cramer who came in 1853 from Ohio to Plain." Rev. Laurer was referring to the second generation of Cramer Brothers - the sons of Soloman Cramer, Sr.: Soloman Jr., Pearson, George, Arthur, William, and Jeremiah. These sons were born between 1857 and 1874 in Franklin Township, Sauk County, Wisconsin. Hildegard Thering also wrote of the second generation of Cramer Brothers in her 1982 book, "A History of Plain, Wisconsin" (page 79). She wrote that in 1903, the Cramer Brothers (Ira, Jerry, Bill and Pearson) opened a grocery and ware store in Plain. They also sold furniture, buggies, surreys and milking machines. The business transferred ownership to Phillip Bettinger in 1918. Grandchildren of Catherine Killinger and Joseph Cramer Clarissa Elizabeth Cramer, the daughter of Jeremiah and Esther Cramer, who was born near Mansfield in Richland County, Ohio, on January 1, 1847. When 5 years of age, she came with her parents to Sauk County, Wisconsin. George Cramer, son of John and Margaret Cramer, died in 1906. His obituary says, "Mr. Cramer was born in Richland Co., O., July 1, 1845. His parents came to Wisconsin when he was seven years of age, locating in Rock County. Four years later they moved to Sauk county, taking up a farm in the town of Franklin where they resided until their deaths, the father's thirteen years ago and the mother's seven years ago. The subject of this sketch grew to manhood in the town of Franklin. November 16, 1874, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary H. Murray." Solomon K. Cramer, son of John and Margaret Cramer, died in 1922. His obituary says, "Mr. Cramer was born in Richland county, Ohio, November 10, 1847. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Cramer, came to Wisconsin when he was five years old. They settled near Plain, where the greater part of Mr. Cramer's life was spent, fifteen years in blacksmithing and the balance of the time as a farmer." Another 1922 obituary for Solomon Cramer says, "Solomon K. Cramer, son of John and Margaret Cramer, was born November 10, 1847 in Richland Co., Ohio. At the early age of five years he came with his parents to Wisconsin, settling in Rock Co., where they lived four years. In 1856 the family followed the dimly blazed trail of our early pioneers into the town of Franklin, Sauk Co., Wisconsin, where the deceased grew to manhood. During those dark days of our civil war, being too young for active military service, Mr. Cramer, whose father was postmaster at Plain during the war, for four years served as mail carrier, carrying the mail from Plain to Spring Green. As a young man of 18 years he chose blacksmithing as his trade, and for 15 years he followed this trade at Mazomanie and Spring Green. November 10, 1879, Mr. Cramer was joined in holy wedlock to his now mourning widow, Rebecca Davis, with whom he shared life's joys and sorrows nearly 43 years. There came to bless this union seven children; three of whom died in infancy. Shortly after marriage the young couple purchased an unimproved farm in the town of Franklin, where they made their home 37[?] years, developing this land from virgin soil to one of the most productive and best equipped farms of that section of our county. In 1917, after many years of toil and hardship, Prairie du Sac was made their home, where life's evening was spent. . . " | John Cramer distributed mail and was considered the "Father of the Village" The first mail was distributed in town by John Cramer. People would take turns bringing it into town until a post office was established in Plain, in 1859 at White Mound. Source: History of Plain by Herbert Liegel (1888-1979). "Plain and White Mound are old points in Franklin Township. Although they lie off the line of any railway they are in the midst of such a prosperous cheese country that they show marked evidences of thrift. Plain, especially, is a well built village and is, moreover, incorporated. It thus formally became a village in 1912. . . . Plain was formerly called Cramer's Corner. John Cramer distributed the mail throughout the Town of Franklin, from the time it was organized in 1855 until 1859, when post offices were established at White Mound and Logtown (also Plain). The first store was opened at Logtown in 1869. There are now three general stores, the largest conducted by Cramer Brothers, descendants of the John Cramer who is considered the father of the village. At Plain are also two agricultural implement depots, and the town is noticeable also for the handsome appearance of its residences." Source: A Standard History of Sauk County, Wisconsin, Volume I An Authentic Narrative of the Past, with Particular Attention to the Modern Era in the Commercial, Industrial, Educational, Civic, and Social Development. by Harry Ellsworth Cole, President of the Sauk County Historical Society, General Supervising Editor. The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago and New York, 1918 Page 566 Early settlers of Plain, Wisconsin in Franklin Township formerly resided in Richland County, Ohio. These early settlers named the townships of Franklin and Troy, in honor of so many of the settlers coming from Bloomfield and Troy townships in Ohio. Naming of Spring Green. "About two months after we had located and settled on Honey Creek two families came in from Indiana, Thomas Wells and Dewitt Slauter. In the spring of 1847 Dan Held followed us. From that on until 1853 or 1854 settlers came quite fast. John Rulan, Oliver Ward, Henry Halflech, Stephen Miller, Henry Clayman, John Feller, Andrew Bear and Nathaniel Mitchell. The Young brothers - William, Pearson, John; Joe Bear and Samuel David; the Bonham brothers, Elijah, George and William; Samuel Walster, Arthur Dickerson, Henry Bear; the Cramer brothers, John, Jerry, Adam and Solomon; George Morgan and Henry Dickerson; the Carpenter brothers, Daniel , Jerry, Jason, Tim, Isaac and John; Thomas Dickerson, George and Abram Nickey, Joseph Seiders, Simon Spyker and Jacob and William Keifer. They all came from Richland county, Ohio, and from Bloomfield and Troy townships; also J. W. Howe, Jacob Rainey, D. B. Young and Smith Love from an adjoining county. They reminded me of a flock of sheep - when one starts the rest follow. Source: A Standard History of Sauk County, Wisconsin, Volume I An Authentic Narrative of the Past, with Particular Attention to the Modern Era in the Commercial, Industrial, Educational, Civic, and Social Development. by Harry Ellsworth Cole, President of the Sauk County Historical Society, General Supervising Editor. The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago and New York, 1918 Page 563 Naming of Honey Creek and Troy. "Honey Creek had its name before we settled there in 1846. I would like to inquire where the information came from that Honey Creek received its name from the endless supply of wild honey found along its banks, and I would like to inquire also, who the man was that gathered over one hundred dollars worth of honey in two days, and where the near-by settlements were in which he sold it? I admit there was here and there a bee tree found, but to no such an amount. "When we settled on Honey Creek there was not an inhabitant to the very headwaters of Honey Creek, nothing but deer, wolves and bear, that roamed over the hills and through the valleys. "Early the next spring John Sprecher and Nick Danutzer, two Germans, moved in and settled on the north side of Honey Creek. Others followed and they soon had a large German settlement. "Bear Creek, Spring Green and Honey Creek had their names before we came here in 1846, but Franklin and Troy were named afterwards. In regard to the name of Troy: When they were going to set off another town Henry Keifer proposed to call it either Bloomfield or Troy, in honor of so many of the settlers coming from Bloomfield and Troy townships in Ohio. The name Troy was chosen." Source: A Standard History of Sauk County, Wisconsin, Volume I An Authentic Narrative of the Past, with Particular Attention to the Modern Era in the Commercial, Industrial, Educational, Civic, and Social Development. by Harry Ellsworth Cole, President of the Sauk County Historical Society, General Supervising Editor. The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago and New York, 1918 Page 564 Food for thought: The 1918 book above points out that the early settlers from Ohio were the ones who named the townships in the Plain-Spring Green, Wisconsin, area. Where did they come up with the name "Plain"? The first generation Cramer Brothers were from Franklin, Pennsylvania and later, Richland County, Ohio. Of all the counties in Ohio, four counties have a Plain Township: Wood County, Wayne County, Stark County and Franklin County. Richland County in Ohio is near the counties of Wayne and Stark. However, Richland County, Ohio does not currently have a Plain Township.  Note: The dates on the above map may or may not be accurate. Pennsylvania has a Plains Township in Luzerne County. Pennsylvania has 16 Franklin Townships. It is not known in which Franklin the Cramers lived when in Pennsylvania - or whether they lived in a town or city called Franklin or a township called Franklin. Maybe John Cramer, the "father of the village," suggested the name Plain, in honor of a town he once knew in Ohio. Cramer and Kraemer families in Plain, Franklin Township, Sauk County, Wisconsin The Cramer family from Pennsylvania and Ohio are not related to the Kraemer family of Irlach, Bavaria, Germany. The Cramer family was in Plain by 1848. The Kraemer family was in Plain by 1867. To distinguish between the two well-known Plain families, one must say, "Cramer with a C" or "Kraemer with a K." Please see "Plain vs Maria Plain Discussion" for more thoughts about the naming of Plain. Map of Maria Plain, Austria Map of Plain, WI Plain, Wisconsin In search of original documents showing that the village of Plain was named after the Basilica "Maria Plain" in the town Bergheim bei Salzburg in Austria. Maria Plain Courtyard at St. Luke's, Plain, Wisconsin |